SCHEDULE II - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Assets
Fixed income securities, at fair value (amortized cost $878 and $210)	$ 62,440	$ 60,910
Short-term investments, at fair value (amortized cost $673 and $565)	2,540	2,393
Cash	657	675	806	776
Total assets	108,533	123,520	126,947
Liabilities
Long-term debt	5,194	6,201
Deferred income taxes	715	635
Total liabilities	86,229	102,040
Equity
Common stock, $.01 par value, 2.0 billion shares authorized and 900 million issued, 418 million and 449 million shares outstanding	9	9
Additional capital paid-in	3,199	3,143
Retained income	37,842	35,580
Deferred ESOP expense	(23)	(31)
Treasury stock, at cost (482 million and 451 million shares)	(21,030)	(19,047)
Accumulated other comprehensive income:
Unrealized net capital gains and losses	1,926	1,646
Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustments	(2)	38
Unrecognized pension and other postretirement benefit cost	(1,363)	(638)
Total accumulated other comprehensive income	561	1,046
Total shareholders' equity	22,304	21,480
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	108,533	123,520
Additional balance sheet disclosures:
Short-term, at fair value, amortized cost (in dollars)	2,540	2,393
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 1	$ 1
Preferred stock, shares authorized	25,000,000	25,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	72,200	32,300
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	72,200	32,300
Preferred stock, shares aggregate liquidation preference (in dollars)	1,805.0	807.5
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	418,000,000	449,000,000
Treasury stock, shares	482,000,000	451,000,000
Synthetic lease obligations
Liabilities
Long-term debt		44
Allstate Corporation
Assets
Investments in subsidiaries	26,362	26,813
Fixed income securities, at fair value (amortized cost $878 and $210)	880	213
Short-term investments, at fair value (amortized cost $673 and $565)	673	565
Cash	155	105	4	5
Receivable from subsidiaries	342	311
Prepaid pension benefit asset		401
Deferred income taxes	352
Other assets	221	110
Total assets	28,985	28,518
Liabilities
Long-term debt	5,194	6,157
Pension and other postretirement benefit obligations	977	358
Deferred compensation	263	255
Dividends payable to shareholders	155	131
Deferred income taxes		38
Other liabilities	92	99
Total liabilities	6,681	7,038
Equity
Preferred stock and additional capital paid-in, $1 par value, 25 million shares authorized, 72.2 thousand and 32.3 thousand shares issued and outstanding, $1,805 and $807.5 aggregate liquidation preference	1,746	780
Common stock, $.01 par value, 2.0 billion shares authorized and 900 million issued, 418 million and 449 million shares outstanding	9	9
Additional capital paid-in	3,199	3,143
Retained income	37,842	35,580
Deferred ESOP expense	(23)	(31)
Treasury stock, at cost (482 million and 451 million shares)	(21,030)	(19,047)
Accumulated other comprehensive income:
Unrealized net capital gains and losses	1,926	1,646
Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustments	(2)	38
Unrecognized pension and other postretirement benefit cost	(1,363)	(638)
Total accumulated other comprehensive income	561	1,046
Total shareholders' equity	22,304	21,480
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	28,985	28,518
Additional balance sheet disclosures:
Fixed income securities, at fair value, amortized cost (in dollars)	878	210
Short-term, at fair value, amortized cost (in dollars)	673	565
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 1	$ 1
Preferred stock, shares authorized	25,000,000	25,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	72,200	32,300
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	72,200	32,300
Preferred stock, shares aggregate liquidation preference (in dollars)	$ 1,805.0	$ 807.5
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	418,000,000	449,000,000
Treasury stock, shares	482,000,000	451,000,000