Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Revision (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016		Sep. 30, 2016		Jun. 30, 2016	[1]	Mar. 31, 2016	[1]	Dec. 31, 2015		Sep. 30, 2015	[1]	Jun. 30, 2015	[1]	Mar. 31, 2015	[1]	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Jan. 01, 2012
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Impact of revision on partners' capital	$ 1,539,889								$ 1,575,846								$ 1,539,889	$ 1,575,846	$ 1,616,079
Equity in net income attributable to AB Unitholders	78,630		$ 55,925		$ 44,657		$ 60,177		56,890	[1]	$ 48,387		$ 53,799		$ 51,008		239,389	210,084	200,931
Net income	$ 72,664		$ 50,258		$ 39,072		$ 54,592		$ 51,087	[1]	$ 42,086		$ 47,614		$ 44,977		$ 216,586	$ 185,764	$ 178,468
Basic net income per unit (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.77	[1],[2]	$ 0.52	[1],[2]	$ 0.40	[2]	$ 0.55	[2]	$ 0.53	[1],[2]	$ 0.42	[2]	$ 0.47	[2]	$ 0.45	[2]	$ 2.24	$ 1.87	$ 1.84
Diluted net income per unit (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.77	[1],[2]	$ 0.52	[1],[2]	$ 0.40	[2]	$ 0.55	[2]	$ 0.52	[1],[2]	$ 0.42	[2]	$ 0.47	[2]	$ 0.45	[2]	$ 2.23	$ 1.86	$ 1.84
As Reported [Member]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Equity in net income attributable to AB Unitholders																		$ 212,498	$ 203,277
Net income																		$ 188,178	$ 180,814
Basic net income per unit (in dollars per unit)																		$ 1.89	$ 1.87
Diluted net income per unit (in dollars per unit)																		$ 1.89	$ 1.86
Adjustment [Member]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Impact of revision on partners' capital									$ (13,800)									$ (13,800)	$ (11,400)	$ (9,000)	$ (4,700)
Equity in net income attributable to AB Unitholders																		(2,414)	(2,346)
Net income																		$ (2,414)	$ (2,346)
Basic net income per unit (in dollars per unit)																		$ (0.02)	$ (0.03)
Diluted net income per unit (in dollars per unit)																		$ (0.03)	$ (0.02)

[1] Certain prior-period amounts have been revised, see Note 2 for a discussion of the revision.

[2] Basic and diluted net income per unit are computed independently for each of the periods presented. Accordingly, the sum of the quarterly net income per unit amounts may not agree to the total for the year.