Reinsurance and indemnification - Reinsurance and indemnification recoverables, net (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Reinsurance
Reinsurance and indemnification recoverables, net	$ 9,497	$ 7,215
Property-Liability
Reinsurance
Paid and due from reinsurers and indemnitors	306	101
Unpaid losses estimated (including IBNR)	9,066	7,033
Reinsurance and indemnification recoverables, net	9,372	7,134
Allstate Health and Benefits
Reinsurance
Reinsurance and indemnification recoverables, net	$ 125	$ 81

Amount, after valuation allowance, recoverable under reinsurance contracts for losses reported to the ceding insurer but not yet paid and amounts expected for incurred losses and settlement expenses, which have not yet been reported to the ceding insurer.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 310
-Section 45
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99404803&loc=d3e21412-158489

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99397103&loc=d3e6824-158387

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 40
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116884095&loc=d3e14764-158437

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 40
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (cc)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116884095&loc=d3e14764-158437

Name:	us-gaap_ReinsuranceRecoverableForUnpaidClaimsAndClaimsAdjustments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant