Amortized cost of portfolio rated below investment grade.

No definition available.

Name:	lnc_AmortizedCostOfPortfolioRatedBelowInvestmentGrade
Namespace Prefix:	lnc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents the change in gross unrealized holding gain or loss on available-for-sale securities that has been included in accumulated other comprehensive income, a separate component of shareholders' equity, during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lnc_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesChangeInGrossUnrealizedHoldingGainLoss
Namespace Prefix:	lnc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of the fair value of portfolio that was rated investment grade as of balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lnc_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesFairValueDisclosurePercentInvestmentGrade
Namespace Prefix:	lnc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value of portfolio rated below investment grade.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lnc_FairValueOfPortfolioRatedBelowInvestmentGrade
Namespace Prefix:	lnc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents total investment commitments as of the balance sheet date for fixed maturity available-for-sale securities, limited partnerships, real estate and mortgage loans on real estate.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lnc_InvestmentCommitments
Namespace Prefix:	lnc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents investment commitments as of the balance sheet date for limited partnerships.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lnc_InvestmentCommitmentsLimitedPartnerships
Namespace Prefix:	lnc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents investment commitments as of the balance sheet date for private placements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lnc_InvestmentCommitmentsLimitedPrivatePlacements
Namespace Prefix:	lnc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents investment commitments as of the balance sheet date for mortgage loans.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lnc_InvestmentCommitmentsMortgageLoans
Namespace Prefix:	lnc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Largest concentration percentage of mortgage loans on commercial real estate throughout the U.S.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lnc_LargestMortgageLoanConcentrationInGeographicRegion
Namespace Prefix:	lnc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of partnerships represented in alternative investment portfolio.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lnc_NumberOfPartnershipsInAlternativeInvestmentPortfolio
Namespace Prefix:	lnc_
Data Type:	xbrli:positiveIntegerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Total other-than-temporary impairment for available-for-sale securities backed by pools of residential and commercial mortgages recognized during the reporting period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lnc_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentForAfsSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfMortgages
Namespace Prefix:	lnc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Other-than-temporary impairment for available-for-sale securities backed by pools of residential and commercial mortgages relating to credit losses and recognized in net income (loss) during the reporting period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lnc_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentForAfsSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfMortgagesRealized
Namespace Prefix:	lnc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Other-than-temporary impairment for available-for-sale securities backed by pools of residential and commercial mortgages relating to factors other than credit losses and recognized in other comprehensive income during the reporting period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lnc_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentForAfsSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfMortgagesUnrealized
Namespace Prefix:	lnc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents the default rate (as a percentage) of the underlying assets in the security that was considered as one of the potential factors in reaching a conclusion that the available-for-sale investments are other than temporarily impaired and the amount of such impairment determined to be related to credit loss recognized in earnings (high end of range).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lnc_ProjectedDefaultRateOnExistingDeliquenciesPercentHighEndOfRange
Namespace Prefix:	lnc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lnc_ProjectedDefaultRateOnExistingDeliquenciesPercentLowEndOfRange
Namespace Prefix:	lnc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents the loss severity as a percentage of first lien loans that was considered as one of the potential factors in reaching a conclusion that the available-for-sale investments are other than temporarily impaired and the amount of such impairment determined to be related to credit loss recognized in earnings.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lnc_SeverityOfFirstLienLoansAssumedMimimumPercent
Namespace Prefix:	lnc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents the loss severity as a percentage of defaulted second lien loans that was considered as one of the potential factors in reaching a conclusion that the available-for-sale investments are other than temporarily impaired and the amount of such impairment determined to be related to credit loss recognized in earnings.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lnc_SeverityOfSecondLienDefaultedLoans
Namespace Prefix:	lnc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

For an entity that discloses a concentration risk in relation to quantitative amount, which serves as the "benchmark" (or denominator) in the equation, this concept represents the concentration percentage derived from the division.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 21

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7491637&loc=d3e13537-108611

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 275

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 20

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6927468&loc=d3e6404-108592

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 20

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7491637&loc=d3e13531-108611

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 275

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 18

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6927468&loc=d3e6351-108592

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents disclosure of all significant concentrations of credit risk or market risk arising from the subject financial instrument (as defined), whether from an individual counterparty or groups of counterparties.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 115

-Paragraph 13

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Available-for-Sale Securities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6505594

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 115

-Paragraph 12

-Subparagraph a

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 107

-Paragraph 15A

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 107

-Paragraph 15C

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 107

-Paragraph 15D

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Trading Securities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6526789

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 25

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7534914&loc=d3e22054-111558

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph a, f, g

-Article 7

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Investments (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended					3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013 item	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012 item	Sep. 30, 2013 California and Texas [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 California and Texas [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation	Dec. 31, 2012 Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation	Sep. 30, 2013 Fannie Mae	Dec. 31, 2012 Fannie Mae	Sep. 30, 2013 Electric Industry [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Electric Industry [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Banking Industry [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Banking Industry [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Corporate Bonds [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Corporate Bonds [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 CDOs [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 CDOs [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 MBS [Member]
Total OTTI for AFS securities backed by pools of residential and commercial mortgages	$ 23	$ 6
OTTI for AFS securities backed by pools of residential and commercial mortgages recognized in OCI	1	(31)
OTTI for AFS securities backed by pools of residential and commercial mortgages recognized in net income (loss)	22	37
Increase in gross AFS securities unrealized losses	799
Largest mortgage loan concentration in geographic region				32.00%	32.00%
Number of partnerships in alternative investment portfolio	108		98
Percentage of fair value rated as investment grade														96.00%	96.00%	94.00%	93.00%
Amortized cost of portfolio rated below investment grade														3,100	3,000	18	21
Fair value of portfolio rated below investment grade														3,000	2,900	12	13
Projected default rate on existing delinquencies on MBS (low end of range)																		10.00%
Projected default rate on existing delinquencies on MBS (high end of range)																		100.00%
Severity of second lien loans																		100.00%
Severity of first lien loans																		30.00%
Investment commitments	1,200
Investment commitments for limited partnerships	389
Investment commitments for private placements	517
Investment commitments for mortgage loans on real estate	285
Fair value						$ 2,800	$ 3,800	$ 1,800	$ 2,200	$ 8,700	$ 8,700	$ 4,900	$ 4,900
Concentration risk, percentage						3.00%	4.00%	2.00%	2.00%	9.00%	9.00%	5.00%	5.00%