Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Statements of Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Revenues:
Net investment income									$ 2,792.0	$ 2,669.0	$ 2,641.0
Fee income									1,969.0	1,982.0	1,889.0
Premiums									2,273.0	2,132.0	2,097.0
Net realized capital gains (losses):
Total other-than-temporary impairments									(65.0)	(27.0)	(29.0)
Less: Portion of other-than-temporary impairments recognized in Other comprehensive income (loss)									(1.0)	1.0	(9.0)
Net other-than-temporary impairments recognized in earnings									(64.0)	(28.0)	(20.0)
Other net realized capital gains (losses)									(102.0)	(327.0)	(189.0)
Total net realized capital gains (losses)									(166.0)	(355.0)	(209.0)
Other revenue									465.0	443.0	379.0
Income (loss) related to consolidated investment entities:
Net investment income									143.0	292.0	432.0
Total revenues	$ 1,810.0	$ 1,875.0	$ 1,969.0	$ 1,822.0	$ 1,851.0	$ 1,890.0	$ 1,761.0	$ 1,661.0	7,476.0	7,163.0	7,229.0
Benefits and expenses:
Policyholder benefits									2,583.0	2,364.0	2,422.0
Interest credited to contract owner account balances									1,167.0	1,162.0	1,236.0
Operating expenses									2,746.0	2,606.0	2,562.0
Net amortization of Deferred policy acquisition costs and Value of business acquired									199.0	233.0	353.0
Interest expense									176.0	221.0	184.0
Operating expenses related to consolidated investment entities									45.0	49.0	87.0
Interest expense									38.0	41.0	80.0
Other expense									7.0	8.0	7.0
Total benefits and expenses	1,744.0	1,726.0	1,726.0	1,720.0	1,725.0	1,661.0	1,596.0	1,653.0	6,916.0	6,635.0	6,844.0
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	66.0	149.0	243.0	102.0	126.0	229.0	165.0	8.0	560.0	528.0	385.0
Income tax expense (benefit)									(205.0)	37.0	687.0
Income (loss) from continuing operations									765.0	491.0	(302.0)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(1,084.0)	(4.0)	42.0	(20.0)	29.0	(32.0)	92.0	440.0	(1,066.0)	529.0	(2,473.0)
Net income (loss) before equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries									(301.0)	1,020.0	(2,775.0)
Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries, net of tax									0.0	0.0	0.0
Net income (loss)	(766.0)	140.0	252.0	73.0	177.0	168.0	229.0	446.0	(301.0)	1,020.0	(2,775.0)
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	6.0	19.0	26.0	(1.0)	57.0	26.0	62.0	0.0	50.0	145.0	217.0
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.	(772.0)	121.0	226.0	74.0	120.0	142.0	167.0	446.0	(351.0)	875.0	(2,992.0)
Less: Preferred stock dividends	4.0	14.0	0.0	10.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	28.0	0.0	0.0
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.'s common shareholders	$ (776.0)	$ 107.0	$ 226.0	$ 64.0	$ 120.0	$ 142.0	$ 167.0	$ 446.0	(379.0)	875.0	(2,992.0)
Consolidating Adjustments
Revenues:
Net investment income									(12.0)	(9.0)	(13.0)
Fee income									0.0	0.0	0.0
Premiums									0.0	0.0	0.0
Net realized capital gains (losses):
Total other-than-temporary impairments									0.0	0.0	0.0
Less: Portion of other-than-temporary impairments recognized in Other comprehensive income (loss)									0.0	0.0	0.0
Net other-than-temporary impairments recognized in earnings									0.0	0.0	0.0
Other net realized capital gains (losses)									0.0	0.0	0.0
Total net realized capital gains (losses)									0.0	0.0	0.0
Other revenue									0.0	0.0	0.0
Income (loss) related to consolidated investment entities:
Net investment income									0.0	0.0	0.0
Total revenues									(12.0)	(9.0)	(13.0)
Benefits and expenses:
Policyholder benefits									0.0	0.0	0.0
Interest credited to contract owner account balances									0.0	0.0	0.0
Operating expenses									0.0	0.0	0.0
Net amortization of Deferred policy acquisition costs and Value of business acquired									0.0	0.0	0.0
Interest expense									(12.0)	(9.0)	(13.0)
Interest expense									0.0	0.0	0.0
Other expense									0.0	0.0	0.0
Total benefits and expenses									(12.0)	(9.0)	(13.0)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									0.0	0.0	0.0
Income tax expense (benefit)									0.0	(339.0)	0.0
Income (loss) from continuing operations									0.0	339.0	0.0
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax									0.0	0.0	0.0
Net income (loss) before equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries									0.0	339.0	0.0
Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries, net of tax									72.0	(2,680.0)	5,379.0
Net income (loss)									72.0	(2,341.0)	5,379.0
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									0.0	0.0	0.0
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.									72.0	(2,341.0)	5,379.0
Less: Preferred stock dividends									0.0	0.0	0.0
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.'s common shareholders									72.0	(2,341.0)	5,379.0
Parent Issuer
Revenues:
Net investment income									39.0	1.0	33.0
Fee income									0.0	0.0	0.0
Premiums									0.0	0.0	0.0
Net realized capital gains (losses):
Total other-than-temporary impairments									0.0	0.0	0.0
Less: Portion of other-than-temporary impairments recognized in Other comprehensive income (loss)									0.0	0.0	0.0
Net other-than-temporary impairments recognized in earnings									0.0	0.0	0.0
Other net realized capital gains (losses)									(1.0)	0.0	0.0
Total net realized capital gains (losses)									(1.0)	0.0	0.0
Other revenue									0.0	(5.0)	8.0
Income (loss) related to consolidated investment entities:
Net investment income									0.0	0.0	0.0
Total revenues									38.0	(4.0)	41.0
