Unaudited Quarterly Financial Information Unaudited Quarterly Financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Net premiums written	$ 1,064,000	$ 1,190,000	$ 1,322,000	$ 1,653,000	$ 1,220,000	$ 1,343,000	$ 1,419,000	$ 1,738,000	$ 5,229,548		$ 5,719,884		$ 5,396,526
Net premiums earned	1,294,000	1,412,000	1,328,000	1,235,000	1,446,000	1,557,000	1,353,000	1,254,000	5,269,178		5,609,195		5,198,210
Net investment income	108,000	117,000	120,000	105,000	115,000	118,000	130,000	117,000	449,784		479,696		484,367
Net realized and unrealized investment (losses) gains	(24,000)	(133,000)	(256,000)	116,000	98,000	(34,000)	166,000	142,000	(297,479)		371,796		(160,735)
Other income	1,000	3,000	0	4,000	4,000	2,000	9,000	0	9,144		16,190		16,565
Total revenues	1,379,000	1,399,000	1,192,000	1,460,000	1,663,000	1,643,000	1,658,000	1,513,000	5,430,627		6,476,877		5,538,407
Losses and loss expenses and life policy benefits	767,000	804,000	865,000	721,000	870,000	960,000	884,000	749,000	3,157,420		3,462,770		3,157,808
Acquisition costs	311,000	347,000	283,000	276,000	325,000	322,000	303,000	265,000	1,217,003		1,213,822		1,077,628
Other expenses	120,000	416,000	130,000	125,000	123,000	108,000	107,000	111,000	790,723		449,688		500,466
Interest expense	12,000	12,000	12,000	12,000	12,000	12,000	12,000	12,000	48,988		48,963		48,929
Amortization of intangible assets	6,000	7,000	7,000	7,000	6,000	7,000	7,000	7,000	26,593		27,486		27,180
Net foreign exchange (gains) losses	(6,000)	22,000	6,000	(13,000)	(7,000)	(8,000)	(2,000)	0	9,461		(18,201)		18,203
Total expenses	1,210,000	1,608,000	1,303,000	1,128,000	1,329,000	1,401,000	1,311,000	1,144,000	5,250,188		5,184,528		4,830,214
Income (loss) before taxes and interest in earnings (losses) of equity method investments	169,000	(209,000)	(111,000)	332,000	334,000	242,000	347,000	369,000	180,439		1,292,349		708,193
Income tax (benefit) expense	(3,000)	17,000	(14,000)	80,000	53,000	46,000	78,000	62,000	79,664		239,506		48,416
Interest in earnings (losses) of equity method investments	5,000	(3,000)	8,000	(4,000)	(1,000)	5,000	5,000	6,000	6,375		15,270		13,665
Net income (loss)	177,000	(229,000)	(89,000)	248,000	280,000	201,000	274,000	313,000	107,150		1,068,113		673,442
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	(2,000)	(3,000)	(5,000)	(2,000)	(3,000)	(2,769)		(13,139)		(9,434)
Net income (loss) attributable to PartnerRe Ltd.	177,000	(229,000)	(89,000)	246,000	277,000	196,000	272,000	310,000	104,381		1,054,974		664,008
Preferred dividends	14,000	14,000	14,000	14,000	14,000	14,000	14,000	14,000	56,735		56,735		57,861
Net income (loss) attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. common shareholders	$ 163,000	$ (243,000)	$ (103,000)	$ 232,000	$ 263,000	$ 182,000	$ 258,000	$ 296,000	$ 47,646		$ 998,239		$ 597,012
Basic net income (loss) per common share	$ 3.39	$ (5.08)	$ (2.16)	$ 4.88	$ 5.39	$ 3.68	$ 5.13	$ 5.72	$ 1.00		$ 19.96		$ 10.78
Diluted net income (loss) per common share	3.30	(5.08)	(2.16)	4.76	5.26	3.60	5.02	5.61	0.97	[1]	19.51	[1]	10.58	[1]
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.70	$ 0.70	$ 0.70	$ 0.70	$ 0.67	$ 0.67	$ 0.67	$ 0.67	$ 2.80		$ 2.68		$ 2.56

[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.