Noncontrolling Interest, Change from Purchase or Sale of Interests

No definition available.

Name:	rnr_NoncontrollingInterestChangefromPurchaseorSaleofInterests
Namespace Prefix:	rnr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents a sale (new stock issuance) by a subsidiary to noncontrolling interests (third parties, parties directly or indirectly unrelated to parent) during the period. The capital transaction by subsidiary does not result in a loss of control by the parent, but does effect a change in total (consolidated) equity attributable to the parent.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84161450&loc=SL4573702-111684

+ Details

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

- Definition

The parent entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of or advances to an entity that is related to it but not strictly controlled (for example, an unconsolidated subsidiary, affiliate, and joint venture or equity method investment) or the acquisition of an additional interest in a subsidiary (controlled entity).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3213-108585

+ Details

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

- Definition

Detail information of subsequent event by type. User is expected to use existing line items from elsewhere in the taxonomy as the primary line items for this disclosure, which is further associated with dimension and member elements pertaining to a subsequent event.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Percentage of the Variable Interest Entity's (VIE) voting interest owned by (or beneficial interest in) the reporting entity (directly or indirectly).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5A
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77990344&loc=SL6759159-111685

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=rnr_DaVinciReHoldingsLtd.Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=rnr_UpsilonRFOReLtd.Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis=us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis=rnr_RenaissanceReHoldingsLtd.Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis=us-gaap_PreferredStockMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Subsequent Events (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		1 Months Ended		9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Subsequent Events (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Oct. 01, 2017	Jul. 31, 2017	Jan. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Jul. 01, 2017	Jan. 01, 2017	Jan. 01, 2016
DaVinciRe Holdings Ltd.
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest, change from purchase or sale of interests		$ 12.0	$ 24.0
Parent company ownership in redeemable noncontrolling interest				23.50%	24.00%	23.50%	22.60%	24.00%
DaVinciRe Holdings Ltd. \| Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Issuance of equity to third party investors	$ 248.6
Noncontrolling interest, change from purchase or sale of interests	$ 49.7
Parent company ownership in redeemable noncontrolling interest	22.10%
Upsilon RFO Re Ltd. \| Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary \| RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Variable interest entity, ownership percentage				10.10%	28.80%
Upsilon RFO Re Ltd. \| Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary \| Preference Shares
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Issuance of equity to third party investors				$ 134.1	$ 166.6
Contributions to subsidiaries				$ 9.5	$ 55.2
Upsilon RFO Re Ltd. \| Subsequent Event \| Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary \| RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Variable interest entity, ownership percentage	16.00%
Upsilon RFO Re Ltd. \| Subsequent Event \| Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary \| Preference Shares
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Issuance of equity to third party investors	$ 46.5
Contributions to subsidiaries	$ 17.7