REVISION OF PRIOR PERIOD FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - INCOME STATEMENT AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME DISCLOSURES (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended						6 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Revenues:
Policy charges and fee income	$ 900,000,000	$ 883,000,000	$ 861,000,000	$ 852,000,000	$ 834,000,000	$ 830,000,000	$ 1,744,000,000	$ 1,664,000,000	$ 2,644,000,000	$ 2,516,000,000	$ 3,294,000,000	$ 3,311,000,000	$ 3,266,000,000
Premiums	217,000,000			208,000,000					657,000,000	665,000,000	904,000,000
Net derivative gains (losses)	(2,006,000,000)	(285,000,000)	(815,000,000)	(368,000,000)	1,771,000,000	(355,000,000)	(1,100,000,000)	1,416,000,000	(3,106,000,000)	1,048,000,000	870,000,000	(1,337,000,000)	(1,173,000,000)
Total Revenues	860,000,000	2,445,000,000	1,985,000,000	2,412,000,000	4,544,000,000	2,299,000,000	4,430,000,000	6,843,000,000	5,290,000,000	9,255,000,000	11,673,000,000	8,979,000,000	8,924,000,000
Benefits and other deductions:
Policyholders’ benefits	206,000,000	1,301,000,000	480,000,000	856,000,000	1,356,000,000	972,000,000	1,781,000,000	2,328,000,000	1,987,000,000	3,184,000,000	3,473,000,000		2,476,000,000
Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances	259,000,000		255,000,000	233,000,000	199,000,000	249,000,000			754,000,000	681,000,000	921,000,000	905,000,000
Other operating costs and expenses (includes $1, $2, $2 and $5 of deferred policy acquisition costs, respectively)	341,000,000			462,000,000					3,267,000,000	992,000,000
Compensation and benefits	467,000,000		526,000,000	436,000,000					1,459,000,000	1,324,000,000
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	(239,000,000)	36,000,000	74,000,000	0	(50,000,000)	92,000,000	110,000,000	42,000,000	(129,000,000)	42,000,000	322,000,000	48,000,000	(248,000,000)
Total benefits and other deductions	1,417,000,000	4,917,000,000	2,157,000,000	2,358,000,000	2,499,000,000	2,519,000,000	7,074,000,000	5,018,000,000	8,491,000,000	7,376,000,000	9,424,000,000	8,388,000,000	7,907,000,000
Income (loss) from operations, before income taxes	(557,000,000)	(2,472,000,000)	(172,000,000)	54,000,000	2,045,000,000	(220,000,000)	(2,644,000,000)	1,825,000,000	(3,201,000,000)	1,879,000,000	2,249,000,000	591,000,000	1,017,000,000
Income tax (expense) benefit	175,000,000	544,000,000	63,000,000	89,000,000	(424,000,000)	137,000,000	607,000,000	(287,000,000)	782,000,000	(198,000,000)	1,128,000,000	95,000,000	29,000,000
Net income (loss)	(382,000,000)	(1,928,000,000)	(109,000,000)	143,000,000	1,621,000,000	(83,000,000)	(2,037,000,000)	1,538,000,000	(2,419,000,000)	1,681,000,000	3,377,000,000	686,000,000	1,046,000,000
Less: net (income) loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest	(129,000,000)			(122,000,000)					(439,000,000)	(353,000,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to AXA Equitable	(511,000,000)	(2,084,000,000)	(263,000,000)	21,000,000	1,508,000,000	(201,000,000)	(2,347,000,000)	1,307,000,000	(2,858,000,000)	1,328,000,000	2,843,000,000	190,000,000	648,000,000
Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Net income (loss)	(382,000,000)	(1,928,000,000)	(109,000,000)	143,000,000	1,621,000,000	(83,000,000)	(2,037,000,000)	1,538,000,000	(2,419,000,000)	1,681,000,000	3,377,000,000	686,000,000	1,046,000,000
