Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Revenues
Gross premiums written									$ 5,932,003		$ 5,569,706		$ 4,718,235
Net premiums written	1,220,000	1,343,000	1,419,000	1,738,000	1,186,000	1,265,000	1,309,000	1,636,000	5,719,884		5,396,526		4,572,860
Increase in unearned premiums									(110,689)		(198,316)		(86,921)
Net premiums earned	1,446,000	1,557,000	1,353,000	1,254,000	1,421,000	1,421,000	1,209,000	1,147,000	5,609,195		5,198,210		4,485,939
Net investment income	115,000	118,000	130,000	117,000	114,000	122,000	125,000	124,000	479,696		484,367		571,338
Net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses)	98,000	(34,000)	166,000	142,000	99,000	16,000	(299,000)	23,000	371,796		(160,735)		493,409
Other income	4,000	2,000	9,000	0	3,000	5,000	4,000	4,000	16,190		16,565		11,920
Total revenues	1,663,000	1,643,000	1,658,000	1,513,000	1,637,000	1,564,000	1,039,000	1,298,000	6,476,877		5,538,407		5,562,606
Expenses
Losses and loss expenses and life policy benefits	870,000	960,000	884,000	749,000	879,000	751,000	867,000	661,000	3,462,770		3,157,808		2,804,610
Acquisition costs	325,000	322,000	303,000	265,000	318,000	283,000	242,000	235,000	1,213,822		1,077,628		936,909
Other expenses	123,000	108,000	107,000	111,000	131,000	108,000	145,000	116,000	449,688		500,466		411,374
Interest expense	12,000	12,000	12,000	12,000	12,000	12,000	12,000	12,000	48,963		48,929		48,895
Amortization of intangible assets	6,000	7,000	7,000	7,000	6,000	7,000	7,000	7,000	27,486		27,180		31,799
Net foreign exchange (gains) losses	(7,000)	(8,000)	(2,000)	0	8,000	1,000	11,000	(2,000)	(18,201)		18,203		175
Total expenses	1,329,000	1,401,000	1,311,000	1,144,000	1,354,000	1,162,000	1,284,000	1,029,000	5,184,528		4,830,214		4,233,762
Income before taxes and interest in earnings of equity method investments	334,000	242,000	347,000	369,000	283,000	402,000	(245,000)	269,000	1,292,349		708,193		1,328,844
Income tax expense	53,000	46,000	78,000	62,000	11,000	70,000	(75,000)	42,000	239,506		48,416		204,284
Interest in earnings of equity method investments	(1,000)	5,000	5,000	6,000	4,000	6,000	(4,000)	7,000	15,270		13,665		9,954
Net income	280,000	201,000	274,000	313,000	276,000	338,000	(174,000)	234,000	1,068,113		673,442		1,134,514
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(3,000)	(5,000)	(2,000)	(3,000)	(4,000)	(4,000)	(1,000)	0	(13,139)		(9,434)		0
Net income attributable to PartnerRe Ltd.	277,000	196,000	272,000	310,000	272,000	334,000	(175,000)	234,000	1,054,974		664,008		1,134,514
Preferred dividends	14,000	14,000	14,000	14,000	14,000	14,000	15,000	15,000	56,735		57,861		61,622
Loss on redemption of preferred shares	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	9,000	0		9,135		0
Net income attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. common shareholders	263,000	182,000	258,000	296,000	258,000	320,000	(190,000)	210,000	998,239		597,012		1,072,892
Comprehensive income
Net income attributable to PartnerRe Ltd.	277,000	196,000	272,000	310,000	272,000	334,000	(175,000)	234,000	1,054,974		664,008		1,134,514
Change in currency translation adjustment									(8,892)		(31,778)		28,488
Change in unfunded pension obligation, net of tax									(12,067)		9,861		(4,294)
Change in unrealized losses on investments, net of tax									(886)		(918)		(953)
Total other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax									(21,845)		(22,835)		23,241
Comprehensive income attributable to PartnerRe Ltd.									$ 1,033,129		$ 641,173		$ 1,157,755
Per share data attributable to PartnerRe Ltd.common shareholders
Basic net income	$ 5.39	$ 3.68	$ 5.13	$ 5.72	$ 4.86	$ 5.95	$ (3.37)	$ 3.60	$ 19.96		$ 10.78		$ 17.05
Diluted net income	$ 5.26	$ 3.60	$ 5.02	$ 5.61	$ 4.76	$ 5.84	$ (3.37)	$ 3.53	$ 19.51	[1]	$ 10.58	[1]	$ 16.87	[1]
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding									50,019,480		55,378,980		62,915,992
Weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding									51,174,225		56,448,105		63,615,748

[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.