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Insurance Premiums (Narrative) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Insurance Premiums [Line Items]
Premiums receivable	$ 369	$ 409	$ 792
Weighted average risk-free rate	2.80%	2.80%
Weighted average expected collection term of the premiums receivable, years	9 years 5 months 12 days	10 years 25 days
Reinsurance premiums payable	$ 25	$ 26
Other Liabilities [Member] | MBIA UK [Member]
Insurance Premiums [Line Items]
Reinsurance premiums payable		$ 6

X

- Definition

Insurance Premiums Line Items

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mbi_InsurancePremiumsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	mbi_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Weighted average period over which premium receivable for financial guarantee insurance contracts is collected where premium is received over the contract period, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 310
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(5)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933075&loc=SL5748726-161290

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

This element represents the weighted average risk free rate used to discount the premiums expected to be collected for financial guarantee insurance contracts where the premium is to be received over the contract period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 310
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(4)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933075&loc=SL5748726-161290

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The carrying amount as of the balance sheet date due the entity from (a) agents and insureds, (b) uncollected premiums and (c) others, net of the allowance for doubtful accounts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.(a),5)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

The carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the known and estimated amounts owed to insurers under reinsurance treaties or other arrangements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.13(a)(3),(c))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

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

X

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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- Details

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