Consolidated Statements of Changes in Partners' Capital and Comprehensive Income (USD $) In Thousands	General Partner's Capital [Member]	Limited Partners' Capital [Member]	Capital Contribution Receivable [Member]	Holding Units Held for Deferred Compensation Plans [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Entities [Member]	Partners' Capital attributable to AllianceBernstein Unitholders [Member]	Total
Balance, beginning of year at Dec. 31, 2008	$ 45,010	$ 4,493,496	$ (23,168)	$ (125,532)	$ (72,147)	$ 169,167
Net (loss) income	5,561	550,566				22,381		578,508
Cash distributions to unitholders	(4,647)	(460,086)
Capital contributions from General Partner			4,905
Purchases of Holding Units to fund deferred compensation plans, net				(7,555)
Issuances of Holding Units to fund deferred compensation plan awards, net of forfeitures	2,728	270,087		(272,815)
Retirement of AllianceBernstein Units	0	0
Compensation plan accrual	14	1,387	(1,401)
Additional investment by Holding with proceeds from exercise of compensatory options to buy Holding Units	0	0						0
Amortization of deferred compensation awards				61,211
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of tax					4,232	159		4,391
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax					39,098	4,074		43,172
Changes in employee benefit related items, net of tax					6,955			6,955
Re-valuation of Holding Units held in Rabbi Trust	0	(5,750)		5,750
Compensatory Holding Unit options expense		11,889
Other	5	569				0
Distributions to non-controlling interests of our consolidated venture capital fund activities						(24,188)
Balance, end of year at Dec. 31, 2009	48,671	4,862,158	(19,664)	(338,941)	(21,862)	171,593	4,530,362	4,701,955
Net (loss) income	4,424	437,995				(15,320)		427,099
Cash distributions to unitholders	(4,978)	(490,118)
Capital contributions from General Partner			4,879
Purchases of Holding Units to fund deferred compensation plans, net				(226,370)
Issuances of Holding Units to fund deferred compensation plan awards, net of forfeitures	785	77,721		(78,506)
Retirement of AllianceBernstein Units	(85)	(8,436)
Compensation plan accrual	12	1,176	(1,188)
Additional investment by Holding with proceeds from exercise of compensatory options to buy Holding Units	83	8,204						8,287
Amortization of deferred compensation awards				113,548
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of tax					348	108		456
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax					(199)	3,159		2,960
Changes in employee benefit related items, net of tax					(10,088)			(10,088)
Re-valuation of Holding Units held in Rabbi Trust	52	5,090		(5,141)
Compensatory Holding Unit options expense		9,064
Other	0	0				0
Distributions to non-controlling interests of our consolidated venture capital fund activities						(35,023)
Balance, end of year at Dec. 31, 2010	48,964	4,902,854	(15,973)	(535,410)	(31,801)	124,517	4,368,634	4,493,151
Net (loss) income	(1,748)	(173,020)				(36,799)		(211,567)
Cash distributions to unitholders	(4,775)	(471,691)
Capital contributions from General Partner			4,793
Purchases of Holding Units to fund deferred compensation plans, net				(220,813)
Issuances of Holding Units to fund deferred compensation plan awards, net of forfeitures	0	0		0
Retirement of AllianceBernstein Units	0	(6,522)
Compensation plan accrual	10	945	(955)
Additional investment by Holding with proceeds from exercise of compensatory options to buy Holding Units	15	1,463						1,478
Amortization of deferred compensation awards				437,743
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of tax					528	33		561
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax					7,964	(550)		397
Changes in employee benefit related items, net of tax					(15,104)			(15,104)
Re-valuation of Holding Units held in Rabbi Trust	49	4,853		(4,902)
Compensatory Holding Unit options expense		36,360
Other	37	3,666				(32,101)
Distributions to non-controlling interests of our consolidated venture capital fund activities						(1,073)
Balance, end of year at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 42,552	$ 4,298,908	$ (12,135)	$ (323,382)	$ (38,413)	$ 54,027	$ 3,970,292	$ 4,021,557