Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information of the Registrant (Parent Company Only) Income Statement (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Expenses (intercompany interest of $2,569 in 2016, $2,468 in 2015, and $7,389 in 2014)	$ 380,581	$ 297,813	$ 239,457
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in loss of unconsolidated affiliates	(18,003)	(31,150)	(46,969)
Net loss attributable to PICO Holdings, Inc.	(21,865)	(81,858)	(52,425)
Parent Company
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Investment income (intercompany interest and dividends of zero in 2016, $142 in 2015, and $75,589 in 2014)	691	948	77,124
Expenses (intercompany interest of $2,569 in 2016, $2,468 in 2015, and $7,389 in 2014)	23,466	12,735	20,551
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in loss of unconsolidated affiliates	(22,775)	(11,787)	56,573
Equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries	910	(70,071)	(108,998)
Net loss attributable to PICO Holdings, Inc.	$ (21,865)	$ (81,858)	$ (52,425)