Net Income Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014		Mar. 31, 2013
Numerator [Abstract]
Net income attributable to PartnerRe Ltd.	$ 309,843		$ 234,370
Dividends on preferred shares	14,184		14,699
Loss on redemption of preferred shares	0		9,135
Net income attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. common shareholders	$ 295,659		$ 210,536
Denominator [Abstract]
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding	51,652,177		58,423,898
Share options and other	1,075,396	[1]	1,166,146	[1]
Weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding	52,727,573		59,590,044
Basic net income	$ 5.72		$ 3.60
Diluted net income	$ 5.61		$ 3.53
Share options excluded from computation of weighted average number of common share and common share equivalents outstanding	69,100		103,000

[1] For the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, share based awards to purchase 69.1 thousand and 103.0 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.