Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 6) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Operating activities
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 595.9	$ 901.7
Investing activities
Available-for-sale securities: Purchases	(2,447.1)	(2,060.5)
Available-for-sale securities: Sales	503.1	428.5
Available-for-sale securities: Maturities	1,790.9	1,612.1
Mortgage loans acquired or originated	(610.9)	(919.6)
Mortgage loans sold or repaid	555.8	361.4
Real estate acquired	(23.4)	(21.3)
Net (purchases) sales of property and equipment	6.7	(17.3)
Purchases of interest in subsidiaries, net of cash acquired	(1,268.3)
Net change in other investments	(32.2)	(73.8)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(1,525.4)	(690.5)
Financing activities
Issuance of common stock	20.3	9.1
Acquisition of treasury stock	(90.9)	(64.2)
Proceeds from financing element derivatives	14.3	20.4
Payments for financing element derivatives	(12.7)	(16.2)
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements	3.8	9.9
Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interest	(30.6)
Dividends to common stockholders	(67.6)	(54.3)
Dividends to preferred stockholders		(8.2)
Issuance of long-term debt	3.5	1.0
Principal repayments of long-term debt	(0.4)	(0.8)
Net proceeds from (repayments of) short-term borrowings		(7.5)
Investment contract deposits	1,419.7	1,618.6
Investment contract withdrawals	(2,852.0)	(2,885.9)
Net increase (decrease) in banking operation deposits	6.9	(13.4)
Other	(0.8)	(1.7)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(1,586.5)	(1,393.2)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(2,516.0)	(1,182.0)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	4,177.2	2,833.9
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	1,661.2	1,651.9
Principal Financial Group, Inc. Parent Only
Operating activities
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	28.0	79.9
Investing activities
Dividends and returns of capital received from (contributions to) unconsolidated entities	18.8	189.3
Net change in other investments	(3.0)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	15.8	189.3
Financing activities
Issuance of common stock	20.3	9.1
Acquisition of treasury stock	(90.9)	(64.2)
Dividends to common stockholders	(67.6)	(54.3)
Dividends to preferred stockholders		(8.2)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(138.2)	(117.6)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(94.4)	151.6
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	207.1	226.7
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	112.7	378.3
Principal Financial Services, Inc. Only
Operating activities
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(19.8)	(56.7)
Investing activities
Dividends and returns of capital received from (contributions to) unconsolidated entities	21.4	165.5
Net change in other investments	(10.5)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	10.9	165.5
Financing activities
Capital received from (dividends and capital paid to) parent	(18.8)	(189.3)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(18.8)	(189.3)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(27.7)	(80.5)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	612.5	702.4
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	584.8	621.9
Principal Life Insurance Company and Other Subsidiaries Combined
Operating activities
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	712.4	824.3
Investing activities
Available-for-sale securities: Purchases	(2,447.1)	(2,060.5)
Available-for-sale securities: Sales	503.1	428.5
Available-for-sale securities: Maturities	1,790.9	1,612.1
Mortgage loans acquired or originated	(610.9)	(919.6)
Mortgage loans sold or repaid	555.8	361.4
Real estate acquired	(23.4)	(21.3)
Net (purchases) sales of property and equipment	6.7	(17.3)
Purchases of interest in subsidiaries, net of cash acquired	(1,268.3)
Net change in other investments	(18.7)	(73.8)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(1,511.9)	(690.5)
Financing activities
Proceeds from financing element derivatives	14.3	20.4
Payments for financing element derivatives	(12.7)	(16.2)
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements	3.8	9.9
Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interest	(30.6)
Issuance of long-term debt	3.5	1.0
Principal repayments of long-term debt	(0.4)	(0.8)
Net proceeds from (repayments of) short-term borrowings	(216.2)	98.9
Capital received from (dividends and capital paid to) parent	(21.4)	(165.5)
Investment contract deposits	1,419.7	1,618.6
Investment contract withdrawals	(2,852.0)	(2,885.9)
Net increase (decrease) in banking operation deposits	6.9	(13.4)
Other	(0.8)	(1.7)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(1,685.9)	(1,334.7)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(2,485.4)	(1,200.9)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	4,241.3	2,787.9
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	1,755.9	1,587.0
Eliminations, Shelf Registration Debt Guarantor
Operating activities
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(124.7)	54.2
Investing activities
Dividends and returns of capital received from (contributions to) unconsolidated entities	(40.2)	(354.8)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(40.2)	(354.8)
Financing activities
Net proceeds from (repayments of) short-term borrowings	216.2	(106.4)
Capital received from (dividends and capital paid to) parent	40.2	354.8
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	256.4	248.4
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	91.5	(52.2)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	(883.7)	(883.1)
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ (792.2)	$ (935.3)