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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
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Senior Debentures and Innovative Capital Instruments - Innovative Capital Instruments (Details) - CAD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [line items]
Principal amount	$ 700
Sun Life ExchangEable Capital Securities
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [line items]
Borrowings	699	$ 699
Sun Life Capital Trust SLEECS B
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [line items]
Principal amount	200
Sun Life Capital Trust II SEECS 2009-1
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [line items]
Principal amount	$ 500
Annual Yield \| Sun Life Capital Trust SLEECS B
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [line items]
Annual yield	7.093%
Annual Yield \| Sun Life Capital Trust II SEECS 2009-1
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [line items]
Annual yield	5.863%
Government of Canada Bond Yield \| Sun Life Capital Trust II SEECS 2009-1
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [line items]
Adjustment to interest rate basis	0.32%
Five-year Government of Canada Bond Yield \| Sun Life Capital Trust II SEECS 2009-1
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [line items]
Adjustment to interest rate basis	3.40%
Tier 1 Capital \| Sun Life ExchangEable Capital Securities
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [line items]
Borrowings	$ 699	$ 699
Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Shares \| Sun Life ExchangEable Capital Securities
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [line items]
Borrowings, convertible, number of equity instruments (in shares)	40
Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Shares \| Sun Life Capital Trust SLEECS B
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [line items]
Borrowings, convertible, number of equity instruments (in shares)	40
Borrowings, Redemption Period One \| Government of Canada Bond Yield \| Sun Life Capital Trust II SEECS 2009-1
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [line items]
Adjustment to interest rate basis	0.60%
Borrowings, Redemption Period Two \| Government of Canada Bond Yield \| Sun Life Capital Trust II SEECS 2009-1
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [line items]
Adjustment to interest rate basis	1.20%