Selected Consolidated Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ 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
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Total revenues	$ 1,810	$ 1,875	$ 1,969	$ 1,822	$ 1,851	$ 1,890	$ 1,761	$ 1,661	$ 7,476	$ 7,163	$ 7,229
Total benefits and expenses	1,744	1,726	1,726	1,720	1,725	1,661	1,596	1,653	6,916	6,635	6,844
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	66	149	243	102	126	229	165	8	560	528	385
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(1,084)	(4)	42	(20)	29	(32)	92	440	(1,066)	529	(2,473)
Net income (loss)	(766)	140	252	73	177	168	229	446	(301)	1,020	(2,775)
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	6	19	26	(1)	57	26	62	0	50	145	217
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.	(772)	121	226	74	120	142	167	446	(351)	875	(2,992)
Less: Preferred stock dividends	4	14	0	10	0	0	0	0	28	0	0
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.'s common shareholders	$ (776)	$ 107	$ 226	$ 64	$ 120	$ 142	$ 167	$ 446	$ (379)	$ 875	$ (2,992)
Income (loss) from continuing operations available to Voya Financial, Inc.'s common shareholders	$ 2.29	$ 0.80	$ 1.27	$ 0.57	$ 0.60	$ 1.09	$ 0.45	$ 0.03	$ 4.88	$ 2.12	$ (2.82)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes available to Voya Financial, Inc.'s common shareholders	(8.06)	(0.03)	0.29	(0.14)	0.18	(0.20)	0.55	2.56	(7.57)	3.24	(13.43)
Income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.'s common shareholders	(5.76)	0.77	1.57	0.44	0.78	0.89	1.00	2.59	(2.69)	5.36	(16.25)
Income (loss) from continuing operations available to Voya Financial, Inc.'s common shareholders	2.17	0.77	1.22	0.56	0.58	1.06	0.43	0.03	4.68	2.05	(2.82)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes available to Voya Financial, Inc.'s common shareholders	(7.62)	(0.03)	0.28	(0.13)	0.18	(0.19)	0.53	2.47	(7.26)	3.14	(13.43)
Income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.'s common shareholders	$ (5.45)	$ 0.74	$ 1.51	$ 0.42	$ 0.76	$ 0.87	$ 0.96	$ 2.50	$ (2.58)	$ 5.20	$ (16.25)