v2.4.0.8

INVESTMENTS (DETAILS 9) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Fair Value (fixed maturities)	$ 11,986,327	$ 11,928,049
Decrease in credit loss impairments due to maturity	215	252
Realized gains on maturity	175,496	278,493	260,288
Non-US Government [Member]
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Fair Value (fixed maturities)	1,176,382	1,104,576
Non-US Government [Member] | eurozone [Member]
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Fair Value (fixed maturities)	161,000	217,000
CMBS [Member]
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Fair Value (fixed maturities)	797,414	840,084
CMBS [Member] | Weighted Average [Member]
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Subordination percentage input for determining credit losses	30.00%	30.00%
Non-Agency RMBS [Member]
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Fair Value (fixed maturities)	67,567	95,199
Non-Agency RMBS [Member] | Prime [Member]
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Fair Value (fixed maturities)	41,000	65,000
Non-Agency RMBS [Member] | Alt A [Member]
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Fair Value (fixed maturities)	19,000	22,000
CLO Debt Tranched Securities [Member]
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Fair Value (fixed maturities)	$ 30,000	$ 53,000
Default rate input for determining credit losses	4.00%	4.00%
Loss severity rate input for determining credit losses	53.50%	53.50%
CLO Debt Tranched Securities [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Collateral spread input for determining credit losses	2.70%	2.50%
CLO Debt Tranched Securities [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Collateral spread input for determining credit losses	3.50%	3.70%

X

- Definition

This item represents the difference between the interest yield on the underlying collateral assets and the yield on the security (i.e. the collateral spread) when the collateral spread was considered as one of the potential factors in reaching a conclusion that the available-for-sale investments are other than temporarily impaired and the amount of such impairment determined to be related to credit loss recognized in earnings.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	axs_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

This item represents the current level of subordination of the entity's receipt of consideration should the assets underlying the security be liquidated when the level of subordination was considered as one of the potential factors in reaching a conclusion that the available-for-sale investments are other than temporarily impaired and the amount of such impairment determined to be related to credit loss recognized in earnings.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	axs_
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X

- Definition

This item represents the loss severity rate of the underlying assets in the security that was considered as one of the potential factors in reaching a conclusion that the available-for-sale investments are other than temporarily impaired and the amount of such impairment determined to be related to credit loss recognized in earnings.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	axs_
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X

- Definition

Amount of debt securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 25

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28360136&loc=d3e22054-111558



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6871852&loc=d3e26610-111562



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (aa)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27161-111563



Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 320

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (b)-(g)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6957658&loc=d3e62557-112803

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Balance Type:	debit
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X

- Definition

This item represents the gross profit realized on the sale of debt or equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 9

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27357-111563

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

X

- Definition

This item represents reductions in the cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings for an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) of a debt security because of the sale of impaired securities during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 8

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27340-111563

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Balance Type:	credit
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X

- Definition

This item represents the default rate of the underlying assets in the security that was considered as one of the potential factors in reaching a conclusion that the available-for-sale investments are other than temporarily impaired and the amount of such impairment determined to be related to credit loss recognized in earnings.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 8A

-Subparagraph a.1.

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=SL6284381-111563

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