Non-operating indebtedness of subsidiaries to total capitalization, maximum

No definition available.

Name:	lnc_NonOperatingIndebtednessOfSubsidiariesToTotalCapitalizationMaximum
Namespace Prefix:	lnc_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of aggregate net proceeds of equity issuances received by the entity that is added to the specified level of net worth in calculating total minimum net worth to be maintained in accordance with the terms of the credit facility.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lnc_PercentageOfAggregateNetProceedsOfEquityIssuances
Namespace Prefix:	lnc_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Total Aggregate Indebtedness divided by Net Capital, high end of range.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lnc_RatioOfIndebtednessToNetCapitalHighEnd
Namespace Prefix:	lnc_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Total Aggregate Indebtedness divided by Net Capital, low end of range.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lnc_RatioOfIndebtednessToNetCapitalLowEnd
Namespace Prefix:	lnc_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of the cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest expense for debt.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123466204&loc=SL6036836-161870

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.8)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123367319&loc=SL114868664-224227

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 69F
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123466577&loc=SL123495745-112612

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 69E
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123466577&loc=SL123495743-112612

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1F
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123466505&loc=SL123495355-112611

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of current borrowing capacity under the credit facility considering any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed (for example, borrowings may be limited by the amount of current assets), but without considering any amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCurrentBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of minimum net worth required for mortgage banking as defined by regulatory framework.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 948
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6490092&loc=d3e47304-110998

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 948
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6490092&loc=d3e47304-110998

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 948
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (c)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6490092&loc=d3e47080-110998

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 948
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6490092&loc=d3e47304-110998

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MinimumNetWorthRequiredForCompliance
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=lnc_CapitalSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Debt (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
Debt (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest and debt expense	$ 73	$ 66	$ 204	$ 218
Capital Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest and debt expense	8
Line of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Current borrowing capacity	2,500		2,500
Minimum consolidated net worth	$ 10,000		$ 10,000
Percentage of aggregate net proceeds of equity issuances	50.00%		50.00%
Debt to capital ratio (low end of range)	0.35%		0.35%
Debt to capital ratio (high end of range)	1.00%		1.00%
Non-operating indebtedness of subsidiaries to total capitalization, maximum			7.50%