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Special Purpose Entities, Including Variable Interest Entities - Summary of Carrying Amount of Assets, Liabilities and Maximum Exposure to Loss of Ambac's Variable Interests in Non-Consolidated Variable Interest Entities (Detail) (Variable interest entity [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Mar. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
--- | --- | ---
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |
Maximum Exposure To Loss | $ 87,781,977 | $ 93,517,995
Insurance Assets | 1,825,890 | 1,840,265
Insurance Liabilities | 7,417,924 | 7,463,635
Derivative Liabilities | 189,722 | 201,434
Global Structured Finance [Member] |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |
Maximum Exposure To Loss | 52,051,079 | 56,421,767
Insurance Assets | 1,301,581 | 1,298,086
Insurance Liabilities | 6,810,943 | 6,830,277
Derivative Liabilities | 160,252 | 172,771
Global Public Finance [Member] |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |
Maximum Exposure To Loss | 35,730,898 | 37,096,228
Insurance Assets | 524,309 | 542,179
Insurance Liabilities | 606,981 | 633,358
Derivative Liabilities | 29,470 | 28,663
Collateralized debt obligations [Member] | Global Structured Finance [Member] |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |
Maximum Exposure To Loss | 8,880,445 | 10,176,522
Insurance Assets | 7,656 | 9,673
Insurance Liabilities | 10,922 | 13,328
Derivative Liabilities | 104,544 | 113,057
Residential mortgage-backed securities [Member] | Global Structured Finance [Member] |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |
Maximum Exposure To Loss | 21,936,226 | 24,008,616
Insurance Assets | 645,742 | 603,867
Insurance Liabilities | 3,875,478 | 3,969,336
Mortgage-backed-commercial [Member] | Global Structured Finance [Member] |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |
Maximum Exposure To Loss | 610,872 | 643,387
Derivative Liabilities | 2,788 | 2,418
Other consumer asset-backed [Member] | Global Structured Finance [Member] |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |
Maximum Exposure To Loss | 5,755,161 | 5,895,377
Insurance Assets | 98,185 | 101,494
Insurance Liabilities | 1,120,657 | 1,042,522
Derivative Liabilities | 38,018 | 45,610
Other commercial asset-backed [Member] | Global Structured Finance [Member] |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |
Maximum Exposure To Loss | 9,611,024 | 10,192,858
Insurance Assets | 420,513 | 451,048
Insurance Liabilities | 1,196,286 | 1,215,074
Derivative Liabilities | 9,427 | 7,293
Other [Member] | Global Structured Finance [Member] |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |
Maximum Exposure To Loss | 5,257,351 | 5,505,007
Insurance Assets | 129,485 | 132,004
Insurance Liabilities | 607,600 | 590,017
Derivative Liabilities | $ 5,475 | $ 4,393

X
- Definition The net carrying amount of derivative assets or liabilities in the reporting entity's statement of financial position that relate to the entity's variable interests in Variable Interest Entities (VIEs) where the VIEs are not consolidated. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition The carrying amount of insurance assets in the reporting entity's statement of financial position that relate to the entity's variable interests in Variable Interest Entities (VIEs) where the VIEs are not consolidated. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The carrying amount of insurance liabilities in the reporting entity's statement of financial position that relate to the entity's variable interests in Variable Interest Entities (VIEs) where the VIEs are not consolidated. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The reporting entity's maximum amount of exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with the Variable Interest Entity (VIE). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph b -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7880789&loc=d3e5728-111685 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7880789&loc=d3e5747-111685 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Staff Position (FSP) -Number FAS140-4/FIN46(R) -Paragraph C6 -Subparagraph b -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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- Details
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Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
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Period Type: | duration