Actuarial Gain (Loss) Adjustments Related To Defined Benefit Plan

No definition available.

Name:	axaeq_ActuarialGainLossAdjustmentsRelatedToDefinedBenefitPlan
Namespace Prefix:	axaeq_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Adjusted Operating Income (Loss)

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axaeq_AdjustedOperatingIncomeLoss
Namespace Prefix:	axaeq_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Gain (Loss) On Investments, Adjustments

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axaeq_GainLossOnInvestmentsAdjustments
Namespace Prefix:	axaeq_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Resulting From Adjustments To Income

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axaeq_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefitResultingFromAdjustmentsToIncome
Namespace Prefix:	axaeq_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Loss Recapture On Divestiture Of Business

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axaeq_LossRecaptureOnDivestitureOfBusiness
Namespace Prefix:	axaeq_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number Of Main Client Channels

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axaeq_NumberOfMainClientChannels
Namespace Prefix:	axaeq_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Other Adjustments To Income

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axaeq_OtherAdjustmentsToIncome
Namespace Prefix:	axaeq_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Reconciliation of Revenue from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axaeq_ReconciliationofRevenuefromSegmentstoConsolidatedAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	axaeq_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Variable Annuity Product Features, Adjustments

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axaeq_VariableAnnuityProductFeaturesAdjustments
Namespace Prefix:	axaeq_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

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

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450988&loc=d3e26243-108391

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114775744&loc=d3e28555-108399

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 22
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115929826&loc=d3e8736-108599

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (210.5-03(11))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115205541&loc=SL114868664-224227

Reference 5: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 220
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.9)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114873765&loc=SL114874048-224260

+ Details

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

- Definition

The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114867106&loc=SL7669619-108580

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 220
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114873765&loc=SL114874048-224260

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1B
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114867106&loc=SL7669625-108580

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 220
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04(18))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114873790&loc=SL114874131-224263

Reference 5: 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(20))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115205541&loc=SL114868664-224227

Reference 6: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 7: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6371337&loc=d3e3550-109257

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of segments reported by the entity. A reportable segment is a component of an entity for which there is an accounting requirement to report separate financial information on that component in the entity's financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

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

- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) to previously recorded tax expense. Includes, but is not limited to, significant settlements of income tax disputes, and unusual tax positions or infrequent actions taken by the entity, including tax assessment reversal, and IRS tax settlement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 25
-Paragraph 10
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115928272&loc=d3e28511-109314

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 25
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115928272&loc=d3e28446-109314

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis=us-gaap_MaterialReconcilingItemsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis=us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=axaeq_IndividualRetirementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=axaeq_GroupRetirementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=axaeq_InvestmentManagementAndResearchMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=axaeq_ProtectionSolutionsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis=us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis=us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION - RECONCILIATION OF OPERATING PROFIT (LOSS) FROM SEGMENTS TO CONSOLIDATED (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended						6 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) segment client_channel	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments \| segment									4
Number of main client channels \| client_channel									3
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net income (loss) attributable to AXA Equitable	$ (511)	$ (2,084)	$ (263)	$ 21	$ 1,508	$ (201)	$ (2,347)	$ 1,307	$ (2,858)	$ 1,328	$ 2,843	$ 190	$ 648
Adjustments related to:
Loss on the recapture of GMxB business previously ceded to AXA Arizona	(24)			0					2,603	0
Non-GAAP Operating Earnings	608			340					1,419	916
Interest expense	12			9					34	20
Segment Reconciling Items
Adjustments related to:
Variable annuity product features	1,393			457					2,580	(387)
Investment (gains) losses	9			8					(73)	9
Net actuarial (gains) losses related to pension and other postretirement benefit obligations	(17)			(24)					(130)	(72)
Other adjustments	(33)			(70)					(141)	(76)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to above adjustments	(312)			(233)					(1,130)	43
Non-recurring tax items	3			(7)					26	(225)
Operating Segments \| Individual Retirement
Adjustments related to:
Non-GAAP Operating Earnings	439			241					1,159	831
Operating Segments \| Group Retirement
Adjustments related to:
Non-GAAP Operating Earnings	121			97					255	210
Operating Segments \| Investment Management and Research
Adjustments related to:
Non-GAAP Operating Earnings	39			34					143	99
Operating Segments \| Protection Solutions
Adjustments related to:
Non-GAAP Operating Earnings	58			0					12	(83)
Corporate and Other
Adjustments related to:
Non-GAAP Operating Earnings	(49)			(32)					(150)	(141)
Interest expense	$ 12			$ 34					$ 9	$ 20
Retained Earnings
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net income (loss) attributable to AXA Equitable								$ 1,307