Sch II - Condensed Financial Information on Registrant (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Assets [Abstract]
Fixed maturities - available for sale	$ 7,008,790				$ 6,637,776				$ 7,008,790	$ 6,637,776
Equity securities - available for sale	132,968				121,667				132,968	121,667
Short-term investments	16,348				28,251				16,348	28,251
Cash and cash equivalents	33,583				29,490				33,583	29,490	$ 76,632	$ 6,370
Amounts receivable from affiliates	3,790				2,834				3,790	2,834
Accrued investment income	78,437				78,274				78,437	78,274
Current income taxes recoverable	4,309				2,421				4,309	2,421
Other assets	92,021				75,811				92,021	75,811
Assets	9,566,134				9,132,004				9,566,134	9,132,004
Liabilities and stockholders' equity
Amounts payable to affiliates	862				575				862	575
Long-term debt payable non-affiliates	97,000				97,000				97,000	97,000
Liabilities	8,377,876				7,997,530				8,377,876	7,997,530
Preferred stock	3,000				3,000				3,000	3,000
Accumulated other comprehensive income	149,555				114,532				149,555	114,532	258,410	119,067
Retained earnings	882,672				867,574				882,672	867,574
Total FBL Financial Group, Inc. stockholders' equity	1,188,202				1,134,426				1,188,202	1,134,426
Liabilities and Equity	9,566,134				9,132,004				9,566,134	9,132,004
Revenues:
Net investment income	101,549	$ 103,514	$ 100,722	$ 98,385	99,005	$ 95,882	$ 97,489	$ 98,773	404,170	391,149	382,082
Realized gains (losses) on investments	517	621	(2,294)	(607)	3,553	(506)	7,808	(366)	(1,763)	10,489	2,938
Other income									15,165	15,631	14,849
Revenues	184,179	181,284	181,285	179,666	182,624	175,494	186,745	177,946	726,414	722,809	692,939
Costs and Expenses [Abstract]
Interest expense									4,850	4,850	4,707
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest									141,789	151,368	147,101
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)									(46,010)	(47,418)	(47,335)
Net income attributable to FBL Financial Group, Inc.	26,880	$ 30,017	$ 24,380	$ 25,946	30,905	$ 26,659	$ 32,372	$ 23,591	107,223	113,527	109,941
Parent Company [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Investments in subsidiaries (eliminated in consolidation)	1,205,356				1,145,988				1,205,356	1,145,988
Fixed maturities - available for sale	31,182				35,212				31,182	35,212
Equity securities - available for sale	3,056				1,428				3,056	1,428
Short-term investments	5,988				13,066				5,988	13,066
Cash and cash equivalents	30,803				26,839				30,803	26,839	46,042	$ 0
Accrued investment income	13				12				13	12
Current income taxes recoverable	153				651				153	651
Deferred income tax assets	12,622				13,682				12,622	13,682
Other assets	12,585				10,106				12,585	10,106
Assets	1,314,003				1,250,006				1,314,003	1,250,006
Liabilities and stockholders' equity
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	28,758				18,470				28,758	18,470
Long-term debt payable non-affiliates	97,000				97,000				97,000	97,000
Liabilities	125,801				115,580				125,801	115,580
Preferred stock	3,000				3,000				3,000	3,000
Accumulated other comprehensive income	149,555				114,532				149,555	114,532
Retained earnings	882,672				867,574				882,672	867,574
Total FBL Financial Group, Inc. stockholders' equity	1,188,202				1,134,426				1,188,202	1,134,426
Liabilities and Equity	1,314,003				1,250,006				1,314,003	1,250,006
Revenues:
Net investment income									2,013	2,033	2,689
Realized gains (losses) on investments									0	(583)	1,047
Dividends from subsidiaries (eliminated in consolidation)									85,900	50,000	45,700
Other income									2	(8)	7
Revenues									95,746	59,373	60,204
Costs and Expenses [Abstract]
Interest expense									4,850	4,850	4,723
General and administrative expenses									9,002	8,795	8,471
Total expenses									13,852	13,645	13,194
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest									81,894	45,728	47,010
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)									2,349	2,507	1,011
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent									84,243	48,235	48,021
Equity in undistributed income of subsidiary									22,980	65,292	61,920
Net income attributable to FBL Financial Group, Inc.									107,223	113,527	109,941
Common Class A
Liabilities and stockholders' equity
Common stock, without par value	152,903				149,248				152,903	149,248
Common Class A | Parent Company [Member]
Liabilities and stockholders' equity
Common stock, without par value	152,903				149,248				152,903	149,248
Common Class B
Liabilities and stockholders' equity
Common stock, without par value	72				72				72	72
Common Class B | Parent Company [Member]
Liabilities and stockholders' equity
Common stock, without par value	72				72				72	72
Affiliated Entity [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Amounts receivable from affiliates	1,758				1,264				1,758	1,264
Revenues:
Management Fees Revenue									2,179	2,277	1,925
Subsidiaries [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Amounts receivable from affiliates	10,487				1,758				10,487	1,758
Liabilities and stockholders' equity
Amounts payable to affiliates	$ 43				$ 110				43	110
Subsidiaries [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Revenues:
Management Fees Revenue									5,652	5,654	8,836
Dividends in form of cash [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Revenues:
Dividends from subsidiaries (eliminated in consolidation)									$ 85,900	$ 50,000	$ 45,700