Shareholders' Equity (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 04, 2004 years	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Schedule of Capitalization, Equity [Line Items]
Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized		20,000,000
Preferred Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share		$ 0.1
Preferred Stock, Shares Issued		0	0
Common Stock, Shares Authorized		100,000,000	100,000,000
Common Stock, Par Value		$ 0.1	$ 0.1
Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding		0	0
Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		58,454,390	60,248,582
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared, Preferred Stock Purchase Right, Number	$ 1.0
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared, Preferred Stock Purchase Right, Term	10
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Shares		(2,000,000)	900,000	1,400,000
Repurchases of Common Stock		$ (60,700,000)	$ (27,400,000)	$ (34,400,000)
Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Common Stock		56,900,000	58,200,000	54,600,000
Line of Credit Facility, Amount Available for Dividend Payment		332,000,000
Kemper's Insurance Subsidiaries [Member]
Schedule of Capitalization, Equity [Line Items]
Cash Dividends Paid by Kemper's Insurance Subsidiaries to Kemper		95,000,000
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Amount Available for Dividend Payments		179,000,000
Amount of Restricted Net Assets for Consolidated and Unconsolidated Subsidiaries		2,500,000,000
Life and Health [Member]
Schedule of Capitalization, Equity [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance		457,800,000	475,100,000
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount		102,000,000	116,200,000	80,400,000
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus Required		118,600,000
Property and Casualty Insurance [Member]
Schedule of Capitalization, Equity [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance		844,800,000	829,600,000
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount		40,600,000	30,600,000	117,300,000
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus Required		$ 300,000,000
Restricted Stock [Member]
Schedule of Capitalization, Equity [Line Items]
Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		313,424	289,659