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Variable Interest Entities ("VIE's") (Consolidated Variable Interest Entity Asset and Liability Information) (Details) $ in Millions | Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) item | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) item
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Disclosure Of Variable Interest Entities Assets And Liabilities [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of Instruments, Assets | item |  | 1 | 2
Notional Amounts, Assets |  | $ 559 | $ 733
Carrying Value, Assets |  |  | $ 200
Total Return Swap [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure Of Variable Interest Entities Assets And Liabilities [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of Instruments, Assets | item |  | 1 | 1
Notional Amounts, Assets |  | $ 559 | $ 533
Carrying Value, Assets |  |  |
Credit default swaps [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure Of Variable Interest Entities Assets And Liabilities [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of Instruments, Assets | item |  |  | 1
Notional Amounts, Assets |  |  | $ 200
Carrying Value, Assets |  |  |
Fixed maturity securities [Member] | Asset-backed credit card loans [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure Of Variable Interest Entities Assets And Liabilities [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of Instruments, Assets | item | [1] |  |
Notional Amounts, Assets | [1] |  |
Carrying Value, Assets | [1] |  | $ 200
[1] | Reported in variable interest entities' fixed maturity securities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

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- Definition Quantifies the carrying value of the consolidated variable interest entities' assets. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lnc_CarryingValueViesDerivativeAsset
Namespace Prefix: | lnc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition The number of derivative instruments of a particular derivative asset or group of derivative assets held by the consolidated variable interest entity. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lnc_DerivativeAssetNumberOfInstrumentsHeldByConsolidatedVies
Namespace Prefix: | lnc_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

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- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lnc_DisclosureOfVariableInterestEntitiesAssetsAndLiabilitiesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | lnc_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Aggregate notional amount of derivative assets held by the consolidated variable interest entity. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lnc_ViesDerivativeAssetNotionalAmount
Namespace Prefix: | lnc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

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- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_TotalReturnSwapMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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- Details
Name: | us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis=us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesSecuritizedLoansAndReceivablesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |