Statutory Financial Information and Dividend Limitations (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Statutory Financial Information and Dividend Limitations
Restricted net assets	$ 23,000
Amount per statutory accounting practices
Net income (loss)	1,770	$ 3,631	$ 3,211
Capital and surplus	$ 16,486	17,319
Dividend Limitations
Action level RBC expressed as a multiplier of authorized control level RBC, which if not achieved would require specific actions to be taken	2
Allstate Insurance Company ("AIC")
Amount per statutory accounting practices
Capital and surplus	$ 15,620
Dividend Limitations
Dividends paid	2,310
Maximum amount of dividends without prior approval	$ 1,710
Advance notice period required for payment of dividend in excess of amount available for distribution without prior approval	30 days
Unassigned surplus excluding unrealized appreciation from investments	$ 10,650
Authorized control level RBC	2,480
Property-Liability
Amount per statutory accounting practices
Net income (loss)	1,826	2,501	2,707
Capital and surplus	13,332	14,412
Allstate Financial
Amount per statutory accounting practices
Net income (loss)	(56)	1,130	$ 504
Capital and surplus	$ 3,154	$ 2,907