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Stock-Based Incentive Compensation Plans (Compensation expense for all stock-based incentive compensation plans) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Employee service share-based compensation, aggregate disclosures [Abstract]      
Compensation expense $ 38us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense $ 40us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense $ 31us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
Recognized tax benefit 13us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense 14us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense 11us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense
Stock options [Member]      
Employee service share-based compensation, aggregate disclosures [Abstract]      
Compensation expense 9us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
9us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
8us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Performance Shares [Member]      
Employee service share-based compensation, aggregate disclosures [Abstract]      
Compensation expense 12us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
10us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
5us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
Stock appreciation rights [Member]      
Employee service share-based compensation, aggregate disclosures [Abstract]      
Compensation expense 2us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= lnc_StockAppreciationRightsMember
5us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= lnc_StockAppreciationRightsMember
1us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= lnc_StockAppreciationRightsMember
Restricted Stock Units And Non-Vested Stock [Member]      
Employee service share-based compensation, aggregate disclosures [Abstract]      
Compensation expense $ 15us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= lnc_RestrictedStockUnitsAndNonVestedStockMember
$ 16us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= lnc_RestrictedStockUnitsAndNonVestedStockMember
$ 17us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= lnc_RestrictedStockUnitsAndNonVestedStockMember