Schedule II - Condensed Financial Information of Parent - Statements of Cash Flow (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.'s common shareholders	$ (3,165)	$ 149	$ 167	$ (143)	$ (417)	$ (263)	$ 162	$ 191	$ (2,992)	$ (327)	$ 408
Equity in (earnings) losses of subsidiaries									0	0	0
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)									862	(151)	(107)
Net realized capital losses									227	363	560
Share-based compensation									117	99	76
Change in:
Other receivables and asset accruals									298	(18)	68
Other, net									2	44	(55)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities									1,578	3,591	3,248
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from the sale, maturity, disposal or redemption of equity securities, available-for-sale									54	104	76
Acquisition of equity securities, available-for-sale									(47)	(47)	(137)
Short-term investments, net									(80)	31	468
Derivatives, net									213	(24)	(141)
Issuance of intercompany loans with maturities more than three months									0
Maturity of intercompany loans issued to subsidiaries with maturities more than three months									0		0
Maturity (issuance) of short-term intercompany loans, net									0	0	0
Return of capital contributions and dividends from subsidiaries									0	0	0
Capital contributions to subsidiaries									0	0	0
Collateral (delivered) received, net									(148)	(22)	39
Net cash provided by investing activities									(2,428)	(3,683)	(4,274)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of debt with maturities of more than three months									399	798	0
Repayment of debt with maturities of more than three months									(490)	(708)	(31)
Debt issuance costs									(3)	(16)	(7)
Net proceeds from short-term loans to subsidiaries									0	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net									3	1	0
Share-based compensation									(8)	(7)	(5)
Common stock acquired - Share repurchase									(923)	(687)	(1,487)
Dividends paid									(8)	(8)	(9)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities									(345)	490	1,008
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents									(1,195)	398	(18)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period				2,911				2,513	2,911	2,513	2,531
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	1,716				2,911				1,716	2,911	2,513
Supplemental cash flow information:
Income taxes paid, net									(154)	69	78
Interest paid									174	190	179
Parent Issuer
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.'s common shareholders									(2,992)	(327)	408
Equity in (earnings) losses of subsidiaries									2,756	191	(511)
Dividends from subsidiaries									73	55	241
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)									131	(122)	(4)
Net realized capital losses									0	(1)	2
Share-based compensation									0	0	(4)
Change in:
Other receivables and asset accruals									32	(102)	(17)
Due from subsidiaries and affiliates									1	3	6
Due to subsidiaries and affiliates									1	0	(7)
Other payables and accruals									(18)	(16)	(2)
Other, net									(6)	11	18
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities									(22)	(308)	130
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from the sale, maturity, disposal or redemption of equity securities, available-for-sale									25	18	24
Acquisition of equity securities, available-for-sale									(34)	(23)	(31)
Short-term investments, net									0	0	(212)
Derivatives, net									0	1	(33)
Issuance of intercompany loans with maturities more than three months									(34)	0	0
Maturity of intercompany loans issued to subsidiaries with maturities more than three months									34	0	1
Maturity (issuance) of short-term intercompany loans, net									87	52	(162)
Return of capital contributions and dividends from subsidiaries									1,020	922	1,467
Capital contributions to subsidiaries									(467)	(215)	0
Collateral (delivered) received, net									0	0	20
Net cash provided by investing activities									631	755	1,074
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of debt with maturities of more than three months									399	798	0
Repayment of debt with maturities of more than three months									(490)	(660)	0
Debt issuance costs									(3)	(16)	(7)
Net proceeds from short-term loans to subsidiaries									408	11	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net									3	1	0
Share-based compensation									(8)	(7)	(5)
Common stock acquired - Share repurchase									(923)	(687)	(1,487)
Dividends paid									(8)	(8)	(9)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities									(622)	(568)	(1,508)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents									(13)	(121)	(304)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period				$ 257				$ 378	257	378	682
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 244				$ 257				244	257	378
Supplemental cash flow information:
Income taxes paid, net									(154)	64	77
Interest paid									$ 138	$ 156	$ 144