Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Nov. 08, 2012
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	PICO HOLDINGS INC /NEW
Entity Central Index Key	0000830122
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		22,769,080
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2012