Consolidation Consolidated Federated Fund VIEs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Less: Redeemable noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries	$ 25,905	$ 8,734
Federated's net interest in consolidated Federated Fund VIEs	18,700	17,000
Investment Company [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Less: Liabilities	500	3,000
Less: Redeemable noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries	23,800	8,700
Investment Company [Member] \| Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Consolidated assets, investment companies	100	3,100
Investment Company [Member] \| Receivables [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Consolidated assets, investment companies	1,000	200
Investment Company [Member] \| Investments [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Consolidated assets, investment companies	$ 41,900	$ 25,400

The fair value as of the reporting date of noncontrolling interests which are redeemable by the (parent) entity (1) at a fixed or determinable price on a fixed or determinable date, (2) at the option of the holder of the noncontrolling interest, or (3) upon occurrence of an event that is not solely within the control of the (parent) entity. The noncontrolling interest holder's ownership (or holders' ownership) is represented by an equity interest that does not conform to either common or preferred equity (noncontrolling) interests otherwise provided for in the taxonomy, regardless of investee entity legal form.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 480
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 3A
-Subparagraph (16)(c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011957&loc=SL6540498-122764

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 480
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 3A
-Subparagraph 14
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011957&loc=SL6540498-122764

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 480
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 3A
-Subparagraph (12)(c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011957&loc=SL6540498-122764

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 480
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-Section S99
-Paragraph 3A
-Subparagraph 15
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The carrying amount of the consolidated Variable Interest Entity's assets included in the reporting entity's statement of financial position.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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The reporting entity's maximum amount of exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with the Variable Interest Entity (VIE).

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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