Unaudited Quarterly Financial Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Net premiums written	$ 1,186,000	$ 1,265,000	$ 1,309,000	$ 1,636,000	$ 920,000	$ 1,043,000	$ 1,136,000	$ 1,473,000	$ 5,396,526	$ 4,572,860	$ 4,486,329
Net premiums earned	1,421,000	1,421,000	1,209,000	1,147,000	1,168,000	1,237,000	1,091,000	990,000	5,198,210	4,485,939	4,647,754
Net investment income	114,000	122,000	125,000	124,000	136,000	135,000	153,000	147,000	484,367	571,338	629,148
Net realized and unrealized investment (losses) gains	99,000	16,000	(299,000)	23,000	5,000	257,000	38,000	193,000	(160,735)	493,409	66,692
Other income	3,000	5,000	4,000	4,000	3,000	3,000	3,000	2,000	16,565	11,920	7,915
Total revenues	1,637,000	1,564,000	1,039,000	1,298,000	1,312,000	1,632,000	1,285,000	1,332,000	5,538,407	5,562,606	5,351,509
Losses and loss expenses and life policy benefits	879,000	751,000	867,000	661,000	801,000	721,000	706,000	576,000	3,157,808	2,804,610	4,372,570
Acquisition costs	318,000	283,000	242,000	235,000	245,000	247,000	233,000	212,000	1,077,628	936,909	938,361
Other operating expenses	131,000	108,000	145,000	116,000	112,000	95,000	106,000	98,000	500,466	411,374	434,846
Interest expense	12,000	12,000	12,000	12,000	12,000	12,000	12,000	12,000	48,929	48,895	48,949
Amortization of intangible assets	6,000	7,000	7,000	7,000	5,000	9,000	9,000	9,000	27,180	31,799	36,405
Net foreign exchange losses (gains)	8,000	1,000	11,000	(2,000)	3,000	2,000	(8,000)	3,000	18,203	175	(34,675)
Total expenses	1,354,000	1,162,000	1,284,000	1,029,000	1,178,000	1,086,000	1,058,000	910,000	4,830,214	4,233,762	5,796,456
Income (loss) before taxes and interest in earnings (losses) of equity investments	283,000	402,000	(245,000)	269,000	134,000	546,000	227,000	422,000	708,193	1,328,844	(444,947)
Income tax expense (benefit)	11,000	70,000	(75,000)	42,000	23,000	64,000	50,000	67,000	48,416	204,284	68,972
Interest in earnings (losses) of equity investments	4,000	6,000	(4,000)	7,000	1,000	5,000	(1,000)	5,000	13,665	9,954	(6,372)
Net income (loss)	276,000	338,000	(174,000)	234,000	112,000	487,000	176,000	360,000	673,442	1,134,514	(520,291)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(4,000)	(4,000)	(1,000)	0	0	0	0	0	(9,434)	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to PartnerRe Ltd.	272,000	334,000	(175,000)	234,000	112,000	487,000	176,000	360,000	664,008	1,134,514	(520,291)
Dividends on preferred shares	14,000	14,000	15,000	15,000	15,000	15,000	15,000	15,000	57,861	61,622	47,020
Loss on redemption of preferred shares	0	0	0	9,000	0	0	0	0	9,135	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. common shareholders	$ 258,000	$ 320,000	$ (190,000)	$ 210,000	$ 97,000	$ 472,000	$ 161,000	$ 345,000	$ 597,012	$ 1,072,892	$ (567,311)
Basic net income (loss)	$ 4.86	$ 5.95	$ (3.37)	$ 3.60	$ 1.58	$ 7.62	$ 2.52	$ 5.27	$ 10.78	$ 17.05	$ (8.40)
Diluted net income (loss)	$ 4.76	$ 5.84	$ (3.37)	$ 3.53	$ 1.56	$ 7.53	$ 2.50	$ 5.24	$ 10.58	$ 16.87	$ (8.40)	[1]
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.64	$ 0.64	$ 0.64	$ 0.64	$ 0.62	$ 0.62	$ 0.62	$ 0.62	$ 2.56	$ 2.48	$ 2.35

[1] At December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, share based awards to purchase 14.8 thousand, 554.7 thousand and 2,854.4 thousand common shares, respectively, were excluded from the calculation of diluted weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding because their exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the common shares. In addition, dilutive securities, in the form of share options and other, of 687.3 thousand shares were not included in the weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding for the purpose of computing the diluted net loss per share because to do so would have been anti-dilutive for the year ended December 31, 2011.