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Financial Guarantees in Force - Summary of Financial Guarantee Portfolio Diversification by Type of Guaranteed Bond (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
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Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Net Par Amount Outstanding | $ 144,734,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce | $ 179,092,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce
Public Finance [Member] |  |
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Net Par Amount Outstanding | 93,448,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = ambc_PublicFinanceMember | 116,062,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = ambc_PublicFinanceMember
Public Finance [Member] | Lease and Tax-backed Revenue [Member] |  |
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Net Par Amount Outstanding | 33,411,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = ambc_LeaseAndTaxBackedRevenueMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = ambc_PublicFinanceMember | 41,858,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = ambc_LeaseAndTaxBackedRevenueMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = ambc_PublicFinanceMember
Public Finance [Member] | General Obligation [Member] |  |
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Net Par Amount Outstanding | 22,699,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = ambc_GeneralObligationMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = ambc_PublicFinanceMember | 29,115,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = ambc_GeneralObligationMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = ambc_PublicFinanceMember
Public Finance [Member] | Utility Revenue [Member] |  |
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Net Par Amount Outstanding | 11,687,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = ambc_UtilityRevenueMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = ambc_PublicFinanceMember | 14,933,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = ambc_UtilityRevenueMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = ambc_PublicFinanceMember
Public Finance [Member] | Transportation Revenue [Member] |  |
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Net Par Amount Outstanding | 7,738,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = ambc_TransportationRevenuesMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = ambc_PublicFinanceMember | 9,653,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = ambc_TransportationRevenuesMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = ambc_PublicFinanceMember
Public Finance [Member] | Higher Education [Member] |  |
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Net Par Amount Outstanding | 6,389,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = ambc_HigherEducationMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = ambc_PublicFinanceMember | 7,810,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = ambc_HigherEducationMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = ambc_PublicFinanceMember
Public Finance [Member] | Housing Revenue [Member] |  |
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Net Par Amount Outstanding | 7,108,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = ambc_HousingRevenueMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = ambc_PublicFinanceMember | 7,439,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = ambc_HousingRevenueMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = ambc_PublicFinanceMember
Public Finance [Member] | Health Care Revenue [Member] |  |
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Net Par Amount Outstanding | 3,106,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = ambc_HealthCareRevenueMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = ambc_PublicFinanceMember | 3,903,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = ambc_HealthCareRevenueMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = ambc_PublicFinanceMember
Public Finance [Member] | Other [Member] |  |
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Net Par Amount Outstanding | 1,310,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = ambc_OtherPublicFinanceMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = ambc_PublicFinanceMember | 1,351,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = ambc_OtherPublicFinanceMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = ambc_PublicFinanceMember
Structured Finance [Member] |  |
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Net Par Amount Outstanding | 26,334,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_StructuredFinanceMember | 31,412,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_StructuredFinanceMember
Structured Finance [Member] | Mortgage-backed and Home Equity [Member] |  |
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Net Par Amount Outstanding | 13,686,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = ambc_MortgageBackedAndHomeEquityMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_StructuredFinanceMember | 16,026,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = ambc_MortgageBackedAndHomeEquityMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_StructuredFinanceMember
Structured Finance [Member] | Investor-owned Utilities [Member] |  |
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Net Par Amount Outstanding | 5,411,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = ambc_InvestorOwnedUtilitiesMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_StructuredFinanceMember | 5,881,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = ambc_InvestorOwnedUtilitiesMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_StructuredFinanceMember
Structured Finance [Member] | Student Loan [Member] |  |
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Net Par Amount Outstanding | 3,390,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = ambc_StudentLoansMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_StructuredFinanceMember | 4,357,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = ambc_StudentLoansMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_StructuredFinanceMember
Structured Finance [Member] | Asset-backed Securities [Member] |  |
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Net Par Amount Outstanding | 1,335,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_StructuredFinanceMember | 2,361,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_StructuredFinanceMember
Structured Finance [Member] | Collateralized Debt Obligations [Member] |  |
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Net Par Amount Outstanding | 637,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = us-gaap_CollateralizedDebtObligationsMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_StructuredFinanceMember | 897,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = us-gaap_CollateralizedDebtObligationsMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_StructuredFinanceMember
Structured Finance [Member] | Other [Member] |  |
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Net Par Amount Outstanding | 1,875,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = ambc_OtherStructuredFinanceMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_StructuredFinanceMember | 1,890,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = ambc_OtherStructuredFinanceMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_StructuredFinanceMember
International Finance [Member] |  |
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Net Par Amount Outstanding | 24,952,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = ambc_InternationalFinanceMember | 31,618,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = ambc_InternationalFinanceMember
International Finance [Member] | Mortgage-backed and Home Equity [Member] |  |
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Net Par Amount Outstanding | 410,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = ambc_MortgageBackedAndHomeEquityMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = ambc_InternationalFinanceMember | 484,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = ambc_MortgageBackedAndHomeEquityMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = ambc_InternationalFinanceMember
International Finance [Member] | Asset-backed Securities [Member] |  |
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Net Par Amount Outstanding | 4,442,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = ambc_InternationalFinanceMember | 6,884,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = ambc_InternationalFinanceMember
International Finance [Member] | Collateralized Debt Obligations [Member] |  |
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Net Par Amount Outstanding | 233,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = us-gaap_CollateralizedDebtObligationsMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = ambc_InternationalFinanceMember | 822,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = us-gaap_CollateralizedDebtObligationsMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = ambc_InternationalFinanceMember
International Finance [Member] | Investor-owned and Public Utilities [Member] |  |
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Net Par Amount Outstanding | 8,455,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = ambc_InvestorOwnedAndPublicUtilitiesMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = ambc_InternationalFinanceMember | 9,595,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = ambc_InvestorOwnedAndPublicUtilitiesMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = ambc_InternationalFinanceMember
International Finance [Member] | Sovereign/Sub-sovereign [Member] |  |
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Net Par Amount Outstanding | 6,758,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = ambc_SovereignAndSubSovereignMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = ambc_InternationalFinanceMember | 7,394,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = ambc_SovereignAndSubSovereignMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = ambc_InternationalFinanceMember
International Finance [Member] | Transportation [Member] |  |
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Net Par Amount Outstanding | 3,425,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = ambc_TransportationMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = ambc_InternationalFinanceMember | 5,021,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = ambc_TransportationMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = ambc_InternationalFinanceMember
International Finance [Member] | Other [Member] |  |
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Net Par Amount Outstanding | $ 1,229,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = ambc_OtherInternationalFinanceMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = ambc_InternationalFinanceMember | $ 1,418,000 us-gaap_ParticipatingPoliciesAmountInForce / us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis = ambc_OtherInternationalFinanceMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = ambc_InternationalFinanceMember

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- Definition The amount as of the balance sheet date of the participating business in force. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 50 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6483535&loc=d3e16392-158451 + Details
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