Condensed Consolidating Financial Information Provided In Connection With Outstanding Debt Of Subsidiaries (Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	$ 188,061	$ 112,277	$ 538,798	$ 416,373
Change in net unrealized gains on investments	284	(733)	513	(1,156)
Comprehensive income	188,345	111,544	539,311	415,217
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests	(35,641)	(31,153)	(110,867)	(82,982)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(35,641)	(31,153)	(110,867)	(82,982)
Comprehensive income attributable to RenaissanceRe	152,704	80,391	428,444	332,235
Reportable Legal Entities | RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (Parent Guarantor)
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	152,420	81,124	427,931	333,391
Change in net unrealized gains on investments	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income	152,420	81,124	427,931	333,391
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to RenaissanceRe	152,420	81,124	427,931	333,391
Reportable Legal Entities | RenRe North America Holdings Inc. (Subsidiary Issuer)
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	2,941	216	6,109	29,196
Change in net unrealized gains on investments	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income	2,941	216	6,109	29,196
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to RenaissanceRe	2,941	216	6,109	29,196
Reportable Legal Entities | Platinum Underwriters Finance, Inc. (Subsidiary Issuer)
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	(1,731)	10,444	36,096	16,247
Change in net unrealized gains on investments	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income	(1,731)	10,444	36,096	16,247
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to RenaissanceRe	(1,731)	10,444	36,096	16,247
Reportable Legal Entities | RenaissanceRe Finance, Inc. (Subsidiary Issuer)
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	(7,511)	5,859	15,409	52,741
Change in net unrealized gains on investments	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income	(7,511)	5,859	15,409	52,741
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to RenaissanceRe	(7,511)	5,859	15,409	52,741
Reportable Legal Entities | Other RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. Subsidiaries And Eliminations (Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries)
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	203,405	135,394	561,078	457,116
Change in net unrealized gains on investments	284	(733)	513	(1,156)
Comprehensive income	203,689	134,661	561,591	455,960
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests	(35,641)	(31,153)	(110,867)	(82,982)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(35,641)	(31,153)	(110,867)	(82,982)
Comprehensive income attributable to RenaissanceRe	168,048	103,508	450,724	372,978
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	(161,463)	(120,760)	(507,825)	(472,318)
Change in net unrealized gains on investments	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income	(161,463)	(120,760)	(507,825)	(472,318)
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to RenaissanceRe	$ (161,463)	$ (120,760)	$ (507,825)	$ (472,318)