Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Goodwill Not Expected Tax Deductible Amount

No definition available.

Name:	ajg_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationGoodwillNotExpectedTaxDeductibleAmount
Namespace Prefix:	ajg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Business Acquisitions Purchase Price Allocation Goodwill Amount

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ajg_BusinessAcquisitionsPurchasePriceAllocationGoodwillAmount
Namespace Prefix:	ajg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Business Combination ,Aggregate Earnout Obligation, Maximum

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ajg_BusinessCombinationAggregateEarnoutObligationMaximum
Namespace Prefix:	ajg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Business Combination Aggregate Earnout Obligation Recorded Maximum

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ajg_BusinessCombinationAggregateEarnoutObligationRecordedMaximum
Namespace Prefix:	ajg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Business Combination, Annualize Revenue

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ajg_BusinessCombinationAnnualizeRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	ajg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Expiration lists

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ajg_ExpirationLists
Namespace Prefix:	ajg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair Value Inputs, Attrition Rate

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ajg_FairValueInputsAttritionRate
Namespace Prefix:	ajg_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Goodwill Related to Nondeductible Amortizable Intangible Assets.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ajg_GoodwillRelatedToNondeductibleAmortizableIntangibleAssets
Namespace Prefix:	ajg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum Potential Earnout Payable

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ajg_MaximumPotentialEarnoutPayable
Namespace Prefix:	ajg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of employees.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ajg_NumberOfEmployees
Namespace Prefix:	ajg_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of office

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ajg_NumberOfOffice
Namespace Prefix:	ajg_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Value of input used to measure alternative investment.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (bbb)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99377789&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AlternativeInvestmentMeasurementInput
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

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

- Definition

Percentage of voting equity interests acquired at the acquisition date in the business combination.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=79982066&loc=d3e1392-128463

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPercentageOfVotingInterestsAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount after tax of pro forma income from continuing operations as if the business combination had been completed at the beginning of a period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=79982066&loc=d3e1392-128463

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=79982066&loc=d3e1392-128463

+ Details

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

- Definition

The pro forma net Income or Loss for the period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=79982066&loc=d3e1392-128463

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=79982066&loc=d3e1392-128463

+ Details

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

- Definition

The pro forma revenue for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of the period.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of consideration transferred, consisting of acquisition-date fair value of assets transferred by the acquirer, liabilities incurred by the acquirer, and equity interest issued by the acquirer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 30
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109124213&loc=d3e6613-128477

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744584&loc=d3e6927-128479

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 30
-Paragraph 7
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109124213&loc=d3e6578-128477

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

For transactions that are recognized separately from the acquisition of assets and assumptions of liabilities in the business combination, such as related to pre-existing relationships with the acquiree, this element represents the disclosure of the amount of acquisition related costs which have been expensed.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (f)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=79982066&loc=d3e1392-128463

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of deferred tax liability attributable to taxable temporary differences.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(26)(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(15)(b)(2))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(15)(2))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(26)(a))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 5: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32537-109319

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Useful life of finite-lived intangible assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Gross carrying amount before accumulated amortization as of the balance sheet date of payments made to third parties in exchange for their agreement not to engage in specified competitive practices in specified geographic territories for a specified period of time.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

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

- Definition

Gross carrying amount before accumulated amortization as of the balance sheet date of the rights acquired through registration of a trade name to gain or protect exclusive use thereof for a reasonably expected period of economic benefit.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

The amount of impairment loss recognized in the period resulting from the write-down of the carrying amount of a finite-lived intangible asset to fair value.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16373-109275

