Earnings per ordinary share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2025	Mar. 31, 2024
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Potential ordinary shares excluded from diluted weighted average ordinary shares	291,763	889,425
Net income/(loss) attributable to Burford Capital Limited shareholders	$ 30,929	$ (29,937)
Net income/(loss) attributable to Burford Capital Limited shareholders per ordinary share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.14	$ (0.14)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.14	$ (0.14)
Weighted average ordinary shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	219,299,857	218,933,963
Dilutive effect of share-based awards (in shares)	3,802,487	0
Diluted (in shares)	223,102,344	218,933,963

Securities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) or earnings per unit (EPU) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS or EPU because to do so would increase EPS or EPU amounts or decrease loss per share or unit amounts for the period presented.

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