Document and Entity Information (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	HCC INSURANCE HOLDINGS INC/DE/
Entity Central Index Key	0000888919
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2013
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float		$ 3,100,000,000
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	100,400,000