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Investments (Number of Securities in an Unrealized Unrecognized Loss Position) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012 security	Dec. 31, 2011 security
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Number of securities in an unrealized/unrecognized loss position	155	141
Unrealized Unrecognized Loss	$ 8,029,000	$ 10,635,000
Decrease in unrealized/unrecognized losses	2,600,000
Securities In Unrealized Unrecognized Loss Position For More Than Twelve Months Unrealized Unrecognized Loss	4,400,000	4,900,000
Non-Credit OTTI Charges	2,600,000	2,100,000
Decline in fair value percentage	4.00%	6.00%
Eighty Percent to Ninety-Nine Percent [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Number of securities in an unrealized/unrecognized loss position	153	140
Unrealized Unrecognized Loss	6,071,000	10,166,000
Sixty Percent to Seventy-Nine Percent [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Number of securities in an unrealized/unrecognized loss position	1	0
Unrealized Unrecognized Loss	1,516,000	0
Forty Percent to Fifty-Nine Percent [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Number of securities in an unrealized/unrecognized loss position	1	1
Unrealized Unrecognized Loss	442,000	469,000
Twenty Percent to Thirty-Nine Percent [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Number of securities in an unrealized/unrecognized loss position	0	0
Unrealized Unrecognized Loss	0	0
Zero Percent to Nineteen Percent [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Number of securities in an unrealized/unrecognized loss position	0	0
Unrealized Unrecognized Loss	$ 0	$ 0

X

- Definition

Non-credit portion of other-than-temporary impairment losses on fixed maturity securities recognized in other comprehensive income that have been in a loss position for more than twelve months. This item includes subsequent changes to these securities such as amortization on HTM securities or subsequent sales. This item does not include subsequent changes in appreciation or loss in value.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sigi_NonCreditPortionOfOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesRecognizedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPositionMoreThanTwelveMonths
Namespace Prefix:	sigi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

This item contains disclosure of the number of available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities determined to be in an unrealized/unrecognized loss position.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sigi_NumberOfSecuritiesInUnrealizedUnrecognizedLossPosition
Namespace Prefix:	sigi_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

This item represents the percentage decline in fair value of fixed maturity securities compared to amortized cost that have been in a loss position for more than twelve months. This impairment has been determined to be temporary.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sigi_PercentageDeclineInFairValuePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	sigi_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Represents total unrealized and unrecognized losses of all available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities in an unrealized and unrecognized loss position for more than 12 months as of the end of the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sigi_SecuritiesInUnrealizedUnrecognizedLossPositionForMoreThanTwelveMonthsUnrealizedUnrecognizedLoss
Namespace Prefix:	sigi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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X

- Definition

This item represents the sum of (i) the excess of amortized cost over fair value for available-for-sale securities that are in a loss position and (ii) the market fluctuations on held-to-maturity securities from the later of (a) the date a security is designated as held-to-maturity; or (b) the date that an other-than-temporary impairment charge is recognized on a held-to-maturity security for securities that are in an unrecognized loss position.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sigi_UnrealizedUnrecognizedLoss
Namespace Prefix:	sigi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Represents the increase or decrease in unrealized/unrecognized losses for available-for-sale and held-to-maturities securities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sigi_UnrealizedUnrecognizedLossesPeriodIncreaseDecrease
Namespace Prefix:	sigi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

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