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Information Provided In Connection With Outstanding Debt Of Subsidiaries (Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Cash Flows) (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Sep. 30, 2011
Information Provided In Connection With Outstanding Debt Of Subsidiaries [Line Items]    
Net cash flows from operating activities $ 3,025 $ 2,998
Purchases of fixed maturities available for sale (17,656) (19,568)
Purchases of fixed maturities held to maturity (217) (285)
Purchases of equity securities (114) (289)
Sales of fixed maturities available for sale 11,355 14,323
Sales of equity securities 57 364
Maturities and redemptions of fixed maturities available for sale 3,596 2,603
Maturities and redemptions of fixed maturities held to maturity 1,092 966
Net derivative instruments settlements (358) 67
Acquisition of subsidiaries (98) (394)
Other (339) (317)
Net cash flows from (used for) investing activities (2,682) (2,530)
Dividends paid on Common Shares (484) (342)
Common Shares repurchased (11) (168)
Net proceeds from (repayments) issuance of short-term debt 151 (50)
Proceeds from share-based compensation plans 73 82
Net cash flows (used for) from financing activities (271) (478)
Effect of foreign currency rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 4 4
Net (decrease) increase in cash 76 (6)
Cash - beginning of period 614 772 [1]
Cash - end of period 690 [2] 766 [1]
Parent Company [Member]
    
Information Provided In Connection With Outstanding Debt Of Subsidiaries [Line Items]    
Net cash flows from operating activities 210 652
Sales of fixed maturities available for sale   7
Net derivative instruments settlements (1) (2)
Capital contribution to subsidiary   (385)
Advances from (to) affiliates 36 (90)
Net cash flows from (used for) investing activities 35 (470)
Dividends paid on Common Shares (484) (342)
Net proceeds from (repayments) issuance of short-term debt   (300)
Proceeds from share-based compensation plans 17 82
Net cash flows (used for) from financing activities (467) (560)
Net (decrease) increase in cash (222) (378)
Cash - beginning of period 106 308 [1]
Cash - end of period (116) [2] (70) [1]
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
    
Information Provided In Connection With Outstanding Debt Of Subsidiaries [Line Items]    
Net cash flows from operating activities 1,553 1,219
Purchases of fixed maturities available for sale (8,553) (9,434)
Purchases of fixed maturities held to maturity (215) (282)
Purchases of equity securities (65) (149)
Sales of fixed maturities available for sale 5,154 7,366
Sales of equity securities 48 347
Maturities and redemptions of fixed maturities available for sale 1,757 1,234
Maturities and redemptions of fixed maturities held to maturity 798 724
Net derivative instruments settlements (10) (19)
Acquisition of subsidiaries (98) (357)
Other (279) (469)
Net cash flows from (used for) investing activities (1,463) (1,039)
Net proceeds from (repayments) issuance of short-term debt 1 (150)
Advances (to) from affiliates (10) 35
Capital contribution from subsidiary 90  
Net cash flows (used for) from financing activities 81 (115)
Effect of foreign currency rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (3) 2
Net (decrease) increase in cash 168 67
Cash - beginning of period 382 573 [1]
Cash - end of period 550 [2] 640 [1]
Other ACE Limited Subsidiaries And Eliminations [Member]
    
Information Provided In Connection With Outstanding Debt Of Subsidiaries [Line Items]    
Net cash flows from operating activities 1,262 [3] 1,807 [3]
Purchases of fixed maturities available for sale (9,103) [3] (10,134) [3]
Purchases of fixed maturities held to maturity (2) [3] (3) [3]
Purchases of equity securities (49) [3] (140) [3]
Sales of fixed maturities available for sale 6,201 [3] 6,950 [3]
Sales of equity securities 9 [3] 17 [3]
Maturities and redemptions of fixed maturities available for sale 1,839 [3] 1,369 [3]
Maturities and redemptions of fixed maturities held to maturity 294 [3] 242 [3]
Net derivative instruments settlements (347) [3] 88 [3]
Capital contribution to subsidiary (90) [3]  
Acquisition of subsidiaries 0 [3] (37) [3]
Other (60) [3] 152 [3]
Net cash flows from (used for) investing activities (1,308) [3] (1,496) [3]
Dividends paid on Common Shares 0 [3]  
Common Shares repurchased (11) [3] (168) [3]
Net proceeds from (repayments) issuance of short-term debt 150 [3] 400 [3]
Proceeds from share-based compensation plans 56 [3]  
Advances (to) from affiliates (26) [3] 55 [3]
Dividends to parent company   (680) [3]
Capital contribution from subsidiary 0 [3]  
Capital contribution from parent   385 [3]
Net cash flows (used for) from financing activities 169 [3] (8) [3]
Effect of foreign currency rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 7 [3] 2 [3]
Net (decrease) increase in cash 130 [3] 305 [3]
Cash - beginning of period 126 [3] (109) [1],[3]
Cash - end of period 256 [2],[3] 196 [1],[3]
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
    
Information Provided In Connection With Outstanding Debt Of Subsidiaries [Line Items]    
Net cash flows from operating activities   (680) [4]
Capital contribution to subsidiary 90 [4] 385 [4]
Advances from (to) affiliates (36) [4] 90 [4]
Net cash flows from (used for) investing activities 54 [4] 475 [4]
Advances (to) from affiliates 36 [4] (90) [4]
Dividends to parent company   680 [4]
Capital contribution from subsidiary (90) [4]  
Capital contribution from parent   (385) [4]
Net cash flows (used for) from financing activities $ (54) [4] $ 205 [4]
[1] ACE maintains two notional multi-currency cash pools (Pools) with a third-party bank. Various ACE entities participate in one or the other of the Pools, pursuant to which credit and debit balances in individual ACE accounts are translated daily into a single currency and pooled on a notional basis. Individual ACE entities are permitted to overdraw on their individual accounts provided the overall Pool balances do not fall below zero. At September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the cash balance of one or more entities was negative; however, the overall Pool balances were positive.
[2] ACE maintains two notional multicurrency cash pools (Pools) with a third-party bank. Various ACE entities participate in one or the other of the Pools, pursuant to which credit and debit balances in individual ACE accounts are translated daily into a single currency and pooled on a notional basis. Individual ACE entities are permitted to overdraw on their individual accounts provided the overall Pool balances do not fall below zero. At September 30, 2012, the cash balance of one or more entities was negative; however, the overall Pool balances were positive.
[3] Includes all other subsidiaries of ACE Limited and intercompany eliminations.
[4] Includes ACE Limited parent company eliminations.