Consolidation - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items]
Fee waivers	$ 101,700,000	$ 88,100,000	$ 200,500,000	$ 175,500,000
Investments, deconsolidation			6,200,000
Non-Consolidated Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items]
Assets under management	6,600,000,000		6,600,000,000
Non-Consolidated Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary | Cash and Cash Equivalents
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items]
Federated's maximum risk of loss in non-consolidated investment companies	71,500,000		71,500,000
Non-Consolidated Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary | Receivables from Federated Funds
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items]
Federated's maximum risk of loss in non-consolidated investment companies	18,200,000		18,200,000		$ 16,200,000
Financial Support, Fee Waivers
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items]
Money market funds which meet the scope exception of the consolidation guidance	73,700,000	59,600,000	141,800,000	117,500,000
Financial Support, Capital Contributions
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items]
Money market funds which meet the scope exception of the consolidation guidance	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0