Benefits and expenses:
Policyholder benefits									0.0	0.0	0.0
Interest credited to contract owner account balances									0.0	0.0	0.0
Operating expenses									12.0	11.0	9.0
Net amortization of Deferred policy acquisition costs and Value of business acquired									0.0	0.0	0.0
Interest expense									151.0	175.0	155.0
Interest expense									0.0	0.0	0.0
Other expense									0.0	0.0	0.0
Total benefits and expenses									163.0	186.0	164.0
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(125.0)	(190.0)	(123.0)
Income tax expense (benefit)									(277.0)	0.0	113.0
Income (loss) from continuing operations									152.0	(190.0)	(236.0)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax									0.0	0.0	0.0
Net income (loss) before equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries									152.0	(190.0)	(236.0)
Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries, net of tax									(503.0)	1,065.0	(2,756.0)
Net income (loss)									(351.0)	875.0	(2,992.0)
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									0.0	0.0	0.0
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.									(351.0)	875.0	(2,992.0)
Less: Preferred stock dividends									28.0	0.0	0.0
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.'s common shareholders									(379.0)	875.0	(2,992.0)
Subsidiary Guarantor
Revenues:
Net investment income									0.0	1.0	0.0
Fee income									0.0	0.0	0.0
Premiums									0.0	0.0	0.0
Net realized capital gains (losses):
Total other-than-temporary impairments									0.0	0.0	0.0
Less: Portion of other-than-temporary impairments recognized in Other comprehensive income (loss)									0.0	0.0	0.0
Net other-than-temporary impairments recognized in earnings									0.0	0.0	0.0
Other net realized capital gains (losses)									0.0	0.0	0.0
Total net realized capital gains (losses)									0.0	0.0	0.0
Other revenue									0.0	0.0	1.0
Income (loss) related to consolidated investment entities:
Net investment income									0.0	0.0	0.0
Total revenues									0.0	1.0	1.0
Benefits and expenses:
Policyholder benefits									0.0	0.0	0.0
Interest credited to contract owner account balances									0.0	0.0	0.0
Operating expenses									0.0	0.0	0.0
Net amortization of Deferred policy acquisition costs and Value of business acquired									0.0	0.0	0.0
Interest expense									29.0	53.0	37.0
Interest expense									0.0	0.0	0.0
Other expense									0.0	0.0	0.0
Total benefits and expenses									29.0	53.0	37.0
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(29.0)	(52.0)	(36.0)
Income tax expense (benefit)									(27.0)	(24.0)	3.0
Income (loss) from continuing operations									(2.0)	(28.0)	(39.0)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax									(83.0)	0.0	0.0
Net income (loss) before equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries									(85.0)	(28.0)	(39.0)
Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries, net of tax									431.0	1,615.0	(2,623.0)
Net income (loss)									346.0	1,587.0	(2,662.0)
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									0.0	0.0	0.0
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.									346.0	1,587.0	(2,662.0)
Less: Preferred stock dividends									0.0	0.0	0.0
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.'s common shareholders									346.0	1,587.0	(2,662.0)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Revenues:
Net investment income									2,765.0	2,676.0	2,621.0
Fee income									1,969.0	1,982.0	1,889.0
Premiums									2,273.0	2,132.0	2,097.0
Net realized capital gains (losses):
Total other-than-temporary impairments									(65.0)	(27.0)	(29.0)
Less: Portion of other-than-temporary impairments recognized in Other comprehensive income (loss)									(1.0)	1.0	(9.0)
Net other-than-temporary impairments recognized in earnings									(64.0)	(28.0)	(20.0)
Other net realized capital gains (losses)									(101.0)	(327.0)	(189.0)
Total net realized capital gains (losses)									(165.0)	(355.0)	(209.0)
Other revenue									465.0	448.0	370.0
Income (loss) related to consolidated investment entities:
Net investment income									143.0	292.0	432.0
Total revenues									7,450.0	7,175.0	7,200.0
Benefits and expenses:
Policyholder benefits									2,583.0	2,364.0	2,422.0
Interest credited to contract owner account balances									1,167.0	1,162.0	1,236.0
Operating expenses									2,734.0	2,595.0	2,553.0
Net amortization of Deferred policy acquisition costs and Value of business acquired									199.0	233.0	353.0
Interest expense									8.0	2.0	5.0
Interest expense									38.0	41.0	80.0
Other expense									7.0	8.0	7.0
Total benefits and expenses									6,736.0	6,405.0	6,656.0
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									714.0	770.0	544.0
Income tax expense (benefit)									99.0	400.0	571.0
Income (loss) from continuing operations									615.0	370.0	(27.0)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax									(983.0)	529.0	(2,473.0)
Net income (loss) before equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries									(368.0)	899.0	(2,500.0)
Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries, net of tax									0.0	0.0	0.0
Net income (loss)									(368.0)	899.0	(2,500.0)
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									50.0	145.0	217.0
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.									(418.0)	754.0	(2,717.0)
Less: Preferred stock dividends									0.0	0.0	0.0
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.'s common shareholders									$ (418.0)	$ 754.0	$ (2,717.0)