SCHEDULE II - Condensed Balance Sheets - Parent Company Only (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Assets [Abstract]
Fixed maturities, trading securities, at fair value (amortized cost: 2013, $Nil; 2012, $nil)	$ 13,593,303,000		$ 14,395,315,000
Short-term investments, trading securities, at fair value (amortized cost: 2013, $nil; 2012, $nil)	13,546,000		150,552,000
Cash and cash equivalents, at fair value, which approximates amortized cost	1,496,485,000		1,121,705,000		1,342,257,000	2,111,084,000
Other	149,296,000		103,528,000
Total assets	23,038,295,000		22,980,432,000
Liabilities [Abstract]
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other	291,350,000		290,265,000
Total liabilities	16,272,136,000		16,046,936,000
Shareholders' Equity [Abstract]
Common shares (par value $1.00; issued: 2013, 86,657,045 shares; 2012, 85,459,905 shares)	86,657,000		85,460,000
Preferred shares (par value $1.00; issued and outstanding: 2013, 34,150,000 shares; 2012, 35,750,000 shares; aggregate liquidation value: 2013, $853,750; 2012, $893,750)	34,150,000		35,750,000
Additional paid-in capital	3,901,627,000		3,861,844,000
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	(12,238,000)		10,597,000
Retained earnings	5,406,797,000		4,952,002,000
Common shares held in treasury, at cost (2013, 34,213,611 shares; 2012, 26,550,530 shares)	(2,707,461,000)		(2,012,157,000)
Total shareholders' equity attributable to PartnerRe Ltd.	6,709,532,000		6,933,496,000		6,467,542,000
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	23,038,295,000		22,980,432,000
Condensed Financial Statements Parentheticals [Abstract]
Fixed maturities, trading securities, amortized cost	13,376,455,000		13,653,615,000
Short-term investments, trading securities, amortized cost	13,543,000		150,634,000
Common shares, par value	$ 1		$ 1
Common shares, shares issued	86,657,045		85,459,905
Preferred shares, par value	$ 1		$ 1
Number of preferred shares issued	34,150,000		35,750,000
Preferred shares, shares outstanding	34,150,000		35,750,000
Aggregate liquidation value	853,750,000		893,750,000
Common shares held in treasury, shares	34,213,611		26,550,530
Senior Notes Debt [Member] | Notes Issued By Partner Re Finance A LLC [Member]
Parent Company Guarantee Disclosures [Abstract]
Interest rate on obligations guaranteed by the Parent Company	6.875%
Senior Notes Debt [Member] | Notes Issued By Partner Re Finance B LLC [Member]
Parent Company Guarantee Disclosures [Abstract]
Interest rate on obligations guaranteed by the Parent Company	5.50%
Parent Company [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents, at fair value, which approximates amortized cost	1,286,000		30,372,000		51,729,000	329,054,000
Investment in subsidiaries	8,170,653,000		8,533,423,000
Intercompany loans and balances receivable	730,450,000		361,408,000
Other	3,961,000		4,283,000
Total assets	8,906,350,000		8,929,486,000
Liabilities [Abstract]
Intercompany loans and balances payable	2,175,401,000	[1]	1,952,737,000	[1]
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other	21,417,000		43,253,000
Total liabilities	2,196,818,000		1,995,990,000
Shareholders' Equity [Abstract]
Common shares (par value $1.00; issued: 2013, 86,657,045 shares; 2012, 85,459,905 shares)	86,657,000		85,460,000
Preferred shares (par value $1.00; issued and outstanding: 2013, 34,150,000 shares; 2012, 35,750,000 shares; aggregate liquidation value: 2013, $853,750; 2012, $893,750)	34,150,000		35,750,000
Additional paid-in capital	3,901,627,000		3,861,844,000
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	(12,238,000)		10,597,000
Retained earnings	5,406,797,000		4,952,002,000
Common shares held in treasury, at cost (2013, 34,213,611 shares; 2012, 26,550,530 shares)	(2,707,461,000)		(2,012,157,000)
Total shareholders' equity attributable to PartnerRe Ltd.	6,709,532,000		6,933,496,000
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	8,906,350,000		8,929,486,000
Condensed Financial Statements Parentheticals [Abstract]
Common shares, par value	$ 1.00		$ 1.00
Common shares, shares issued	86,657,045		84,459,905
Preferred shares, par value	$ 1.00		$ 1.00
Number of preferred shares issued	34,150,000		35,750,000
Preferred shares, shares outstanding	34,150,000		35,750,000
Aggregate liquidation value	853,750,000		893,750,000
Common shares held in treasury, shares	34,213,611		26,550,530
Parent Company [Member] | Senior Notes Debt [Member] | Notes Issued By Partner Re Finance A LLC [Member] | FinancialGuaranteeMember
Parent Company Guarantee Disclosures [Abstract]
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	250,000,000
Interest rate on obligations guaranteed by the Parent Company	6.875%
Parent Company [Member] | Senior Notes Debt [Member] | Notes Issued By Partner Re Finance B LLC [Member] | FinancialGuaranteeMember
Parent Company Guarantee Disclosures [Abstract]
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	500,000,000
Interest rate on obligations guaranteed by the Parent Company	5.50%
Parent Company [Member] | Capital efficient notes [Member] | Notes Issued By Partner Re Finance II Inc [Member] | FinancialGuaranteeMember
Parent Company Guarantee Disclosures [Abstract]
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	$ 63,400,000
Interest rate on obligations guaranteed by the Parent Company	6.44%

[1] The parent has fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a subordinated basis all obligations of PartnerRe Finance II Inc., an indirect 100% owned finance subsidiary of the parent, related to the remaining $63.4 million aggregate principal amount of 6.440% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Capital Efficient Notes (CENts). The parent’s obligations under this guarantee are unsecured and rank junior in priority of payments to the parent’s Senior Notes. The parent has fully and unconditionally guaranteed all obligations of PartnerRe Finance A and PartnerRe Finance B, indirect 100% owned finance subsidiaries of the parent, related to the issuance of $250 million aggregate principal amount of 6.875% Senior Notes and $500 million aggregate principal amount of 5.500% Senior Notes. The parent’s obligations under these guarantees are senior and unsecured and rank equally with all other senior unsecured indebtedness of the parent.