The fair value, at acquisition date, of the consideration transferred in a business combination. [Refer: Total for all business combinations [member]]

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IFRS
-Number 3
-IssueDate 2024-01-01
-Paragraph B64
-Subparagraph f
-URI https://taxonomy.ifrs.org/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=3&code=ifrs-tx-2024-en-r&anchor=para_B64_f&doctype=Appendix&subtype=B
-URIDate 2024-03-27

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_AcquisitiondateFairValueOfTotalConsiderationTransferred
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

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

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_DisclosureOfBusinessCombinationsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The gain (loss) recognised on the measurement to fair value less costs to sell or on the disposal of the assets or disposal group(s) constituting the discontinued operation. [Refer: Discontinued operations [member]]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IFRS
-Number 5
-IssueDate 2024-01-01
-Paragraph 33
-Subparagraph b
-Clause iii
-URI https://taxonomy.ifrs.org/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=5&code=ifrs-tx-2024-en-r&anchor=para_33_b_iii&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2024-03-27

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_GainLossRecognisedOnMeasurementToFairValueLessCostsToSellOrOnDisposalOfAssetsOrDisposalGroupsConstitutingDiscontinuedOperation
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of liabilities included in disposal groups classified as held for sale. [Refer: Liabilities; Disposal groups classified as held for sale [member]]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IFRS
-Number 5
-IssueDate 2024-01-01
-Paragraph 38
-URI https://taxonomy.ifrs.org/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=5&code=ifrs-tx-2024-en-r&anchor=para_38&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2024-03-27

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IAS
-Number 1
-IssueDate 2024-01-01
-Paragraph 54
-Subparagraph p
-URI https://taxonomy.ifrs.org/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=1&code=ifrs-tx-2024-en-r&anchor=para_54_p&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2024-03-27

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_LiabilitiesIncludedInDisposalGroupsClassifiedAsHeldForSale
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of non-current assets or disposal groups classified as held for sale. [Refer: Disposal groups classified as held for sale [member]]

+ References

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_NoncurrentAssetsOrDisposalGroupsClassifiedAsHeldForSale
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The proportion of ownership interest in a subsidiary attributable to the entity. [Refer: Total for all subsidiaries [member]]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IAS
-Number 27
-IssueDate 2024-01-01
-Paragraph 17
-Subparagraph b
-Clause iii
-URI https://taxonomy.ifrs.org/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=27&code=ifrs-tx-2024-en-r&anchor=para_17_b_iii&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2024-03-27

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IAS
-Number 27
-IssueDate 2024-01-01
-Paragraph 16
-Subparagraph b
-Clause iii
-URI https://taxonomy.ifrs.org/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=27&code=ifrs-tx-2024-en-r&anchor=para_16_b_iii&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2024-03-27

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IFRS
-Number 12
-IssueDate 2024-01-01
-Paragraph 19B
-Subparagraph c
-URI https://taxonomy.ifrs.org/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=12&code=ifrs-tx-2024-en-r&anchor=para_19B_c&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2024-03-27

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_ProportionOfOwnershipInterestInSubsidiary
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	dtr-2022:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Bancassurance Partnership, Term

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	slf_BancassurancePartnershipTerm
Namespace Prefix:	slf_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Disposal Group, Consideration

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	slf_DisposalGroupConsideration
Namespace Prefix:	slf_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Disposal Group, Contingent Consideration

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	slf_DisposalGroupContingentConsideration
Namespace Prefix:	slf_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Gain (Loss) On Disposition Of Business, Pre-Tax

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	slf_GainLossOnDispositionOfBusinessPreTax
Namespace Prefix:	slf_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Generated Gross Proceeds

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	slf_GeneratedGrossProceeds
Namespace Prefix:	slf_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Partial Disposition Through Sale Of Additional Ownership Interest

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	slf_PartialDispositionThroughSaleOfAdditionalOwnershipInterest
Namespace Prefix:	slf_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Realized Gain On Disposition Of Business, Pre-Tax

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	slf_RealizedGainOnDispositionOfBusinessPreTax
Namespace Prefix:	slf_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis=slf_CanadianPremierLifeInsuranceCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_AssetsAndLiabilitiesClassifiedAsHeldForSaleAxis=ifrs-full_DisposalGroupsClassifiedAsHeldForSaleMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_BusinessCombinationsAxis=slf_AdityaBirlaSunLifeAMCLimitedMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_BusinessCombinationsAxis=slf_DahSingBankLimitedMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Acquisitions and Other - Acquisitions and Other (Details) $ in Millions					3 Months Ended
	May 31, 2024	Mar. 21, 2024 CAD ($)	Apr. 03, 2023 CAD ($)	Jan. 20, 2023 CAD ($)	Mar. 31, 2023 CAD ($)	Feb. 01, 2023 CAD ($)
Disclosure of detailed information about business combination [line items]
Assets included in disposal group			$ 359
Cash consideration			418
Gain on disposition			$ 12
Canadian Premier Life Insurance Company \| Disposal groups classified as held for sale
Disclosure of detailed information about business combination [line items]
Assets included in disposal group						$ 638
Liabilities included in disposal group						638
Cash consideration						98
Contingent consideration						$ 25
Pre-tax gain on sale					$ 102
Gain on disposition					$ 65
Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC Limited
Disclosure of detailed information about business combination [line items]
Ownership percentage after acquisition	30.00%	6.30%
Generated gross proceeds		$ 136
Realized gain on disposition of business, pre-tax		$ 98
Partial disposition through sale of additional ownership interest	0.002
Dah Sing Bank, Limited
Disclosure of detailed information about business combination [line items]
Bancassurance partnership, term				15 years
Consideration transferred				$ 260