Condensed Consolidating Financial Information Provided In Connection With Outstanding Debt Of Subsidiaries (Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	$ 91,250	$ 188,061	$ 172,556	$ 178,181	$ 125,869	$ 112,277	$ 90,996	$ 213,100	$ 630,048	$ 542,242	$ 686,256
Change in net unrealized gains on investments									(975)	(1,308)	(715)
Comprehensive income (loss)									629,073	540,934	685,541
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests									(127,086)	(111,050)	(153,538)
Comprehensive income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests									(127,086)	(111,050)	(153,538)
Comprehensive income attributable to RenaissanceRe									501,987	429,884	532,003
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (Parent Guarantor)
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Comprehensive income attributable to RenaissanceRe									502,962	431,192	532,718
Reportable Legal Entities | RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (Parent Guarantor)
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)									502,962	431,192	532,718
Change in net unrealized gains on investments									0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss)									502,962	431,192	532,718
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to RenaissanceRe									502,962	431,192	532,718
Reportable Legal Entities | RenRe North America Holdings Inc. (Subsidiary Issuer)
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)									8,002	27,209	(327)
Change in net unrealized gains on investments									0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss)									8,002	27,209	(327)
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to RenaissanceRe									8,002	27,209	(327)
Reportable Legal Entities | Platinum Underwriters Finance, Inc. (Subsidiary Issuer)
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)									29,591	33,849
Change in net unrealized gains on investments									0	0
Comprehensive income (loss)									29,591	33,849
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests									0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests									0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to RenaissanceRe									29,591	33,849
Reportable Legal Entities | RenaissanceRe Finance, Inc. (Subsidiary Issuer)
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)									1,922	61,429
Change in net unrealized gains on investments									0	0
Comprehensive income (loss)									1,922	61,429
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests									0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests									0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to RenaissanceRe									1,922	61,429
Reportable Legal Entities | Other RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. Subsidiaries And Eliminations (Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries)
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)									681,025	579,273	709,600
Change in net unrealized gains on investments									(975)	(1,308)	(715)
Comprehensive income (loss)									680,050	577,965	708,885
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests									(127,086)	(111,050)	(153,538)
Comprehensive income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests									(127,086)	(111,050)	(153,538)
Comprehensive income attributable to RenaissanceRe									552,964	466,915	555,347
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)									(593,454)	(590,710)	(555,735)
Change in net unrealized gains on investments									0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss)									(593,454)	(590,710)	(555,735)
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to RenaissanceRe									$ (593,454)	$ (590,710)	$ (555,735)