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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
 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012
Jun. 30, 2011
Information Provided In Connection With Outstanding Debt Of Subsidiaries [Line Items]    
Net cash flows from operating activities $ 1,383 $ 2,063
Purchases of fixed maturities available for sale (11,687) (13,683)
Purchases of fixed maturities held to maturity (136) (234)
Purchases of equity securities (93) (170)
Sales of fixed maturities available for sale 8,032 9,985
Sales of equity securities 33 347
Maturities and redemptions of fixed maturities available for sale 2,280 1,758
Maturities and redemptions of fixed maturities held to maturity 739 656
Net derivative instruments settlements (133) (46)
Acquisition of subsidiaries (30) (380)
Other (255) (132)
Net cash flows from (used for) investing activities (1,250) (1,899)
Dividends paid on Common Shares (318) (223)
Common Shares repurchased (11) (68)
Net proceeds from (repayments) issuance of short-term debt 151 100
Proceeds from share-based compensation plans 55 76
Net cash flows (used for) from financing activities (123) (115)
Effect of foreign currency rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (7) 12
Net (decrease) increase in cash 3 61
Cash - beginning of period 614 772 [1]
Cash - end of period 617 [2],[3] 833 [1]
Parent Company [Member]
    
Information Provided In Connection With Outstanding Debt Of Subsidiaries [Line Items]    
Net cash flows from operating activities 49 623
Sales of fixed maturities available for sale   8
Net derivative instruments settlements (1) (1)
Capital contribution to subsidiary   (385)
Advances from (to) affiliates 131 (291)
Net cash flows from (used for) investing activities 130 (669)
Dividends paid on Common Shares (318) (223)
Net proceeds from (repayments) issuance of short-term debt   (300)
Proceeds from share-based compensation plans 3 76
Net cash flows (used for) from financing activities (315) (447)
Net (decrease) increase in cash (136) (493)
Cash - beginning of period 106 308 [1]
Cash - end of period (30) [2],[3] (185) [1]
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
    
Information Provided In Connection With Outstanding Debt Of Subsidiaries [Line Items]    
Net cash flows from operating activities 540 677
Purchases of fixed maturities available for sale (5,614) (6,330)
Purchases of fixed maturities held to maturity (134) (233)
Purchases of equity securities (57) (138)
Sales of fixed maturities available for sale 3,750 5,022
Sales of equity securities 28 332
Maturities and redemptions of fixed maturities available for sale 1,158 847
Maturities and redemptions of fixed maturities held to maturity 527 475
Net derivative instruments settlements (6) (7)
Acquisition of subsidiaries (30) (343)
Other (140) (449)
Net cash flows from (used for) investing activities (518) (824)
Advances (to) from affiliates 23 226
Capital contribution from subsidiary 90  
Net cash flows (used for) from financing activities 113 226
Effect of foreign currency rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (9) 12
Net (decrease) increase in cash 126 91
Cash - beginning of period 382 573 [1]
Cash - end of period 508 [2],[3] 664 [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 794 [4] 1,443 [4]
Purchases of fixed maturities available for sale (6,073) [4] (7,353) [4]
Purchases of fixed maturities held to maturity (2) [4] (1) [4]
Purchases of equity securities (36) [4] (32) [4]
Sales of fixed maturities available for sale 4,282 [4] 4,955 [4]
Sales of equity securities 5 [4] 15 [4]
Maturities and redemptions of fixed maturities available for sale 1,122 [4] 911 [4]
Maturities and redemptions of fixed maturities held to maturity 212 [4] 181 [4]
Net derivative instruments settlements (126) [4] (38) [4]
Capital contribution to subsidiary (90) [4]  
Acquisition of subsidiaries   (37) [4]
Other (115) [4] 317 [4]
Net cash flows from (used for) investing activities (821) [4] (1,082) [4]
Common Shares repurchased (11) [4] (68) [4]
Net proceeds from (repayments) issuance of short-term debt 151 [4] 400 [4]
Proceeds from share-based compensation plans 52 [4]  
Advances (to) from affiliates (154) [4] 65 [4]
Dividends to parent company   (680) [4]
Capital contribution from parent   385 [4]
Net cash flows (used for) from financing activities 38 [4] 102 [4]
Effect of foreign currency rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 2 [4]  
Net (decrease) increase in cash 13 [4] 463 [4]
Cash - beginning of period 126 [4] (109) [1],[4]
Cash - end of period 139 [2],[3],[4] 354 [1],[4]
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
    
Information Provided In Connection With Outstanding Debt Of Subsidiaries [Line Items]    
Net cash flows from operating activities   (680) [5]
Capital contribution to subsidiary 90 [5] 385 [5]
Advances from (to) affiliates (131) [5] 291 [5]
Net cash flows from (used for) investing activities (41) [5] 676 [5]
Advances (to) from affiliates 131 [5] (291) [5]
Dividends to parent company   680 [5]
Capital contribution from subsidiary (90) [5]  
Capital contribution from parent   (385) [5]
Net cash flows (used for) from financing activities $ 41 [5] $ 4 [5]
[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 June 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 June 30, 2012, the cash balance of one or more entities was negative; however, the overall Pool balances were positive.
[3] 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 June 30, 2012 one or more entities was negative; however, the overall Pool balances were positive.
[4] Includes all other subsidiaries of ACE Limited and intercompany eliminations.
[5] Includes ACE Limited parent company eliminations.