Change in unrealized gains (losses), net of reclassification adjustment	(404,000,000)			(71,000,000)				407,000,000	(1,456,000,000)	336,000,000	584,000,000	(215,000,000)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(406,000,000)			(68,000,000)				422,000,000	(1,475,000,000)	354,000,000	620,000,000	(236,000,000)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(788,000,000)	(2,248,000,000)	(858,000,000)	75,000,000			(3,106,000,000)	1,960,000,000	(3,894,000,000)	2,035,000,000	3,997,000,000	450,000,000	185,000,000
Less: Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(126,000,000)			(154,000,000)					(429,000,000)	(372,000,000)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to AXA Equitable	$ (914,000,000)	(2,390,000,000)	(1,019,000,000)	$ (79,000,000)			(3,409,000,000)	1,742,000,000	$ (4,323,000,000)	1,663,000,000	3,445,000,000	(29,000,000)	(198,000,000)
As Previously Reported
Revenues:
Policy charges and fee income		904,000,000	869,000,000		846,000,000	852,000,000	1,773,000,000	1,698,000,000		2,626,000,000	3,334,000,000	3,344,000,000	3,291,000,000
Premiums										645,000,000	904,000,000
Net derivative gains (losses)		(312,000,000)	(777,000,000)		1,763,000,000	(362,000,000)	(1,172,000,000)	1,362,000,000		1,376,000,000	890,000,000	(1,211,000,000)	(1,174,000,000)
Total Revenues		2,439,000,000	2,031,000,000		4,548,000,000	2,314,000,000	4,387,000,000	6,823,000,000		9,673,000,000	11,733,000,000	9,138,000,000	8,948,000,000
Benefits and other deductions:
Policyholders’ benefits		1,339,000,000	489,000,000		1,363,000,000	975,000,000	1,828,000,000	2,338,000,000		3,308,000,000	3,462,000,000		2,474,000,000
Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances			338,000,000		208,000,000	279,000,000				1,008,000,000	1,040,000,000	1,029,000,000
Compensation and benefits			456,000,000
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs		31,000,000	10,000,000		(49,000,000)	29,000,000	89,000,000	(20,000,000)		15,000,000	268,000,000	52,000,000	(243,000,000)
Total benefits and other deductions		4,950,000,000	2,115,000,000		2,516,000,000	2,489,000,000	7,100,000,000	4,966,000,000		7,800,000,000	9,478,000,000	8,516,000,000	7,910,000,000
Income (loss) from operations, before income taxes		(2,511,000,000)	(84,000,000)		2,032,000,000	(175,000,000)	(2,713,000,000)	1,857,000,000		1,873,000,000	2,255,000,000	622,000,000	1,038,000,000
Income tax (expense) benefit		553,000,000	44,000,000		(419,000,000)	121,000,000	622,000,000	(298,000,000)		(196,000,000)	1,139,000,000	84,000,000	22,000,000
Net income (loss)		(1,958,000,000)	(40,000,000)		1,613,000,000	(54,000,000)	(2,091,000,000)	1,559,000,000		1,677,000,000	3,394,000,000	706,000,000	1,060,000,000
Net income (loss) attributable to AXA Equitable		(2,114,000,000)	(194,000,000)		1,500,000,000	(172,000,000)	(2,401,000,000)	1,328,000,000		1,324,000,000	2,860,000,000	210,000,000	662,000,000
Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Net income (loss)		(1,958,000,000)	(40,000,000)		1,613,000,000	(54,000,000)	(2,091,000,000)	1,559,000,000		1,677,000,000	3,394,000,000	706,000,000	1,060,000,000
Change in unrealized gains (losses), net of reclassification adjustment						92,000,000		386,000,000		362,000,000	563,000,000	(194,000,000)
Other comprehensive income (loss)						127,000,000		401,000,000		380,000,000	599,000,000	(215,000,000)
