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Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies Parent Companies' Liquidity (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 30, 2013
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]        
Capital contributions from parent $ 15.0us-gaap_ProceedsFromContributionsFromParent $ 45.0us-gaap_ProceedsFromContributionsFromParent $ 0us-gaap_ProceedsFromContributionsFromParent  
Statutory capital surplus, risk based capital, percent 200.00%pnx_StatutoryCapitalSurplusRiskBasedCapitalPercent 225.00%pnx_StatutoryCapitalSurplusRiskBasedCapitalPercent    
Phoenix Life        
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]        
Statutory capital surplus, risk based capital, percent 300.00%pnx_StatutoryCapitalSurplusRiskBasedCapitalPercent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= pnx_PhoenixLifeMember
     
Statutory capital surplus, guaranteed risk based capital, percent 250.00%pnx_StatutoryCapitalSurplusGuaranteedRiskBasedCapitalPercent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= pnx_PhoenixLifeMember
     
Statutory capital surplus, guaranteed risk based capital, company action level, percent 125.00%pnx_StatutoryCapitalSurplusGauranteedRiskBasedCapitalCompanyActionLevelPercent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= pnx_PhoenixLifeMember
     
Surplus Notes 10.5% | Surplus Note        
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]        
Debt instrument, face amount   $ 30.0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pnx_SurplusNotes10.5Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= pnx_SurplusNoteMember
  $ 30.0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pnx_SurplusNotes10.5Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= pnx_SurplusNoteMember