Consolidation - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items]
Fee waivers	$ 110,200,000	$ 89,300,000	$ 310,700,000	$ 264,900,000
Investments, deconsolidation			6,200,000
Non-Consolidated Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items]
Assets under management	6,200,000,000		6,200,000,000
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	71,100,000		71,100,000
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	13,500,000		13,500,000		$ 16,200,000
Financial Support, Fee Waivers
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items]
Money market funds which meet the scope exception of the consolidation guidance	81,500,000	61,300,000	223,300,000	178,900,000
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