Amounts of transfers of assets measured on a recurring basis out of Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy into Level 2.

No definition available.

Name:	ace_FairValueAssetsLevel1ToLevel2TransfersAmounts
Namespace Prefix:	ace_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair value assets Level 2 To Level 1 transfers amounts

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ace_FairValueAssetsLevel2ToLevel1TransfersAmounts
Namespace Prefix:	ace_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	ace_FairValueMeasurementsOfFinancialInstrumentsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	ace_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The low end of the range of multiplicative factors used to reduce the Base Lapse Function for policies with more valuable guarantees.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ace_GuaranteedLivingBenefitsAdjustmentFactorForValuableGuaranteesLowerRange
Namespace Prefix:	ace_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The high end of the range of multiplicative factors used to reduce the Base Lapse Function for policies with more valuable guarantees.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ace_GuaranteedLivingBenefitsAdjustmentFactorForValuableGuaranteesUpperRange
Namespace Prefix:	ace_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The low end of the range of the per annum lapse assumption during the surrender charge period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ace_GuaranteedLivingBenefitsLapseRateBaseLowerRange
Namespace Prefix:	ace_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The high end of the range of the per annum lapse assumption during the surrender charge period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ace_GuaranteedLivingBenefitsLapseRateBaseUpperRange
Namespace Prefix:	ace_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The low end of the range of the per annum lapse assumption in the year immediately following the surrender charge period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ace_GuaranteedLivingBenefitsLapseRateSpikeLowerRange
Namespace Prefix:	ace_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The high end of the range of the per annum lapse assumption in the year immediately following the surrender charge period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ace_GuaranteedLivingBenefitsLapseRateSpikeUpperRange
Namespace Prefix:	ace_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The length of the ultimate lapse rate period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ace_GuaranteedLivingBenefitsLapseRateUltimatePeriod
Namespace Prefix:	ace_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The approximate per annum lapse assumption 3 or more years following the surrender charge period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ace_GuaranteedLivingBenefitsLapseRateUltimateRange
Namespace Prefix:	ace_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The highest annual annuitization rate assumption applied in the first year a policy is eligible to annuitize using a GMIB feature, used for clients for which there are several years of annuitization experience.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ace_GuaranteedLivingBenefitsMaximumAnnuitizationRatesFirstYearUtilizingGmib
Namespace Prefix:	ace_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Guaranteed Living Benefits, Net Income Impact From Model Refinement

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ace_GuaranteedLivingBenefitsNetIncomeImpactFromModelRefinement
Namespace Prefix:	ace_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Rate 1 - the highest annual annuitization rate assumption applied after the first year a policy is eligible to annuitize using a GMIB feature, as used in the weighted average for clients with no currently observable relevant annuitization behavior data.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ace_GuaranteedLivingBenefitsWeightedAverageMaximumAnnuitizationRateLowerRange
Namespace Prefix:	ace_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Rate 2 - the highest annual annuitization rate assumption applied after the first year a policy is eligible to annuitize using a GMIB feature, as used in the weighted average for clients with no currently observable relevant annuitization behavior data.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ace_GuaranteedLivingBenefitsWeightedAverageMaximumAnnuitizationRateMiddleRange
Namespace Prefix:	ace_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Rate 3 - the highest annual annuitization rate assumption applied after the first year a policy is eligible to annuitize using a GMIB feature, as used in the weighted average for clients with no currently observable relevant annuitization behavior data.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ace_GuaranteedLivingBenefitsWeightedAverageMaximumAnnuitizationRateUpperRange
Namespace Prefix:	ace_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Notice period in days for redemption of investment funds alternative investments (employ various investment strategies such as long/short equity and arbitrage/distressed.)

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ace_NoticePeriodForRedemptionForAlternativeInvestmentsInvestmentFunds
Namespace Prefix:	ace_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage of GMIB guaranteed value that is represented by clients with several years of annuitization experience

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ace_PercentageOfGuaranteedMinimiumIncomeBenefitsRepresentedByClientsWithSeveralYearsExperience
Namespace Prefix:	ace_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Fair Value Measurements (Narrative) (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Fair Value Measurements (Narrative) (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013 Year	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Fair Value Measurements Of Financial Instruments [Line Items]
GLB - Lapse rate - lower range	1.00%
GLB - Lapse rate - upper range	6.00%
GLB - Spike lapse rate - lower range	10.00%
GLB - Spike lapse rate - upper range	30.00%
GLB - Ultimate lapse rate	10.00%
GLB - Length of ultimate lapse rate period, years	2
GLB - Adjustment factor for valuable guarantees - lower	8.00%
GLB - Adjustment factor for valuable guarantees - upper	68.00%
Percent of GMIB guaranteed value that are represented by clients with several years of annuitization experience	37.00%
Guaranteed Living Benefits, Net Income Impact From Model Refinement	$ 9,000,000	$ 49,000,000	$ 14,000,000
Level 1 To Level 2 Transfers	19,000,000	40,000,000
Level 2 To Level 1 Transfers		$ 15,000,000
First year only [Domain]
Fair Value Measurements Of Financial Instruments [Line Items]
GLB - Lapse rate - lower range	7.00%
Redemption Notice Periods Lower Range [Member]
Fair Value Measurements Of Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Notice period for redemption for alternative investments investment funds, days	5 days
Redemption Notice Periods Upper Range [Member]
Fair Value Measurements Of Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Notice period for redemption for alternative investments investment funds, days	120 days
Minimum \| First year only [Domain]
Fair Value Measurements Of Financial Instruments [Line Items]
GLB - First year maximum annuitization rate	7.00%
Minimum \| First year and subsequent years [Domain]
Fair Value Measurements Of Financial Instruments [Line Items]
GLB - First year maximum annuitization rate	14.00%
Maximum \| First year only [Domain]
Fair Value Measurements Of Financial Instruments [Line Items]
GLB - First year maximum annuitization rate	12.00%
Maximum \| First year and subsequent years [Domain]
Fair Value Measurements Of Financial Instruments [Line Items]
GLB - First year maximum annuitization rate	55.00%
GLB - Weighted average maximum annuitization rate - rate 1	7.00%
GLB - Weighted average maximum annuitization rate - rate 2	15.00%
GLB - Weighted average maximum annuitization rate - rate 3	30.00%