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Derivative Instruments - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) | Mar. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
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Schedule Of Loans And Allowance For Loan By Class Individually And Collectively Evaluated For Impairment [Line Items] |  |
Value of right to reclaim cash collateral and posted margin, recorded in "Other assets" | $ 195,697,000 us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralRightToReclaimCash | $ 158,240,000 us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralRightToReclaimCash
Value of obligation to return cash collateral, recorded in "Other liabilities" | 0 us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralObligationToReturnCash | 0 us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralObligationToReturnCash
Net liability fair value of all derivative instruments linked to Ambac's own credit risk | 107,213,000 us-gaap_DerivativeNetLiabilityPositionAggregateFairValue | 92,869,000 us-gaap_DerivativeNetLiabilityPositionAggregateFairValue
Fair value of posted assets as collateral | 136,810,000 us-gaap_CollateralAlreadyPostedAggregateFairValue | 118,844,000 us-gaap_CollateralAlreadyPostedAggregateFairValue
Credit Derivatives [Member] |  |
Schedule Of Loans And Allowance For Loan By Class Individually And Collectively Evaluated For Impairment [Line Items] |  |
Number of credit derivative contracts | 4 ambc_NumberOfCreditDerivativeContractsOnAdverselyClassifiedCreditListing / us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis = ambc_CreditDerivativesMember | 4 ambc_NumberOfCreditDerivativeContractsOnAdverselyClassifiedCreditListing / us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis = ambc_CreditDerivativesMember
Net liability fair value of credit derivative contracts | 61,338,000 ambc_DerivativeLiabilityFairValueForCreditDerivativeContractsOnAdverselyClassifiedCreditListing / us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis = ambc_CreditDerivativesMember | 60,729,000 ambc_DerivativeLiabilityFairValueForCreditDerivativeContractsOnAdverselyClassifiedCreditListing / us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis = ambc_CreditDerivativesMember
Notional value of credit derivative contracts | $ 265,520,000 ambc_NotionalPrincipalOutstandingOfCreditDerivativeContractsOnAdverselyClassifiedCreditListing / us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis = ambc_CreditDerivativesMember | $ 270,747,000 ambc_NotionalPrincipalOutstandingOfCreditDerivativeContractsOnAdverselyClassifiedCreditListing / us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis = ambc_CreditDerivativesMember

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- Definition Derivative Liability Fair Value For Credit Derivative Contracts On Adversely Classified Credit Listing + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
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Balance Type: | credit
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- Definition Notional principal outstanding of Credit Derivative Contracts on adversely classified credit listing. + References No definition available. + Details
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Balance Type: | credit
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- Definition Number of Credit Derivative Contracts on adversely classified credit listing. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Details
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- Definition The aggregate fair value of assets that are already posted, at the end of the reporting period, as collateral for derivative instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4H -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=SL5624258-113959 + Details
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- Definition Amount of obligation to return cash collateral under master netting arrangements that have not been offset against derivative assets. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 20 -Section 55 -Paragraph 13 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36459792&loc=SL20226016-175313 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (d)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34720828&loc=SL20225862-175312 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=d3e41678-113959 + Details
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- Definition Amount of right to receive cash collateral under master netting arrangements that have not been offset against derivative liabilities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 20 -Section 55 -Paragraph 13 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36459792&loc=SL20226016-175313 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (d)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34720828&loc=SL20225862-175312 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=d3e41678-113959 + Details
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- Definition The aggregate fair value amounts of derivative instruments that contain credit-risk-related contingent features that are in a net liability position at the end of the reporting period. For nonderivative instruments that are designated and qualify as hedging instruments, the fair value amounts are the carrying value of the nonderivative hedging instrument, including the adjustment for the foreign currency transaction gain (loss) on that instrument. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4H -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=SL5624258-113959 + Details
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