Short-Term and Long-Term Restricted Cash and Investments - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Jan. 02, 2014
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Short-term restricted cash and cash equivalents	$ 769	$ 679	$ 657
Long-term restricted cash and cash equivalents	$ 264	264	$ 263
United Kingdom Recognized Investment Exchanges
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Operating costs covered for period	6 months
Ice Futures Europe
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Short-term restricted cash and cash equivalents	$ 77	77
ICE Clear Europe
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Short-term restricted cash and cash equivalents	$ 423	352
Dcm Dco Designation For Ice Futures United States
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Operating costs covered for period	1 year
DCM, DCO, SDR, and SEF Designated Entities
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Operating costs and expenses	$ 193	192
Ice Clear Canada, Netherlands, and Singapore
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Long-term restricted cash and cash equivalents	4
ICE Benchmark Administration, Clear Netherlands, Clear Canada, Trade Vault UK, Endex and Clear Singapore
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Short-term restricted cash and cash equivalents	64	44
Super Derivatives
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Short-term restricted cash and cash equivalents	22	$ 24
Futures and Options Products | ICE Clear Europe
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Long-term restricted cash and cash equivalents	100
CDS Products | ICE Clear Europe
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Long-term restricted cash and cash equivalents	50
CDS Products | Ice Clear Credit
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Long-term restricted cash and cash equivalents	$ 50
CDS Products | ICE Clear Us
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Long-term restricted cash and cash equivalents				$ 50