Net Income Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013
Numerator [Abstract]
Net income attributable to PartnerRe Ltd.	$ 196,398		$ 333,423		$ 778,082		$ 392,221
Dividends on preferred shares	14,184		14,184		42,551		43,678
Loss on redemption of preferred shares	0		0		0		9,135
Net income attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. common shareholders	$ 182,214		$ 319,239		$ 735,531		$ 339,408
Denominator [Abstract]
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding	49,514,980		53,671,245		50,461,749		56,176,260
Share options and other (1)	1,166,345		953,906		1,104,385		1,041,301
Weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding	50,681,325		54,625,151		51,566,134		57,217,561
Basic net income	$ 3.68		$ 5.95		$ 14.58		$ 6.04
Diluted net income	$ 3.60	[1]	$ 5.84	[1]	$ 14.26	[1]	$ 5.93	[1]
Anti-dilutive common shares excluded from weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding - diluted (1)	134,470		140,516		135,681		114,195

[1] Where the exercise price of share based awards is greater than the average market price of the common shares, the common shares are considered anti-dilutive and are excluded from the calculation of weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding - diluted.