v2.4.0.6
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information Provided In Connection With Outstanding Debt Of Subsidiaries (Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Operations) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Mar. 31, 2012
Revenues    
Net premiums earned $ 271,255 $ 278,665
Net investment income 43,615 66,971
Net foreign exchange gains (losses) 1,756 (1,460)
Equity in earnings of other ventures 5,835 5,470
Other income (loss) 7,004 (39,094)
Net realized and unrealized gains on investments 13,850 46,113
Net other-than-temporary impairments 0 (134)
Total revenues 343,315 356,531
Expenses    
Net claims and claim expenses incurred 27,251 15,552
Acquisition expenses 25,009 24,111
Operational expenses 46,014 42,383
Corporate expenses 4,529 4,811
Interest expense 5,034 5,718
Total expenses 107,837 92,575
Income (loss) before equity in net income (loss) of subsidiaries and taxes 235,478 263,956
Equity in net income (loss) of subsidiaries 0 0
Income from continuing operations before taxes 235,478 263,956
Income tax (expense) benefit (122) 37
Income (loss) from continuing operations 235,356 263,993
Loss from discontinued operations 0 (173)
Net income 235,356 263,820
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (38,607) (53,641)
Net income attributable to RenaissanceRe 196,749 210,179
Dividends on preference shares (6,275) (8,750)
Net income available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders 190,474 201,429
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (Parent Guarantor) [Member]
    
Revenues    
Net premiums earned 0 0
Net investment income 1,550 4,448
Net foreign exchange gains (losses) (50) 20
Equity in earnings of other ventures 0 0
Other income (loss) 106 92
Net realized and unrealized gains on investments (1,286) 3,512
Net other-than-temporary impairments   0
Total revenues 320 8,072
Expenses    
Net claims and claim expenses incurred 0 0
Acquisition expenses 0 0
Operational expenses (1,222) (1,311)
Corporate expenses 3,902 4,178
Interest expense 734 1,469
Total expenses 3,414 4,336
Income (loss) before equity in net income (loss) of subsidiaries and taxes (3,094) 3,736
Equity in net income (loss) of subsidiaries 199,843 206,443
Income from continuing operations before taxes 196,749 210,179
Income tax (expense) benefit 0 0
Income (loss) from continuing operations   210,179
Loss from discontinued operations   0
Net income 196,749 210,179
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests 0 0
Net income attributable to RenaissanceRe 196,749 210,179
Dividends on preference shares (6,275) (8,750)
Net income available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders 190,474 201,429
RenRe North America Holdings Inc. (Subsidiary Issuer) [Member]
    
Revenues    
Net premiums earned 0 0
Net investment income 239 269
Net foreign exchange gains (losses) 0 0
Equity in earnings of other ventures 0 0
Other income (loss) (1,195) 0
Net realized and unrealized gains on investments 31 1,044
Net other-than-temporary impairments   0
Total revenues (925) 1,313
Expenses    
Net claims and claim expenses incurred 0 0
Acquisition expenses 0 0
Operational expenses 2,449 2,008
Corporate expenses 59 93
Interest expense 3,617 3,617
Total expenses 6,125 5,718
Income (loss) before equity in net income (loss) of subsidiaries and taxes (7,050) (4,405)
Equity in net income (loss) of subsidiaries 11,288 (30,268)
Income from continuing operations before taxes 4,238 (34,673)
Income tax (expense) benefit 308 (2,568)
Income (loss) from continuing operations   (37,241)
Loss from discontinued operations   (173)
Net income 4,546 (37,414)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests 0 0
Net income attributable to RenaissanceRe 4,546 (37,414)
Dividends on preference shares 0 0
Net income available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders 4,546 (37,414)
Other RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. Subsidiaries and Eliminations (Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries) [Member]
    
Revenues    
Net premiums earned 271,255 [1] 278,665 [1]
Net investment income 42,818 [1] 64,359 [1]
Net foreign exchange gains (losses) 1,806 [1] (1,480) [1]
Equity in earnings of other ventures 5,835 [1] 5,470 [1]
Other income (loss) 8,093 [1] (39,186) [1]
Net realized and unrealized gains on investments 15,105 [1] 41,557 [1]
Net other-than-temporary impairments   (134) [1]
Total revenues 344,912 [1] 349,251 [1]
Expenses    
Net claims and claim expenses incurred 27,251 [1] 15,552 [1]
Acquisition expenses 25,009 [1] 24,111 [1]
Operational expenses 44,935 [1] 41,686 [1]
Corporate expenses 568 [1] 540 [1]
Interest expense 683 [1] 632 [1]
Total expenses 98,446 [1] 82,521 [1]
Income (loss) before equity in net income (loss) of subsidiaries and taxes 246,466 [1] 266,730 [1]
Equity in net income (loss) of subsidiaries 0 [1] 0 [1]
Income from continuing operations before taxes 246,466 [1] 266,730 [1]
Income tax (expense) benefit (430) [1] 2,605 [1]
Income (loss) from continuing operations   269,335 [1]
Loss from discontinued operations   0 [1]
Net income 246,036 [1] 269,335 [1]
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (38,607) [1] (53,641) [1]
Net income attributable to RenaissanceRe 207,429 [1] 215,694 [1]
Dividends on preference shares 0 [1] 0 [1]
Net income available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders 207,429 [1] 215,694 [1]
Consolidating Adjustments [Member]
    
Revenues    
Net premiums earned 0 [2] 0 [2]
Net investment income (992) [2] (2,105) [2]
Net foreign exchange gains (losses) 0 [2] 0 [2]
Equity in earnings of other ventures 0 [2] 0 [2]
Other income (loss) 0 [2] 0 [2]
Net realized and unrealized gains on investments 0 [2] 0 [2]
Net other-than-temporary impairments   0 [2]
Total revenues (992) [2] (2,105) [2]
Expenses    
Net claims and claim expenses incurred 0 [2] 0 [2]
Acquisition expenses 0 [2] 0 [2]
Operational expenses (148) [2] 0 [2]
Corporate expenses 0 [2] 0 [2]
Interest expense 0 [2] 0 [2]
Total expenses (148) [2] 0 [2]
Income (loss) before equity in net income (loss) of subsidiaries and taxes (844) [2] (2,105) [2]
Equity in net income (loss) of subsidiaries (211,131) [2] (176,175) [2]
Income from continuing operations before taxes (211,975) [2] (178,280) [2]
Income tax (expense) benefit 0 [2] 0 [2]
Income (loss) from continuing operations   (178,280) [2]
Loss from discontinued operations   0 [2]
Net income (211,975) [2] (178,280) [2]
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests 0 [2] 0 [2]
Net income attributable to RenaissanceRe (211,975) [2] (178,280) [2]
Dividends on preference shares 0 [2] 0 [2]
Net income available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders $ (211,975) [2] $ (178,280) [2]
[1] Includes all other subsidiaries of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. and eliminations.
[2] Includes Parent Guarantor and Subsidiary Issuer consolidating adjustments.