DOCUMENT AND ENTITY INFORMATION - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Nov. 13, 2018
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Registrant Name	AXA EQUITABLE LIFE INSURANCE CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000727920
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding		2,000,000