Represents the percentage at which postretirement benefit expenses are reimbursed to the attorney-in-fact.

No definition available.

Name:	erie_DefinedBenefitPlanPostretirementBenefitExpensesReimbursementPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	erie_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) recognized in net periodic benefit (cost) credit of defined benefit plan.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAmortizationOfGainsLosses
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of prior service cost (credit) recognized in net periodic benefit cost (credit) of defined benefit plan.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAmortizationOfPriorServiceCostCredit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of contribution received by defined benefit plan from employer which increases plan assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)(5)(ii)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82843861&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82843861&loc=d3e2709-114920

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82843861&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)(5)(iv)(01)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82843861&loc=d3e1928-114920

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByEmployer
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanDisclosureLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of future annual benefits of participant covered by insurance contract. Includes, but is not limited to, contract issued by employer or its related parties.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanEstimatedAmountOfPlanParticipantsFutureBenefitsCoveredByInsuranceContractsIssuedByEmployerOrRelatedParties
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of expected return (loss) recognized in net periodic benefit (cost) credit, calculated based on expected long-term rate of return and market-related value of plan assets of defined benefit plan.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedReturnOnPlanAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of cost recognized for passage of time related to defined benefit plan.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanInterestCost
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of net periodic benefit cost (credit) for defined benefit plan.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCost
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCostAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of cost for actuarial present value of benefits attributed to service rendered by employee for defined benefit plan.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanServiceCost
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeAxis=us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=erie_ErieInsuranceExchangeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RetirementPlanTaxStatusAxis=us-gaap_QualifiedPlanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RetirementPlanFundingStatusAxis=us-gaap_FundedPlanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=erie_ErieFamilyLifeInsuranceCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Postretirement Benefits (Details) - Pension plans - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Cost of pension plans:
Service cost for benefits earned	$ 7,777		$ 7,050	$ 23,330	$ 21,150
Interest cost on benefits obligation	8,569		8,281	25,706	24,844
Expected return on plan assets	(10,317)		(9,880)	(30,950)	(29,640)
Prior service cost amortization	218		174	654	522
Net actuarial loss amortization	2,325		2,029	6,975	6,084
Pension plan cost	8,572		$ 7,654	$ 25,715	$ 22,960
Erie Insurance Exchange (EIE)
Postretirement Benefits
Postretirement annual benefit expense reimbursed to Indemnity from the Exchange (as a percent)				58.00%
Qualified plan \| Funded plan
Postretirement Benefits
Employer contribution	20,000	$ 19,000
Qualified plan \| Funded plan \| Erie Family Life Insurance Company (EFL)
Postretirement Benefits
Contingent liability for amount of nonparticipating annuity contracts the employee pension plan purchased from EFL	$ 19,700			$ 19,700