Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended					0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	0 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013 Indemnification guaranties ClearPoint loan	Dec. 31, 2013 Homeward Indemnification guaranties ClearPoint loan	Dec. 31, 2013 Homeward Indemnification guaranties ClearPoint Maximum	Dec. 31, 2013 ClearPoint	Dec. 31, 2012 ClearPoint	Feb. 14, 2013 ClearPoint Homeward Indemnification guaranties	Dec. 31, 2013 Other employees	Dec. 31, 2013 Employment Agreements - Company's General Counsel and Secretary and its Controller General Counsel and Controller	Dec. 31, 2013 Settlement	Oct. 17, 2013 Settlement Former employee Gleacher Securities	Aug. 31, 2012 Senior Management Compensation and Retention Plan item	Dec. 31, 2013 Senior Management Compensation and Retention Plan Former Chief Executive Officer and Former Chief Operating Officer	Aug. 31, 2012 Senior Management Compensation and Retention Plan Change in control	Sep. 17, 2013 Arbitration - Thomas Hughes and John Griff Senior Management Compensation and Retention Plan Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer	Dec. 31, 2013 Arbitration - Thomas Hughes and John Griff Senior Management Compensation and Retention Plan Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer	May 24, 2013 Arbitration - Thomas Hughes and John Griff Senior Management Compensation and Retention Plan Change in control Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer	Dec. 31, 2013 Arbitration - Thomas Hughes and John Griff Senior Management Compensation and Retention Plan Change in control Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer
Commitments and contingencies
Number of executive officers participating in agreement													4
Cash payment to be made to executive officers on termination of employment, in connection with a Change in Control (as defined)																		$ 7,000,000	$ 0
Period before change in control within which the cash payment is made following an involuntary termination of employment under certain circumstances															6 months			6 months
Period after change in control within which the cash payment is made following an involuntary termination of employment under certain circumstances															2 years
Money damages sought																7,900,000
Potential Severance payment, upon execution and delivery of a release of claims against the Company														750,000
Restricted stock held by Mr. Griff which would have vested under Restricted Stock Award Agreement, upon execution and delivery of a release of claims against the Company														20,833
Employee-related Liabilities	1,907,000	34,199,000															0
Amount paid												2,900,000
Legal costs reimbursed												600,000
Settlement charge	3,146,000										3,200,000
Bonus guarantees to certain officers										3,550,000
Compensation charge										1,900,000
Compensation paid										1,000,000
Accrued compensation										900,000
Other Compensation Matters
Compensation charge									800,000
Bonus guarantees to other employees									1,000,000
Escrow Deposit								5,000,000
Period following the closing date for escrow account								3 years
Maximum amount of guarantee provided								7,500,000
Amount payable by Parent under the guaranty only in limited circumstances								5,000,000
Number of loans requested to be repurchased			2	2
Losses on loans requested to be repurchased					(100,000)
Period of loans refinanced following the date of purchase for which premiums received are to be reimbursed				180 days
Amount of reimbursement for premiums received in connection with loans refinanced within 180 days following the date of purchase				100,000
Amount of indemnification obligations paid			100,000
Reserve for loan repurchases and indemnification claims						$ 400,000	$ 400,000

GLEACHER & COMPANY, INC. 10-K