Guaranteed Benefit Features (Narrative) (Details)	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Guaranteed Benefit Features [Abstract]
Percent of permanent life insurance in force	39.00%	38.00%

Universal life and variable universal life products with secondary guarantees in force as a percentage of total permanent life insurance in force.

No definition available.

Name:	lnc_PercentOfPermanentLifeInsuranceInForce
Namespace Prefix:	lnc_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant