SCHEDULE II - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Assets
Fixed income securities, at fair value (amortized cost $255 and $446)	$ 77,017	$ 76,113
Short-term investments, at fair value (amortized cost $133 and $148)	2,336	1,291
Cash	806	776	562	612
Total assets	126,947	125,193	130,500
Liabilities
Long-term debt	6,057	5,908
Total liabilities	106,367	106,867
Equity
Preferred stock, $1 par value, 25 million shares authorized, none issued
Common stock, $.01 par value, 2.0 billion shares authorized and 900 million issued, 479 million and 501 million shares outstanding	9	9
Additional capital paid-in	3,162	3,189
Retained income	33,783	31,909
Deferred ESOP expense	(41)	(43)
Treasury stock, at cost (421 million and 399 million shares)	(17,508)	(16,795)
Accumulated other comprehensive income:
Unrealized net capital gains and losses	2,834	1,400
Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustments	70	56
Unrecognized pension and other postretirement benefit cost	(1,729)	(1,427)
Total accumulated other comprehensive income	1,175	29
Total shareholders' equity	20,580	18,298
Total liabilities and equity	126,947	125,193
Additional balance sheet disclosures:
Short-term, at fair value, amortized cost (in dollars)	2,336	1,291
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 1	$ 1
Preferred stock, shares authorized	25,000,000	25,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	2,000,000,000	2,000,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	900,000,000	900,000,000
Common stock, shares outstanding	479,000,000	501,000,000
Treasury stock, shares	421,000,000	399,000,000
Synthetic lease obligations
Liabilities
Long-term debt	44	44
Allstate Corporation
Assets
Investments in subsidiaries	27,403	24,660
Fixed income securities, at fair value (amortized cost $255 and $446)	259	455
Short-term investments, at fair value (amortized cost $133 and $148)	133	148
Cash	4	5
Receivable from subsidiaries	307	264
Other assets	767	595
Total assets	28,873	26,127
Liabilities
Long-term debt	6,012	5,850
Postretirement benefit obligation	1,936	1,571
Deferred compensation	227	219
Dividends payable to shareholders	5	109
Other liabilities	113	80
Total liabilities	8,293	7,829
Equity
Preferred stock, $1 par value, 25 million shares authorized, none issued
Common stock, $.01 par value, 2.0 billion shares authorized and 900 million issued, 479 million and 501 million shares outstanding	9	9
Additional capital paid-in	3,162	3,189
Retained income	33,783	31,909
Deferred ESOP expense	(41)	(43)
Treasury stock, at cost (421 million and 399 million shares)	(17,508)	(16,795)
Accumulated other comprehensive income:
Unrealized net capital gains and losses	2,834	1,400
Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustments	70	56
Unrecognized pension and other postretirement benefit cost	(1,729)	(1,427)
Total accumulated other comprehensive income	1,175	29
Total shareholders' equity	20,580	18,298
Total liabilities and equity	28,873	26,127
Additional balance sheet disclosures:
Fixed income securities, at fair value, amortized cost (in dollars)	255	446
Short-term, at fair value, amortized cost (in dollars)	$ 133	$ 148
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 1	$ 1
Preferred stock, shares authorized	25,000,000	25,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	2,000,000,000	2,000,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	900,000,000	900,000,000
Common stock, shares outstanding	479,000,000	501,000,000
Treasury stock, shares	421,000,000	399,000,000