Document And Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Billions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Feb. 14, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2019
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	1-6028
Entity Registrant Name	LINCOLN NATIONAL CORPORATION
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	IN
Entity Tax Identification Number	35-1140070
Entity Address, Address Line One	150 N. Radnor Chester Road
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite A305
Entity Address, City or Town	Radnor
Entity Address, State or Province	PA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	19087
City Area Code	484
Local Phone Number	583-1400
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock
Trading Symbol	LNC
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 11.4
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		195,371,579
Documents Incorporated by Reference [Text Block]	Documents Incorporated by Reference: Selected portions of the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, scheduled for June 11, 2020, have been incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Entity Central Index Key	0000059558