Below investment grade assets included in fixed income securities.

No definition available.

Name:	all_DebtSecuritiesBelowInvestmentGrade
Namespace Prefix:	all_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the fixed income securities that do not produce any income.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	all_FixedIncomeSecuritiesNonIncomeProducing
Namespace Prefix:	all_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	all_MunicipalBondsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	all_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the amount of municipal bonds as a percentage of total carrying value.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	all_MunicipalBondsPortfolioCarryingValuePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	all_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The minimum percentage of municipal bonds to total carrying value that is used as a threshold for disclosure.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	all_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Interest earned on collateral received for loaned securities and invested in short-term investments and fixed income securities, net of fees.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	all_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Threshold percentage which the entity uses for disclosure.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	all_ThresholdForDisclosurePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	all_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Carrying amount of cash and investment securities on deposit with state regulatory authorities in connection with capital requirements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 320

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28366721&loc=d3e22002-158495

+ Details

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

- Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SecuritiesLoanedAbstract
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of securities loaned to entities in exchange for collateral, not subject to a master netting arrangement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 20

-Section 55

-Paragraph 22

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28370219&loc=SL20226052-175313

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=20225523&loc=SL20225862-175312

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Investments (Details 14) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Investments (Details 14) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Municipal Bonds
Threshold percentage of municipal to total carrying value	5.00%
Securities loaned
Fixed income and equity securities loaned	$ 590,000,000	$ 760,000,000
Interest Income on collateral, net of fees	2,000,000	2,000,000	2,000,000
Other investment information
Below investment grade assets	6,440,000,000	6,620,000,000
Fixed income securities and short-term investments deposited with regulatory authorities	258,000,000
Non-income producing fixed income securities and other investments	$ 48,000,000
Shareholders' equity \| Concentration of credit risk \| Minimum
Municipal Bonds
Percentage of credit concentration risk of single issuer and affiliates of shareholder's equity	10.00%
Texas
Municipal Bonds
Percentage of municipal bonds carrying value	8.70%	8.20%
California
Municipal Bonds
Percentage of municipal bonds carrying value	8.00%	8.10%
Florida
Municipal Bonds
Percentage of municipal bonds carrying value	6.30%	6.50%
New York
Municipal Bonds
Percentage of municipal bonds carrying value	6.30%	5.90%