Comprehensive income (loss)		(2,278,000,000)	(789,000,000)		1,887,000,000	73,000,000	(3,160,000,000)	1,960,000,000		2,057,000,000	3,993,000,000	491,000,000	199,000,000
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to AXA Equitable		(2,420,000,000)	(950,000,000)		1,794,000,000	(52,000,000)	(3,463,000,000)	1,742,000,000		1,685,000,000	3,441,000,000	12,000,000	(184,000,000)
Impact of Revisions
Revenues:
Policy charges and fee income		(21,000,000)	(8,000,000)		(12,000,000)	(22,000,000)	(29,000,000)	(34,000,000)		(110,000,000)	(40,000,000)	(33,000,000)	(25,000,000)
Premiums										20,000,000	0
Net derivative gains (losses)		27,000,000	(38,000,000)		8,000,000	7,000,000	72,000,000	54,000,000		(328,000,000)	(20,000,000)	(126,000,000)	1,000,000
Total Revenues		6,000,000	(46,000,000)		(4,000,000)	(15,000,000)	43,000,000	20,000,000		(418,000,000)	(60,000,000)	(159,000,000)	(24,000,000)
Benefits and other deductions:
Policyholders’ benefits		(38,000,000)	(9,000,000)		(7,000,000)	(3,000,000)	(47,000,000)	(10,000,000)		(124,000,000)	11,000,000		2,000,000
Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances			(83,000,000)		(9,000,000)	(30,000,000)				(327,000,000)	(119,000,000)	(124,000,000)
Compensation and benefits			70,000,000
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs		5,000,000	64,000,000		(1,000,000)	63,000,000	21,000,000	62,000,000		27,000,000	54,000,000	(4,000,000)	(5,000,000)
Total benefits and other deductions		(33,000,000)	42,000,000		(17,000,000)	30,000,000	(26,000,000)	52,000,000		(424,000,000)	(54,000,000)	(128,000,000)	(3,000,000)
Income (loss) from operations, before income taxes		39,000,000	(88,000,000)		13,000,000	(45,000,000)	69,000,000	(32,000,000)		6,000,000	(6,000,000)	(31,000,000)	(21,000,000)
Income tax (expense) benefit		(9,000,000)	19,000,000		(5,000,000)	16,000,000	(15,000,000)	11,000,000		(2,000,000)	(11,000,000)	11,000,000	7,000,000
Net income (loss)		30,000,000	(69,000,000)		8,000,000	(29,000,000)	54,000,000	(21,000,000)		4,000,000	(17,000,000)	(20,000,000)	(14,000,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to AXA Equitable		30,000,000	(69,000,000)		8,000,000	(29,000,000)	54,000,000	(21,000,000)		4,000,000	(17,000,000)	(20,000,000)	(14,000,000)
Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Net income (loss)		30,000,000	(69,000,000)		8,000,000	(29,000,000)	54,000,000	(21,000,000)		4,000,000	(17,000,000)	(20,000,000)	(14,000,000)
Change in unrealized gains (losses), net of reclassification adjustment						21,000,000		21,000,000		(26,000,000)	21,000,000	(21,000,000)
Other comprehensive income (loss)						21,000,000		21,000,000		(26,000,000)	21,000,000	(21,000,000)
Comprehensive income (loss)		30,000,000	(69,000,000)		8,000,000	(8,000,000)	54,000,000	0		(22,000,000)	4,000,000	(41,000,000)	(14,000,000)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to AXA Equitable		$ 30,000,000	$ (69,000,000)		8,000,000	(8,000,000)	$ 54,000,000	$ 0		$ (22,000,000)	$ 4,000,000	$ (41,000,000)	$ (14,000,000)
As Revised
Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Change in unrealized gains (losses), net of reclassification adjustment						113,000,000
Other comprehensive income (loss)						148,000,000
Comprehensive income (loss)					1,895,000,000	65,000,000
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to AXA Equitable					$ 1,802,000,000	$ (60,000,000)