Reinsurance - Reinsurance recoverables on paid and unpaid benefits (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Reinsurance Retention Policy [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables, net	$ 8,921	$ 8,745
Allstate Financial
Reinsurance Retention Policy [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables, net	2,354	2,468
Allstate Financial \| Annuities
Reinsurance Retention Policy [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables, net	1,370	1,424
Allstate Financial \| Life insurance
Reinsurance Retention Policy [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables, net	817	860
Allstate Financial \| Other
Reinsurance Retention Policy [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables, net	$ 167	$ 184

Amount, after valuation allowance, recoverable under reinsurance contracts including premium paid under reinsurance contracts. Examples include, but are not limited to, settled and unsettled claims, incurred but not reported losses, loss adjustment expense, premium paid, policy benefits and policy reserves.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6480758&loc=d3e6824-158387

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 310
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6485522&loc=d3e21409-158489

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.(a),6)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Name:	us-gaap_ReinsuranceRecoverables
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant