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Investments Investments (Details 6) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Investment in limited partnerships      
Equity in earnings of limited partnerships $ 113us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments $ 161us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments $ 131us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
Indemnity      
Investment in limited partnerships      
Equity in earnings of limited partnerships 11us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
22us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
15us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Indemnity | Equity method of accounting      
Investment in limited partnerships      
Equity in earnings of limited partnerships 9us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
/ erie_MethodOfAccountingAxis
= erie_EquityMethodOfAccountingMember
21us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
/ erie_MethodOfAccountingAxis
= erie_EquityMethodOfAccountingMember
13us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
/ erie_MethodOfAccountingAxis
= erie_EquityMethodOfAccountingMember
Indemnity | Fair value option      
Investment in limited partnerships      
Equity in earnings of limited partnerships 2us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
/ erie_MethodOfAccountingAxis
= erie_FairValueOptionMember
1us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
/ erie_MethodOfAccountingAxis
= erie_FairValueOptionMember
2us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
/ erie_MethodOfAccountingAxis
= erie_FairValueOptionMember
Exchange      
Investment in limited partnerships      
Equity in earnings of limited partnerships 102us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
139us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
116us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
Exchange | Equity method of accounting      
Investment in limited partnerships      
Equity in earnings of limited partnerships 88us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
/ erie_MethodOfAccountingAxis
= erie_EquityMethodOfAccountingMember
128us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
/ erie_MethodOfAccountingAxis
= erie_EquityMethodOfAccountingMember
105us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
/ erie_MethodOfAccountingAxis
= erie_EquityMethodOfAccountingMember
Exchange | Fair value option      
Investment in limited partnerships      
Equity in earnings of limited partnerships $ 14us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
/ erie_MethodOfAccountingAxis
= erie_FairValueOptionMember
$ 11us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
/ erie_MethodOfAccountingAxis
= erie_FairValueOptionMember
$ 11us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
/ erie_MethodOfAccountingAxis
= erie_FairValueOptionMember