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Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Cash and cash equivalents      
Cash and cash equivalents, maximum maturity at the date of purchase (in months) 3 months    
Agent bonus estimates      
Performance period for agent bonuses (in months) 36 months    
Period of prior year actual underwriting data used to estimate agent bonuses (in years) 2 years    
Property and Casualty Group      
Deferred acquisition costs      
Reduction to unamortized acquisition costs due to a premium deficiency when considering investment income $ 0us-gaap_DeferredPolicyAcquisitionCostAmortizationExpenseNetInvestmentGainsLosses
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_PropertyLiabilityAndCasualtyInsuranceSegmentMember
$ 0us-gaap_DeferredPolicyAcquisitionCostAmortizationExpenseNetInvestmentGainsLosses
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_PropertyLiabilityAndCasualtyInsuranceSegmentMember
$ 0us-gaap_DeferredPolicyAcquisitionCostAmortizationExpenseNetInvestmentGainsLosses
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_PropertyLiabilityAndCasualtyInsuranceSegmentMember
Property and casualty unpaid losses and loss expenses      
Interest rate used to discount workers compensation loss reserves (as a percent) 2.50%us-gaap_WorkersCompensationDiscountPercent
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_PropertyLiabilityAndCasualtyInsuranceSegmentMember
2.50%us-gaap_WorkersCompensationDiscountPercent
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_PropertyLiabilityAndCasualtyInsuranceSegmentMember
2.50%us-gaap_WorkersCompensationDiscountPercent
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_PropertyLiabilityAndCasualtyInsuranceSegmentMember
Indemnity | Management operations      
Recognition of management fee revenue      
Indemnity's maximum management fee rate as a percent of premiums written and assumed by the Exchange (as a percent) 25.00%erie_InsuranceAgencyManagementFeeMaximumPercent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= erie_InsuranceAgencyManagementSegmentMember