Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Oct. 24, 2018
Document and Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP INC
Entity Central Index Key	0001126328
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2018
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		283,048,481
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3