Name:	lnc_DebtInstrumentMaturity
Namespace Prefix:	lnc_
Data Type:	invest:dateStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The maximum issuance of lines of credit under various credit facility agreements entered into with third-party lenders.

No definition available.

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

Percentage of aggregate net proceeds of equity issuances received by the entity that is added to the specified level of net worth in calculating total minimum net worth to be maintained in accordance with the terms of the credit facility.

No definition available.

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

Total Aggregate Indebtedness divided by Net Capital, high end of range.

No definition available.

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

Total Aggregate Indebtedness divided by Net Capital, low end of range.

No definition available.

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

Represents the minimum risk based capital requirement for the entity's primary life insurance subsidiary as one of the trigger events of capital securities covenants that require the Company to make an interest payment in accordance with an alternative coupon satisfaction mechanism ("ACSM").

No definition available.

Name:	lnc_RiskBasedCapitalRatioThreshold
Namespace Prefix:	lnc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6584090&loc=d3e28878-108400

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Fair value amount of debt instrument that was repurchased.

No definition available.

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

The maximum amount of borrowing capacity under a line of credit that is available as of the balance sheet date for a specific purpose other than for financing goods acquired for inventory or imminent delivery to a customer.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCapacityAvailableForSpecificPurposeOtherThanForTradePurchases
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of current borrowing capacity under the credit facility considering any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed (for example, borrowings may be limited by the amount of current assets), but without considering any amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCurrentBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The lowest amount of net worth (total assets minus total liabilities) required by secondary market investors or state-imposed regulatory mandates.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 948

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6490092&loc=d3e47304-110998

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 948

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (c)(a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6490092&loc=d3e47080-110998

Name:	us-gaap_MinimumNetWorthRequiredForCompliance
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis=lnc_FiveYearRevolvingCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis=lnc_LineOfCreditFacilityAlsoDueMarch2012Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis=lnc_LineOfCreditFacilityDueAugust2031Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis=lnc_LineOfCreditFacilityDueDecember2019Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis=lnc_LineOfCreditFacilityDueMarch2023Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis=lnc_LineOfCreditFacilityDueOctober2031Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=lnc_CapitalSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=lnc_SeniorNotesDue2019Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: