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.

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The number of general partner units outstanding.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 4.F)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187171-122770

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GeneralPartnersCapitalAccountUnitsOutstanding
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Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage investment held by the managing member or general partner of the limited liability company (LLC) or limited partnership (LP).

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 272
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6373374&loc=d3e70478-108055

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage investment held by members or limited partners of limited liability company (LLC) or limited partnership (LP).

+ References

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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

- Details

Name:	srt_OwnershipAxis=ab_EQHMember
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Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=ab_AXAMember
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Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_OwnershipAxis=ab_ABHoldingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=ab_EQHMember
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- Details

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- Details

Name:	srt_OwnershipAxis=ab_UnaffiliatedHoldersMember
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Data Type:	na
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- Details

Name:	srt_OwnershipAxis=ab_AllianceBernsteinL.P.Member
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Business Description, Organization and Basis of Presentation (Details) - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Ownership structure of AB Holding
Units outstanding (in units)	100,000	100,000
AllianceBernstein Corporation
Ownership structure of AB Holding
Limited partners or members ownership interest in Company (percent)	100.00%
EQH \| AXA
Ownership structure of AB Holding
General partnership interest (percent)	48.30%
AB Holding \| EQH
Ownership structure of AB Holding
General partnership interest (percent)	4.20%
AB Holding \| AllianceBernstein Corporation
Ownership structure of AB Holding
General partnership interest (percent)	1.00%
Units outstanding (in units)	100,000
Limited partners or members ownership interest in Company (percent)	35.20%
EQH and its subsidiaries \| AllianceBernstein Corporation
Ownership structure of AB Holding
Limited partners or members ownership interest in Company (percent)	64.00%
Unaffiliated holders \| AllianceBernstein Corporation
Ownership structure of AB Holding
Limited partners or members ownership interest in Company (percent)	0.80%
AB \| EQH and its subsidiaries
Ownership structure of AB Holding
General partnership interest (percent)	65.60%