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Variable Interest Entities (Details 2) (USD $)
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Sponsored Investment Funds    
Total assets of unconsolidated money market mutual fund variable interest entities $ 1,200,000,000pfg_TotalAssetsUnconsolidatedMoneyMarketMutualFundVariableInterestEntities $ 1,400,000,000pfg_TotalAssetsUnconsolidatedMoneyMarketMutualFundVariableInterestEntities
Other investments: Other limited partnership and fund interests    
Unconsolidated Variable Interest Entity disclosures    
Asset carrying value 190,700,000us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNonconsolidatedCarryingAmountAssets
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= pfg_OtherLimitedPartnershipAndFundInterestsMember
188,200,000us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNonconsolidatedCarryingAmountAssets
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= pfg_OtherLimitedPartnershipAndFundInterestsMember
Maximum exposure to loss 190,700,000us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityEntityMaximumLossExposureAmount
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= pfg_OtherLimitedPartnershipAndFundInterestsMember
188,200,000us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityEntityMaximumLossExposureAmount
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= pfg_OtherLimitedPartnershipAndFundInterestsMember
Available-for-sale | Corporate debt securities    
Unconsolidated Variable Interest Entity disclosures    
Asset carrying value 466,400,000us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNonconsolidatedCarryingAmountAssets
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
456,700,000us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNonconsolidatedCarryingAmountAssets
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Maximum exposure to loss 357,300,000us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityEntityMaximumLossExposureAmount
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
353,300,000us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityEntityMaximumLossExposureAmount
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Available-for-sale | Residential mortgage-backed pass-through securities    
Unconsolidated Variable Interest Entity disclosures    
Asset carrying value 2,823,500,000us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNonconsolidatedCarryingAmountAssets
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
2,822,900,000us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNonconsolidatedCarryingAmountAssets
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
Maximum exposure to loss 2,688,800,000us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityEntityMaximumLossExposureAmount
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
2,702,900,000us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityEntityMaximumLossExposureAmount
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
Available-for-sale | Commercial mortgage-backed securities    
Unconsolidated Variable Interest Entity disclosures    
Asset carrying value 3,911,300,000us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNonconsolidatedCarryingAmountAssets
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
3,975,500,000us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNonconsolidatedCarryingAmountAssets
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
Maximum exposure to loss 3,822,000,000us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityEntityMaximumLossExposureAmount
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
3,896,900,000us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityEntityMaximumLossExposureAmount
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
Available-for-sale | Collateralized debt obligations    
Unconsolidated Variable Interest Entity disclosures    
Asset carrying value 532,900,000us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNonconsolidatedCarryingAmountAssets
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CollateralizedDebtObligationsMember
504,100,000us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNonconsolidatedCarryingAmountAssets
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CollateralizedDebtObligationsMember
Maximum exposure to loss 549,900,000us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityEntityMaximumLossExposureAmount
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CollateralizedDebtObligationsMember
521,200,000us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityEntityMaximumLossExposureAmount
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CollateralizedDebtObligationsMember
Available-for-sale | Other debt obligations    
Unconsolidated Variable Interest Entity disclosures    
Asset carrying value 4,648,200,000us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNonconsolidatedCarryingAmountAssets
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_OtherDebtSecuritiesMember
4,616,400,000us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNonconsolidatedCarryingAmountAssets
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_OtherDebtSecuritiesMember
Maximum exposure to loss 4,598,200,000us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityEntityMaximumLossExposureAmount
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_OtherDebtSecuritiesMember
4,583,400,000us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityEntityMaximumLossExposureAmount
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_OtherDebtSecuritiesMember
Trading | Residential mortgage-backed pass-through securities    
Unconsolidated Variable Interest Entity disclosures    
Asset carrying value 32,100,000us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNonconsolidatedCarryingAmountAssets
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_TradingAccountAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
34,400,000us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNonconsolidatedCarryingAmountAssets
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_TradingAccountAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
Maximum exposure to loss 32,100,000us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityEntityMaximumLossExposureAmount
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_TradingAccountAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
34,400,000us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityEntityMaximumLossExposureAmount
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_TradingAccountAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
Trading | Commercial mortgage-backed securities    
Unconsolidated Variable Interest Entity disclosures    
Asset carrying value 1,800,000us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNonconsolidatedCarryingAmountAssets
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_TradingAccountAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
1,500,000us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNonconsolidatedCarryingAmountAssets
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_TradingAccountAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
Maximum exposure to loss 1,800,000us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityEntityMaximumLossExposureAmount
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_TradingAccountAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
1,500,000us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityEntityMaximumLossExposureAmount
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_TradingAccountAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
Trading | Collateralized debt obligations    
Unconsolidated Variable Interest Entity disclosures    
Asset carrying value 39,800,000us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNonconsolidatedCarryingAmountAssets
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_TradingAccountAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CollateralizedDebtObligationsMember
39,400,000us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNonconsolidatedCarryingAmountAssets
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_TradingAccountAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CollateralizedDebtObligationsMember
Maximum exposure to loss 39,800,000us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityEntityMaximumLossExposureAmount
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_TradingAccountAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CollateralizedDebtObligationsMember
39,400,000us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityEntityMaximumLossExposureAmount
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_TradingAccountAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CollateralizedDebtObligationsMember
Trading | Other debt obligations    
Unconsolidated Variable Interest Entity disclosures    
Asset carrying value   200,000us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNonconsolidatedCarryingAmountAssets
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_TradingAccountAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_OtherDebtSecuritiesMember
Maximum exposure to loss   $ 200,000us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityEntityMaximumLossExposureAmount
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_TradingAccountAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_OtherDebtSecuritiesMember