SCHEDULE II - Condensed Statements of Cash Flows - Parent Company Only (Details) - USD ($) $ 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
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income 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
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:
Other, net										(158)		52,796	108,525
Net cash used in operating activities										318,812		852,599	827,267
Cash flows from investing activities
Sales and redemptions of short-term investments										178,166		92,956	312,376
Other, net										(151,198)		(58,840)	(786)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities										295,274		(250,007)	417,993
Cash flows from financing activities
Cash dividends paid to common and preferred shareholders (2)										(190,339)		(190,960)	(200,078)
Repurchase of common shares										(71,376)		(547,120)	(715,421)
Reissuance of treasury shares and issuance of common shares, net of taxes paid										7,996		16,785	51,111
Net proceeds from issuance of preferred shares										0		0	241,265
Redemption of preferred shares										0		0	(290,000)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities										(309,539)		(735,560)	(865,930)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash										(40,918)		(50,049)	(4,550)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents										263,629		(183,017)	374,780
Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of year					1,313,468				1,496,485	1,313,468		1,496,485	1,121,705
Cash and cash equivalents—end of year		1,577,097				1,313,468				1,577,097		1,313,468	1,496,485
Supplemental cash flow information:
Interest paid										49,259		49,259	49,259
Fixed maturities
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchases of fixed maturities										(8,608,288)		(9,844,660)	(8,872,874)
Equities
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchases of fixed maturities										(647,533)		(452,201)	(695,456)
Parent Company [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income attributable to PartnerRe Ltd.										104,381		1,054,974	664,008
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:
Equity in net income of subsidiaries										(528,122)		(1,096,885)	(756,513)
Other, net										32,725		33,598	27,397
Net cash used in operating activities										(391,016)		(8,313)	(65,108)
Cash flows from investing activities
Advances to/from subsidiaries, net										97,532		(12,635)	666,444
Net issue of intercompany loans receivable and payable										5,955		2,500	14,473
Sales and redemptions of fixed maturities										16,818		0	0
Dividends received from subsidiaries										418,789		0	0
Other, net										13,292		60	196
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	[1]									526,628		(10,075)	681,113
Cash flows from financing activities
Cash dividends paid to common and preferred shareholders (2)	[2]									(47,582)		0	(103,311)
Repurchase of common shares	[2]									0		0	(546,617)
Reissuance of treasury shares and issuance of common shares, net of taxes paid										7,996		16,785	51,111
Net proceeds from issuance of preferred shares										0		0	241,265
Redemption of preferred shares										0		0	(290,000)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities										(39,586)		16,785	(647,552)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash										(1,562)		688	2,461
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents										94,464		(915)	(29,086)
Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of year					$ 371				$ 1,286	371		1,286	30,372
Cash and cash equivalents—end of year		$ 94,835				$ 371				94,835		371	1,286
Supplemental cash flow information:
Interest paid										0		0	1,528
Non Cash Transactions [Abstract]
Non-cash dividends received from subsidiary										300,000		833,000	1,100,000
Parent Company [Member] | Fixed maturities
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchases of fixed maturities										25,758	[3]	0	0
Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities
Repurchase of common shares										71,000		547,000	169,000
Non Cash Transactions [Abstract]
Payment Of Dividends By Subsidiary On Behalf Of Parent										143,000		$ 191,000	$ 97,000
Fair Value of Assets Acquired										248,000
Noncash acquisition, Net Nonmonetary Assets Acquired	[4]									$ 191,000

[1] The parent received non-cash dividends from its subsidiaries of $300 million, $833 million and $1,100 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, which have been excluded from the Condensed Statements of Cash Flows—Parent Company Only.

[2] During the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, dividends paid to common and preferred shareholders of $143 million, $191 million and $97 million, respectively, and the repurchase of common shares of $71 million, $547 million and $169 million, respectively, were paid by a subsidiary on behalf of the parent and have been excluded from the Condensed Statements of Cash Flows—Parent Company Only.

[3] During the year ended December 31, 2015, the parent received $248 million of fixed maturities from its subsidiaries, which has been excluded from the Condensed Statements of Cash Flows—Parent Company Only.

[4] During the year ended December 31, 2015, the parent purchased a subsidiary from another subsidiary for $191 million in exchange for an intercompany loan payable. These transactions have been excluded from the Condensed Statements of Cash Flows—Parent Company Only.