Discontinued Operations (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended					3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Sep. 30, 2011 Kemper Corporation [Member] Fireside Bank [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Fireside Bank [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Fireside Bank [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Fireside Bank [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Fireside Bank [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Fireside Bank [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Fireside Bank [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Unitrin Business Insurance [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Unitrin Business Insurance [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Unitrin Business Insurance [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Unitrin Business Insurance [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Unitrin Business Insurance [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Incentives Paid in Lieu of Future Interest to Certificate Holders										$ 0.6
Certificates of Deposits Redeemed in Connection with Incentive Offers										12.4
Payments to Redeem and Close Certificates of Deposits Prior to their Maturity Dates									172.7	85.2
Future Interest Paid on Certificates of Deposit Being Redeemd in Period									6.9	3.6
Loans Receivable, Net	0		0		337.6			214.2				214.2
Loans and Leases Receivable, Allowance								22.9				22.9
Capital								266.2				266.2
Disposal Group, Distributions Of Capital Approved By Regulators							250.0
Property and Casualty	1,063.6	1,131.4	1,063.6	1,131.4	1,118.7	1,211.3								134.3		134.3		155.0
Interest, Loan Fees and Earned Discounts	3.8	22.4	31.8	78.9
Other Automobile Finance Revenues	1.1	0.2	1.4	1.0
Gain on Sale of Portfolio of Automobile Loan Receivables	4.5	0	4.5	0				4.5			0	4.5	0
Total Automobile Finance Revenues	9.4	22.6	37.7	79.9
Net Investment Income	0	0.5	0.5	1.5
Net Realized Gains on Sales of Investments	0	0	0.4	0
Total Revenues Included in Discontinued Operations	9.4	23.1	38.6	81.4
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations before Income Taxes:
Results of Operations								(2.0)			5.3	17.8	14.7	(1.9)	0.3	(3.0)	(1.0)
Gain on Sale of Portfolio of Automobile Loan Receivables	4.5	0	4.5	0				4.5			0	4.5	0
Income from Discontinued Operations before Income Taxes	0.6	5.6	19.3	13.7
Income Tax Benefit (Expense)	0.3	(2.2)	(5.8)	(5.4)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations	$ 0.9	$ 3.4	$ 13.5	$ 8.3
Income from Discontinued Operations Per Unrestricted Share [Abstract]
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.02	$ 0.06	$ 0.22	$ 0.13
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.02	$ 0.06	$ 0.22	$ 0.13