Segment information Segment Information (narrative Detail (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Derivative, (Gain) Loss on Derivative, Net	$ 22	$ (48)	$ (68)	$ 442
Net investment income	813	739	2,328	2,121
North America Agricultural Insurance [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Income Loss Including Gains Losses On Crop Derivatives	86
Derivative, (Gain) Loss on Derivative, Net	5
Net investment income	6	5	18	15
Segment Life [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net investment income	78	$ 71	$ 230	$ 207
Management Underwriting Income (Loss)	70
Gains Losses On Fair Value Changes In Separate Account Assets	$ 24

Gains Losses On Fair Value Changes In Separate Account Assets

No definition available.

Name:	cb_GainsLossesOnFairValueChangesInSeparateAccountAssets
Namespace Prefix:	cb_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Management Underwriting Income Loss Insurance

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cb_ManagementUnderwritingIncomeLossInsurance
Namespace Prefix:	cb_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Segment Income Loss Including Gains Losses On Crop Derivatives

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cb_SegmentIncomeLossIncludingGainsLossesOnCropDerivatives
Namespace Prefix:	cb_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) in the fair value of derivatives recognized in the income statement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4A
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84234895&loc=SL5618551-113959

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4C
-Subparagraph (a),(c),(d),(e)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84234895&loc=SL5624171-113959

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, after investment expense, of income earned from investments in securities and real estate. Includes, but is not limited to, real estate investment, policy loans, dividends, and interest. Excludes realized gain (loss) on investments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 225
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04(2))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 235
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-16(Column G))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34713774&loc=d3e574960-122915

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NetInvestmentIncome
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=cb_SegmentInsuranceNorthAmericanAgricultureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=cb_SegmentLifeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: