The cash outflow associated with the amount paid to the subsidiaries during the period.

No definition available.

Name:	bhl_CapitalContributionsToSubsidiaries
Namespace Prefix:	bhl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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:	srt_CondensedFinancialStatementsCaptionsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	srt_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents disclosure of the total aggregate cash dividends paid to the entity by consolidated subsidiaries, by unconsolidated subsidiaries, and by 50% or less owned persons accounted for using the equity method.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-04(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e24072-122690

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of paid and unpaid common stock dividends declared with the form of settlement in payment-in-kind (PIK).

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-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

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis=srt_ParentCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=bhl_BrighthouseLifeInsuranceCoofNYMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=bhl_BrighthouseReinsuranceCompanyofDelawareMember
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Period Type:

Condensed Financial Information (Parent Company) (Investment in Subsidiaries Footnote) (Details) - Parent Company - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Capital contributions to subsidiaries		$ (75)	$ 0	$ (83)
Cash dividends received from subsidiaries				544
Brighthouse Life Insurance Co of NY
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Capital contributions to subsidiaries		(75)		(75)
Cash dividends received from subsidiaries		$ 28
Brighthouse Reinsurance Company of Delaware
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash dividends received from subsidiaries				$ 535
Noncash dividends declared by subsidiaries	$ 600