Shares and Stockholders' Equity (Changes In Common stock (Number Of Shares)) (Details)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Changes In Preferred And Common Stock Number Of Shares [Line Items]
Balance as of beginning-of-period	256,551,440us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding
Balance as of end-of-period	252,928,502us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding
Common stock as of end-of-period:
Basic basis	252,928,502lnc_CommonStockBasicBasis	263,682,162lnc_CommonStockBasicBasis
Diluted basis	257,232,725lnc_CommonStockDilutedBasis	270,379,143lnc_CommonStockDilutedBasis
Common Stock [Member]
Changes In Preferred And Common Stock Number Of Shares [Line Items]
Balance as of beginning-of-period	256,551,440	262,896,701
Common Stock Issued For Exercise Of Warrants	946,926	3,044,765
Stock compensation/issued for benefit plans	1,473,401	728,515
Retirement/cancellation of shares	(6,043,265)	(2,987,819)
Balance as of end-of-period	252,928,502	263,682,162

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Number of shares of common stock issued on a basic basis as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Number of shares of common stock issued on a diluted basis as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Details

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- Definition

Equity impact of the value of new stock issued for the exercise of warrants during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Number of shares of common stock outstanding. Common stock represent the ownership interest in a corporation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.29)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 30

-Article 5

+ Details

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- Definition

Number of shares (or other type of equity) issued during the period as a result of any equity-based compensation plan other than an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), net of any shares forfeited. Shares issued could result from the issuance of restricted stock, the exercise of stock options, stock issued under employee stock purchase plans, and/or other employee benefit plans.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 29, 30

-Article 5

+ Details

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- Definition

Number of shares that have been repurchased and retired during the period.

+ References

+ Details

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