+ Details

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

- Definition

The number of businesses acquired by the entity during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfBusinessesAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=ajg_InsuranceBrokerageAndRiskManagementServicesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=ajg_ExpirationListsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_NoncompeteAgreementsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_TradeNamesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=ajg_TwoThousandEighteenAcquisitionsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis=us-gaap_MarketApproachValuationTechniqueMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MeasurementInputTypeAxis=us-gaap_MeasurementInputLongTermRevenueGrowthRateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MeasurementInputTypeAxis=us-gaap_MeasurementInputDiscountRateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=ajg_TwoThousandSeventeenAcquisitionsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis=us-gaap_IncomeApproachValuationTechniqueMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=ajg_BusinessAcquisitionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=ajg_BrokerageSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=ajg_StackhousePolandGroupLimitedMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_StatementGeographicalAxis=currency_GBP
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis=ajg_DefinitiveAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Business Combinations - Additional Information (Detail)		12 Months Ended			192 Months Ended
Business Combinations - Additional Information (Detail)	Dec. 22, 2018 USD ($) Employee Office	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) Entity Employees	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) Entity	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Entity	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) Entity	Dec. 22, 2018 GBP (£)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Maximum Potential Earnout Payable		$ 201,500,000			$ 201,500,000
Number of employees \| Employees		2,000
Accretion of the discount on acquisition		$ 18,800,000	$ 20,200,000	$ 16,900,000
Number of companies acquired \| Entity		112	108	101	507
Aggregate amount of maximum earnout obligations related to acquisitions		$ 558,100,000	$ 567,900,000
Expense related to net adjustments to estimated fair value of liability for earnout obligations		9,200,000	10,700,000	$ 15,200,000
Aggregate amount of maximum earnout obligations related to acquisitions, recorded in consolidated balance sheet		258,800,000	264,200,000
Goodwill		584,600,000			$ 584,600,000
Expiration lists		381,800,000			381,800,000
Non-compete agreements		5,300,000			5,300,000
Trade names		61,500,000			61,500,000
Write-off of amortizable intangible assets		10,600,000	6,200,000	$ 1,800,000
Total revenues related to acquisitions in the aggregate		7,125,500,000	$ 6,572,400,000
Brokerage and Risk Management [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill		584,600,000			584,600,000
Expiration lists		381,800,000			381,800,000
Non-compete agreements		5,300,000			5,300,000
Trade names		$ 61,500,000			$ 61,500,000
Minimum [Member] \| Expiration Lists [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives of intangibles assets, years		2 years
Minimum [Member] \| Non-Compete Agreements [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives of intangibles assets, years		3 years
Minimum [Member] \| Trade Names [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives of intangibles assets, years		2 years
Maximum [Member] \| Expiration Lists [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives of intangibles assets, years		15 years
Maximum [Member] \| Non-Compete Agreements [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives of intangibles assets, years		5 years
Maximum [Member] \| Trade Names [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives of intangibles assets, years		15 years
2018 Acquisitions [Member] \| Valuation, Market Approach [Member] \| Measurement Input, Long-term Revenue Growth Rate [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Measurement input		3.0			3.0
2018 Acquisitions [Member] \| Valuation, Market Approach [Member] \| Measurement Input, Long-term Revenue Growth Rate [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Measurement input		15.0			15.0
2018 Acquisitions [Member] \| Valuation, Market Approach [Member] \| Measurement Input, Discount Rate [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Measurement input		7.5			7.5
2018 Acquisitions [Member] \| Valuation, Market Approach [Member] \| Measurement Input, Discount Rate [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Measurement input		9.5			9.5
2017 Acquisitions [Member] \| Valuation, Income Approach [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Attrition rate		3.50%
2017 Acquisitions [Member] \| Valuation, Income Approach [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Attrition rate		11.00%
2017 Acquisitions [Member] \| Valuation, Income Approach [Member] \| Measurement Input, Long-term Revenue Growth Rate [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Measurement input		3.0			3.0
2017 Acquisitions [Member] \| Valuation, Income Approach [Member] \| Measurement Input, Long-term Revenue Growth Rate [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Measurement input		4.4			4.4
2017 Acquisitions [Member] \| Valuation, Income Approach [Member] \| Measurement Input, Discount Rate [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Measurement input		11.5			11.5
2017 Acquisitions [Member] \| Valuation, Income Approach [Member] \| Measurement Input, Discount Rate [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Measurement input		14.0			14.0
Business Acquisition [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Annualized revenue of business acquisitions		$ 339,800,000
Total revenues related to acquisitions in the aggregate		158,000,000
Net earnings		6,900,000
Business Acquisition [Member] \| Brokerage [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Expiration lists		381,800,000			$ 381,800,000
Non-compete agreements		5,300,000			5,300,000
Trade names		61,500,000			61,500,000
Deferred tax liability		58,800,000			58,800,000
Goodwill related to nondeductible amortizable intangible assets		58,800,000
Business Acquisition [Member] \| Expiration Lists [Member] \| Brokerage [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business acquisition not deductible for income tax purposes		219,300,000			219,300,000
Business Acquisition [Member] \| Non-Compete Agreements [Member] \| Brokerage [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business acquisition not deductible for income tax purposes		4,100,000			4,100,000
Business Acquisition [Member] \| Trade Names [Member] \| Brokerage [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business acquisition not deductible for income tax purposes		$ 61,500,000			$ 61,500,000
Stackhouse Poland Group Limited [Member] \| United Kingdom, Pounds \| Definitive Agreement [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash consideration	$ 350,000,000
Maximum Potential Earnout Payable \| £						£ 55,000,000
Percentage of interest acquired in acquired entity						100.00%
Number of employees \| Employee	500
Number of offices \| Office	23