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Debt (Details 2) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Nov. 16, 2012
May 18, 2009
Sep. 05, 2012
Dec. 05, 2006
Oct. 16, 2006
Long-Term Debt              
Long-term debt $ 2,531.2us-gaap_LongTermDebt $ 2,601.4us-gaap_LongTermDebt          
1.85% notes payable, due 2017              
Long-Term Debt              
Long-term debt interest rate (as a percent) 1.85%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_NotesPayable1.85PercentDue2017Member
1.85%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_NotesPayable1.85PercentDue2017Member
1.85%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_NotesPayable1.85PercentDue2017Member
       
Long-term debt 299.8us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_NotesPayable1.85PercentDue2017Member
299.8us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_NotesPayable1.85PercentDue2017Member
         
8.875% notes payable, due 2019              
Long-Term Debt              
Long-term debt interest rate (as a percent) 8.875%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_NotesPayable8.875PercentDue2019Member
8.875%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_NotesPayable8.875PercentDue2019Member
  8.875%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_NotesPayable8.875PercentDue2019Member
     
Long-term debt 350.0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_NotesPayable8.875PercentDue2019Member
350.0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_NotesPayable8.875PercentDue2019Member
         
3.3% notes payable, due 2022              
Long-Term Debt              
Long-term debt interest rate (as a percent) 3.30%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_NotesPayable3.3PercentDue2022Member
3.30%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_NotesPayable3.3PercentDue2022Member
    3.30%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_NotesPayable3.3PercentDue2022Member
   
Long-term debt 299.1us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_NotesPayable3.3PercentDue2022Member
299.0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_NotesPayable3.3PercentDue2022Member
         
3.125% notes payable, due 2023              
Long-Term Debt              
Long-term debt interest rate (as a percent) 3.125%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_NotesPayable3.125PercentDue2023Member
3.125%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_NotesPayable3.125PercentDue2023Member
3.125%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_NotesPayable3.125PercentDue2023Member
       
Long-term debt 299.6us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_NotesPayable3.125PercentDue2023Member
299.6us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_NotesPayable3.125PercentDue2023Member
         
6.05% notes payable, due 2036              
Long-Term Debt              
Long-term debt interest rate (as a percent) 6.05%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_NotesPayable6.05PercentDue2036Member
6.05%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_NotesPayable6.05PercentDue2036Member
      6.05%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_NotesPayable6.05PercentDue2036Member
6.05%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_NotesPayable6.05PercentDue2036Member
Long-term debt 601.6us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_NotesPayable6.05PercentDue2036Member
601.6us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_NotesPayable6.05PercentDue2036Member
         
4.625% notes payable, due 2042              
Long-Term Debt              
Long-term debt interest rate (as a percent) 4.625%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_NotesPayable4.625PercentDue2042Member
4.625%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_NotesPayable4.625PercentDue2042Member
    4.625%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_NotesPayable4.625PercentDue2042Member
   
Long-term debt 299.5us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_NotesPayable4.625PercentDue2042Member
299.5us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_NotesPayable4.625PercentDue2042Member
         
4.35% notes payable, due 2043              
Long-Term Debt              
Long-term debt interest rate (as a percent) 4.35%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_NotesPayable4.35PercentDue2043Member
4.35%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_NotesPayable4.35PercentDue2043Member
4.35%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_NotesPayable4.35PercentDue2043Member
       
Long-term debt 299.3us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_NotesPayable4.35PercentDue2043Member
299.3us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_NotesPayable4.35PercentDue2043Member
         
8% surplus notes payable, due 2044              
Long-Term Debt              
Long-term debt interest rate (as a percent) 8.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_SurplusNotesPayable8PercentDue2044Member
8.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_SurplusNotesPayable8PercentDue2044Member
         
Long-term debt   99.3us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_SurplusNotesPayable8PercentDue2044Member
         
Non-recourse mortgages and notes payable              
Long-Term Debt              
Long-term debt interest rate (as a percent)   5.50%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_NonRecourseMortgagesAndNotesPayableMember
         
Long-term debt $ 82.3us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_NonRecourseMortgagesAndNotesPayableMember
$ 53.3us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pfg_NonRecourseMortgagesAndNotesPayableMember