Cover Page - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Feb. 16, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2020
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	1-10890
Entity Registrant Name	HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	37-0911756
Entity Address, Address Line One	1 Horace Mann Plaza
Entity Address, City or Town	Springfield
Entity Address, State or Province	IL
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	62715-0001
City Area Code	217
Local Phone Number	789-2500
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share
Trading Symbol	HMN
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	true
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 1,481.4
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		41,422,460
Documents Incorporated by Reference	Certain portions of the registrant's Proxy Statement for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference into Part III Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of this Form 10-K as specified in those Items and will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after December 31, 2020.
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Central Index Key	0000850141