Historical Loss and LAE Development - Schedule of Reconciliation of Unpaid Losses and Settlement Expenses (LAE) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Jan. 01, 2020
Unpaid losses and LAE at beginning of year
Gross	$ 1,574,352	$ 1,461,348
Ceded	(384,517)	(364,999)
Net	1,189,835	1,096,349
Increase (decrease) in incurred losses and LAE
Current accident year	409,867	362,395
Prior accident years	(70,048)	(55,189)
Total incurred	339,819	307,206
Loss and LAE payments for claims incurred
Current accident year	(49,337)	(51,270)
Prior accident years	(192,056)	(176,957)
Total paid	(241,393)	(228,227)
Net	1,286,916	1,175,328
Unpaid losses and LAE at September 30
Gross	1,686,876	1,557,358
Ceded	(399,960)	(382,030)
Net	$ 1,286,916	$ 1,175,328
Accounting Standards Update 2016-13
Adoption impact of ASU 2016-13
Adoption impact of ASU 2016-13 on reinsurance balances recoverable			$ (1,345)

No definition available.

Name:	rli_LiabilityForClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpensesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	rli_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LiabilityForClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpenseAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount needed to reflect the estimated ultimate cost of settling claims relating to casualty insurance insured events that have occurred on or before a particular date (ordinarily, the balance sheet date) and the amount needed to provide for the estimated ultimate cost required to investigate and settle claims relating to insured events that have occurred on or before a particular date (ordinarily, the balance sheet date), whether or not reported to the insurer at that date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 40
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (cc)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116884095&loc=d3e14764-158437

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 40
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116884095&loc=d3e14764-158437

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LiabilityForClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpensePropertyCasualtyLiability
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LiabilityForUnpaidClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpenseClaimsPaidAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, after effects of reinsurance, of payments to settle claims incurred in the current period and related claims settlement costs.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LiabilityForUnpaidClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpenseClaimsPaidCurrentYear1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, after effects of reinsurance, of payments to settle claims incurred in prior periods and related claims settlement costs.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LiabilityForUnpaidClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpenseClaimsPaidPriorYears1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, after effects of reinsurance, of expense (reversal of expense) for claims incurred and costs incurred in the claim settlement process.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LiabilityForUnpaidClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpenseIncurredClaims1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LiabilityForUnpaidClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpenseIncurredClaimsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Liability as of the balance sheet date for amounts representing estimated cost of settling unpaid claims under the terms of the underlying insurance policies, less estimated reinsurance recoveries on such claims. This includes an estimate for claims which have been incurred but not reported. Claim adjustment expenses represent the costs estimated to be incurred in the settlement of unpaid claims.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(13)(a))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120400017&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 40
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (cc)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116884095&loc=d3e14764-158437

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 40
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116884095&loc=d3e14764-158437

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LiabilityForUnpaidClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpenseNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, after effects of reinsurance, of payments to settle insured claims and pay costs incurred in the claims settlement process.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 40
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116884095&loc=d3e14764-158437

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 25
-Subparagraph (g)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121586364&loc=d3e3536-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsForLossesAndLossAdjustmentExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, after valuation allowance, recoverable under reinsurance contracts for losses reported to the ceding insurer but not yet paid and amounts expected for incurred losses and settlement expenses, which have not yet been reported to the ceding insurer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 310
-Section 45
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99404803&loc=d3e21412-158489

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99397103&loc=d3e6824-158387

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 40
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116884095&loc=d3e14764-158437

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 40
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (cc)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116884095&loc=d3e14764-158437

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ReinsuranceRecoverableForUnpaidClaimsAndClaimsAdjustments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, after valuation allowance, recoverable under reinsurance contracts. Examples include, but are not limited to, settled and unsettled claims, incurred but not reported losses, loss adjustment expense, policy benefits and policy reserves. Excludes premiums paid under reinsurance contracts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 310
-Section 45
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99404803&loc=d3e21412-158489

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 310
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99404803&loc=d3e21409-158489

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99397103&loc=d3e6824-158387

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 825
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1B
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99380617&loc=SL75241803-196195

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ReinsuranceRecoverablesOnPaidAndUnpaidLosses
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ReinsuranceRecoverablesOnPaidAndUnpaidLossesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, after effects of reinsurance, of expense for claims incurred in the current reporting period and related claims settlement costs.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 40
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116884095&loc=d3e14764-158437

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SupplementalInformationForPropertyCasualtyInsuranceUnderwritersCurrentYearClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, after effects of reinsurance, of expense (reversal of expense) for claims incurred in prior reporting periods and related claims settlement costs.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SupplementalInformationForPropertyCasualtyInsuranceUnderwritersPriorYearClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis=us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdate201613Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: