Net Income per Unit (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Schedule of net (loss) income per unit [Abstract]
Net income - basic	$ 36,159	$ 38,231
Additional allocation of equity in net income attributable to AllianceBernstein resulting from assumed dilutive effect of compensatory options	296	243
Net income - diluted	$ 36,455	$ 38,474
Weighted average units outstanding - basic (in units)	96,114,000	100,297,000
Dilutive effect of compensatory options (in units)	1,077,000	937,000
Weighted average units outstanding - diluted (in units)	97,191,000	101,234,000
Basic net income per unit (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.38	$ 0.38
Diluted net income per unit (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.38	$ 0.38
Out-of-the-money options excluded from the diluted net income per unit (in units)	2,828,033	3,161,304
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Proportional share of the Holding Units held in consolidated rabbi trust (in hundredths)	35.40%	37.50%
Unallocated Holding Units Held in Consolidated Rabbi Trust [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Proportional share of the Holding Units held in consolidated rabbi trust (in hundredths)	0.00%	37.50%