Basis Of Presentation	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Basis Of Presentation [Abstract]
Basis Of Presentation	1. Basis of Presentation Loews Corporation is a holding company. Its subsidiaries are engaged in the following lines of business: commercial property and casualty insurance (CNA Financial Corporation ("CNA"), a 90% owned subsidiary); the operation of offshore oil and gas drilling rigs (Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. ("Diamond Offshore"), a 50.4% owned subsidiary); exploration, production and marketing of natural gas and natural gas liquids (HighMount Exploration & Production LLC ("HighMount"), a wholly owned subsidiary); the operation of interstate natural gas pipeline systems (Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP ("Boardwalk Pipeline"), a 64% owned subsidiary); and the operation of hotels (Loews Hotels Holding Corporation ("Loews Hotels"), a wholly owned subsidiary). In the second quarter of 2011 Boardwalk Pipeline sold 6 million common units through a public offering for $170 million, reducing the Company's ownership interest from 66% to 64%. Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms "Company," "Loews" and "Registrant" as used herein mean Loews Corporation excluding its subsidiaries and the term "Net income (loss) – Loews" as used herein means Net income (loss) attributable to Loews Corporation. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring accruals) necessary to present fairly the financial position as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 and the results of operations and comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 and changes in shareholders' equity and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010. Net income for the third quarter and first nine months of each of the years is not necessarily indicative of net income for that entire year. Reference is made to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K which should be read in conjunction with these Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements. The Company presents basic and diluted earnings per share on the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income. Basic earnings per share excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income attributable to common stock by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock. Stock appreciation rights ("SARs") of 3.2 million, 2.6 million, 2.1 million and 2.6 million shares were not included in the diluted weighted average shares amount for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 due to the exercise price being greater than the average stock price. First Insurance Company of Hawaii – CNA owns 50% of the common stock of First Insurance Company of Hawaii ("FICOH"). On August 11, 2011, CNA announced the sale of its noncontrolling interest in FICOH to Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd., the other 50% shareholder. The sale, which is subject to regulatory approval, is anticipated to close in the fourth quarter of 2011 and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's results of operations. CNA previously anticipated recovering the undistributed earnings of FICOH at a dividend tax rate. As a result of the pending sale, CNA has increased income tax expense by $22 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 to reflect the statutory tax rate. CNA Surety Corporation – On June 10, 2011, CNA completed its previously announced acquisition of the noncontrolling interests of CNA Surety Corporation ("CNA Surety"). Previously CNA owned approximately 61% of the outstanding publicly traded common stock of CNA Surety. CNA Surety is now a wholly owned subsidiary of CNA, and, effective after the close of the stock market on June 10, 2011, trading in CNA Surety common stock ceased. The aggregate purchase price was approximately $475 million, based on the offer price of $26.55 per share and inclusive of the retirement of CNA Surety employee stock options. The amount paid to acquire the common shares of CNA Surety in excess of the closing date noncontrolling interests included in the Company's equity of $438 million was reflected as an adjustment to Additional paid-in capital of $54 million. In addition, Accumulated other comprehensive income increased by $17 million related to the portion of net unrealized gains previously allocated to the noncontrolling shareholders. Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 was not significant. New accounting standards not yet adopted – In October 2010, the FASB issued updated accounting guidance which limits the capitalization of costs incurred to acquire or renew insurance contracts to those that are incremental direct costs of successful contract acquisitions. The updated accounting guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2011 with prospective or retrospective application allowed. The Company intends to adopt this updated accounting guidance retrospectively and is currently assessing the impact it will have on its financial condition and results of operations. The Company preliminarily estimates that amounts capitalized under the current accounting guidance as of September 30, 2011 would be approximately $75 million to $130 million less under the updated guidance. Any reduction of capitalized costs will also necessitate a change in related deferred tax balances.

Loews Corporation is a holding company. Its subsidiaries are engaged in the following lines of business: commercial property and casualty insurance (CNA Financial Corporation ("CNA"), a 90% owned subsidiary); the operation of offshore oil and gas drilling rigs (Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. ("Diamond Offshore"), a 50.4% owned subsidiary); exploration, production and marketing of natural gas and natural gas liquids (HighMount Exploration & Production LLC ("HighMount"), a wholly owned subsidiary); the operation of interstate natural gas pipeline systems (Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP ("Boardwalk Pipeline"), a 64% owned subsidiary); and the operation of hotels (Loews Hotels Holding Corporation ("Loews Hotels"), a wholly owned subsidiary). In the second quarter of 2011 Boardwalk Pipeline sold 6 million common units through a public offering for $170 million, reducing the Company's ownership interest from 66% to 64%. Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms "Company," "Loews" and "Registrant" as used herein mean Loews Corporation excluding its subsidiaries and the term "Net income (loss) – Loews" as used herein means Net income (loss) attributable to Loews Corporation.

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring accruals) necessary to present fairly the financial position as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 and the results of operations and comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 and changes in shareholders' equity and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010.

Net income for the third quarter and first nine months of each of the years is not necessarily indicative of net income for that entire year.

Reference is made to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K which should be read in conjunction with these Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

The Company presents basic and diluted earnings per share on the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income. Basic earnings per share excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income attributable to common stock by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock. Stock appreciation rights ("SARs") of 3.2 million, 2.6 million, 2.1 million and 2.6 million shares were not included in the diluted weighted average shares amount for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 due to the exercise price being greater than the average stock price.

First Insurance Company of Hawaii – CNA owns 50% of the common stock of First Insurance Company of Hawaii ("FICOH"). On August 11, 2011, CNA announced the sale of its noncontrolling interest in FICOH to Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd., the other 50% shareholder. The sale, which is subject to regulatory approval, is anticipated to close in the fourth quarter of 2011 and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's results of operations. CNA previously anticipated recovering the undistributed earnings of FICOH at a dividend tax rate. As a result of the pending sale, CNA has increased income tax expense by $22 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 to reflect the statutory tax rate.

CNA Surety Corporation – On June 10, 2011, CNA completed its previously announced acquisition of the noncontrolling interests of CNA Surety Corporation ("CNA Surety"). Previously CNA owned approximately 61% of the outstanding publicly traded common stock of CNA Surety. CNA Surety is now a wholly owned subsidiary of CNA, and, effective after the close of the stock market on June 10, 2011, trading in CNA Surety common stock ceased. The aggregate purchase price was approximately $475 million, based on the offer price of $26.55 per share and inclusive of the retirement of CNA Surety employee stock options. The amount paid to acquire the common shares of CNA Surety in excess of the closing date noncontrolling interests included in the Company's equity of $438 million was reflected as an adjustment to Additional paid-in capital of $54 million. In addition, Accumulated other comprehensive income increased by $17 million related to the portion of net unrealized gains previously allocated to the noncontrolling shareholders. Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 was not significant.

New accounting standards not yet adopted – In October 2010, the FASB issued updated accounting guidance which limits the capitalization of costs incurred to acquire or renew insurance contracts to those that are incremental direct costs of successful contract acquisitions. The updated accounting guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2011 with prospective or retrospective application allowed. The Company intends to adopt this updated accounting guidance retrospectively and is currently assessing the impact it will have on its financial condition and results of operations. The Company preliminarily estimates that amounts capitalized under the current accounting guidance as of September 30, 2011 would be approximately $75 million to $130 million less under the updated guidance. Any reduction of capitalized costs will also necessitate a change in related deferred tax balances.