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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) | 0 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Jan. 09, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2014 Segment | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number of reportable segments |  | 4 us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments |  |
Loss on sale of Axiom Re |  | $ 47,425,000 us-gaap_GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets1 |  |
Average annual operating profit earned period, minimum (years) |  | 1 year | 1 year | 1 year
Average annual operating profit earned period, maximum (years) |  | 3 years | 3 years | 3 years
Fair value of long term debt |  | 650,000,000 us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue | 650,000,000 us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue |
Short-term notes carrying value |  | 25,000,000 us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowings |  |
Revolving and term loan | 50,000,000 bro_DebtInstrumentRevolvingAndTermLoan |  |  |
Non-compete agreements [Member] |  |  |  |
Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Estimated lives of amortizable intangible assets |  | 6 years 9 months 18 days | 7 years |
Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |
Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Estimated useful lives of the related assets |  | 3 years |  |
Minimum [Member] | Non-compete agreements [Member] |  |  |  |
Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Estimated lives of amortizable intangible assets |  | 5 years |  |
Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |
Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Estimated useful lives of the related assets |  | 15 years |  |
Maximum [Member] | Non-compete agreements [Member] |  |  |  |
Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Estimated lives of amortizable intangible assets |  | 15 years |  |
J P Morgan Credit Facility [Member] |  |  |  |
Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Revolving and term loan |  | $ 550,000,000 bro_DebtInstrumentRevolvingAndTermLoan / us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis = bro_JpmCreditFacilityMember |  |

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- Definition Amount of gain (loss) on sale or disposal of assets, including but not limited to property plant and equipment, intangible assets and equity in securities of subsidiaries or equity method investee. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8077374&loc=d3e2443-110228 + Details
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- Definition The fair value amount of long-term debt whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. + References No definition available. + Details
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