Variable Interest Entities and Consolidation of Investment Vehicles Transfers Between Levels 1 and 2 (Details) - Consolidated Investment Vehicles [Member] $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Variable Interest Entity
Fair Value, Assets, Level 1 to Level 2 Transfers, Amount	$ 0
Fair Value, Assets, Level 2 to Level 1 Transfers, Amount	0
Fair Value, Liabilities, Level 1 to Level 2 Transfers, Amount	0
Fair Value, Liabilities, Level 2 to Level 1 Transfers, Amount	$ 0

Amount of transfers of assets measured on a recurring basis out of Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy into Level 2.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (bb)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66048111&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueAssetsLevel1ToLevel2TransfersAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of transfers of assets measured on a recurring basis out of Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy into Level 1.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueAssetsLevel2ToLevel1TransfersAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of transfers of liabilities measured on a recurring basis out of Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy into Level 2.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueLiabilitiesLevel1ToLevel2TransfersAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of transfers of liabilities measured on a recurring basis out of Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy into Level 1.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueLiabilitiesLevel2ToLevel1TransfersAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=lm_ConsolidatedInvestmentVehiclesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: