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Contingencies and Commitments (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Total rental expense on operating leases $ 44us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense $ 44us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense $ 43us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense
Proceeds from sales leaseback transaction 83us-gaap_SaleLeasebackTransactionGrossProceeds    
Total accumulated amortization related to sales leaseback transaction 55us-gaap_SaleLeasebackTransactionAccumulatedDepreciation    
Loss contingency accrual, insurance-related assessment, premium tax offset (15)us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualInsuranceRelatedAssessmentPremiumTaxOffset (6)us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualInsuranceRelatedAssessmentPremiumTaxOffset  
Football Stadium Naming Rights Commitment [Member]      
Amount of commitment, total 140us-gaap_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentAmount
/ us-gaap_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentByCategoryOfItemPurchasedAxis
= lnc_FootballStadiumNamingRightsCommitmentMember
   
Time period of commitment 20 year    
Approximate Amount Of Commitment Per Year 7lnc_ApproximateAmountOfCommitmentPerYear
/ us-gaap_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentByCategoryOfItemPurchasedAxis
= lnc_FootballStadiumNamingRightsCommitmentMember
   
Variable Annuity Product Concentration Risk [Member] | Variable Annuity Deposits Total [Member]      
Concentration risk, percentage 20.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= lnc_VariableAnnuityDepositsTotalMember
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= lnc_VariableAnnuityProductConcentrationRiskMember
17.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= lnc_VariableAnnuityDepositsTotalMember
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= lnc_VariableAnnuityProductConcentrationRiskMember
19.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= lnc_VariableAnnuityDepositsTotalMember
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= lnc_VariableAnnuityProductConcentrationRiskMember
Variable Annuity Product Concentration Risk [Member] | Variable Annuity Account Values Total [Member]      
Concentration risk, percentage 44.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= lnc_PercentageOfProductAccountValuesMember
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= lnc_VariableAnnuityProductConcentrationRiskMember
47.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= lnc_PercentageOfProductAccountValuesMember
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= lnc_VariableAnnuityProductConcentrationRiskMember
50.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= lnc_PercentageOfProductAccountValuesMember
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= lnc_VariableAnnuityProductConcentrationRiskMember
Fund Choice Concentration Risk [Member] | Variable Annuity Deposits Total [Member]      
Concentration risk, percentage 22.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= lnc_VariableAnnuityDepositsTotalMember
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= lnc_FundChoiceConcentrationRiskMember
19.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= lnc_VariableAnnuityDepositsTotalMember
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= lnc_FundChoiceConcentrationRiskMember
21.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= lnc_VariableAnnuityDepositsTotalMember
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= lnc_FundChoiceConcentrationRiskMember
Fund Choice Concentration Risk [Member] | Variable Annuity Account Values Total [Member]      
Concentration risk, percentage 50.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= lnc_PercentageOfProductAccountValuesMember
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= lnc_FundChoiceConcentrationRiskMember
54.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= lnc_PercentageOfProductAccountValuesMember
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= lnc_FundChoiceConcentrationRiskMember
58.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= lnc_PercentageOfProductAccountValuesMember
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= lnc_FundChoiceConcentrationRiskMember
Pending or Threatened Litigation [Member]      
Loss Contingency, Range of Possible Loss, Maximum $ 200us-gaap_LossContingencyRangeOfPossibleLossMaximum
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember