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Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Indemnity  
Contractual commitments  
Represents the entity's maximum contractual commitments to invest in its limited partnership investments $ 24us-gaap_OtherCommitment
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Description of commitment: contractual commitment to invest in limited partnership investments Contractual commitments to invest in limited partnership investments, consisting of private equity securities, mezzanine debt securities, and real estate activities.
Indemnity | Private equity  
Contractual commitments  
Represents the entity's maximum contractual commitments to invest in its limited partnership investments 10us-gaap_OtherCommitment
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PrivateEquityFundsMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Indemnity | Mezzanine debt  
Contractual commitments  
Represents the entity's maximum contractual commitments to invest in its limited partnership investments 9us-gaap_OtherCommitment
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= erie_MezzanineFundsMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Indemnity | Real estate  
Contractual commitments  
Represents the entity's maximum contractual commitments to invest in its limited partnership investments 5us-gaap_OtherCommitment
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RealEstateFundsMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Exchange  
Contractual commitments  
Represents the entity's maximum contractual commitments to invest in its limited partnership investments 469us-gaap_OtherCommitment
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
Description of commitment: contractual commitment to invest in limited partnership investments Contractual commitments to invest in limited partnership investments, consisting of private equity securities, mezzanine debt securities, and real estate activities.
Exchange | Private equity  
Contractual commitments  
Represents the entity's maximum contractual commitments to invest in its limited partnership investments 134us-gaap_OtherCommitment
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PrivateEquityFundsMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
Exchange | Mezzanine debt  
Contractual commitments  
Represents the entity's maximum contractual commitments to invest in its limited partnership investments 158us-gaap_OtherCommitment
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= erie_MezzanineFundsMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
Exchange | Real estate  
Contractual commitments  
Represents the entity's maximum contractual commitments to invest in its limited partnership investments $ 177us-gaap_OtherCommitment
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RealEstateFundsMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember