Net Income (Loss) Per Unit (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Schedule of net (loss) income per unit [Abstract]
Net income (loss) - basic	$ 57,472		$ 29,523		$ 40,276		$ 38,231		$ 26,189		$ (23,142)		$ 21,339		$ 26,699		$ 165,502	$ 51,085	$ (93,268)
Additional allocation of equity in net income attributable to AllianceBernstein resulting from assumed dilutive effect of compensatory options																	1,166	0	0
Net income (loss) - diluted																	$ 166,668	$ 51,085	$ (93,268)
Weighted average units outstanding - basic (in units)																	96,461,000	101,067,000	103,288,000
Dilutive effect of compensatory options (in units)																	961,000	1,000	0
Weighted average units outstanding - diluted (in units)																	97,422,000	101,068,000	103,288,000
Basic net income (loss) per unit (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.62	[1]	$ 0.32	[1]	$ 0.40	[1]	$ 0.38	[1]	$ 0.26	[1]	$ (0.23)	[1]	$ 0.21	[1]	$ 0.26	[1]	$ 1.72	$ 0.51	$ (0.90)
Diluted net income (loss) per unit (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.62	[1]	$ 0.32	[1]	$ 0.40	[1]	$ 0.38	[1]	$ 0.26	[1]	$ (0.23)	[1]	$ 0.21	[1]	$ 0.26	[1]	$ 1.71	$ 0.51	$ (0.90)
Out-of-the-money options excluded from the diluted net income per unit (in units)																	2,923,035	8,438,902	3,813,567
Proportional share of the Holding Units held by AllianceBernstein in its consolidated rabbi trust (in hundredths)																	35.90%	37.50%	37.50%

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