Total amount of fees waived by the funds for competitive, contractual or regulatory reasons.

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The carrying amount of the trading securities - consolidated investment companies - included in the reporting entity's statement of financial position.

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Amount due from customers or clients, within one year of the balance sheet date (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer), for goods or services (including trade receivables) that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business, reduced to the estimated net realizable fair value by an allowance established by the entity of the amount it deems uncertain of collection.

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Amount of receivables arising from transactions with related parties due within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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The carrying amount of assets an investment adviser manages on behalf of investors.

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No definition available.

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The equity interest of noncontrolling shareholders, partners or other equity holders in consolidated entity.

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Amount of financial support provided to a nonconsolidated legal entity that is required to comply with or operate in accordance with requirements that are similar to those included in Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 for registered money market funds.

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Portion of equity (net assets) in a subsidiary not attributable, directly or indirectly, to the parent entity which is not redeemable by the parent entity.

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No definition available.

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Fair value of noncontrolling interests which are redeemable by the parent entity and classified as other equity.

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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.

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The net carrying amount of the consolidated Variable Interest Entity's assets and liabilities included in the reporting entity's statement of financial position.

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The carrying amount of the consolidated Variable Interest Entity's liabilities included in the reporting entity's statement of financial position.

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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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Carrying amount of the assets in the reporting entity's statement of financial position that relate to the reporting entity's variable interest in the Variable Interest Entity (VIE), where the reporting entity is not the VIE's primary beneficiary.

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Percentage of the Variable Interest Entity's (VIE) voting interest owned by (or beneficial interest in) the reporting entity (directly or indirectly).

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Consolidation Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Consolidation Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	Jan. 27, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items]
Accounts receivable from Federated Funds	$ 24,600			$ 27,100
Total Waived Fees	81,800	$ 118,500
Trading Securities - Consolidated Investment Companies Carrying Amount	53,023			58,072
Variable Interest Entity, Consolidated, Carrying Amount, Assets and Liabilities	14,200			14,900
Nonredeemable noncontrolling interest in subsidiary	0			958
Receivables	44,725			44,804
Financial Support, Waived Fees [Member]
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items]
Nonconsolidated Legal Entity, Financial Support Amount	57,600	90,600
Financial Support, Capital Contributions [Member]
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items]
Nonconsolidated Legal Entity, Financial Support Amount	0	$ 0
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary, Aggregated Disclosure [Member]
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items]
Trading Securities - Consolidated Investment Companies Carrying Amount	44,200			43,200
Redeemable noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries	29,900			28,300
Liabilities	1,000			700
Federated's maximum risk of loss in consolidated investment companies	14,200			14,900
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary, Aggregated Disclosure [Member] \| Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items]
Consolidated VIE assets	100			0
Consolidated Voting Rights Entities [Member]
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items]
Trading Securities - Consolidated Investment Companies Carrying Amount	8,800			14,900
Redeemable noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries	$ 300			3,100
General Partnership and VIE [Member] \| Passport [Member]
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest, ownership percentage by parent	50.50%
Noncontrolling interest, ownership percentage by noncontrolling owners	49.50%
General Partnership and VIE [Member] \| Deconsolidation [Member]
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items]
Liabilities			$ 5,300
Nonredeemable noncontrolling interest in subsidiary			1,000
Receivables			1,100
General Partnership and VIE [Member] \| Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] \| Deconsolidation [Member]
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items]
Consolidated VIE assets			4,800
General Partnership and VIE [Member] \| Receivable [Domain] \| Deconsolidation [Member]
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items]
Consolidated VIE assets			$ 2,600
Non-Consolidated Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items]
Carrying value of investment of nonconsolidated VIEs	$ 2,300			2,300
Federated's maximum risk of loss in consolidated investment companies	2,300			2,300
AUM for nonconsolidated Federated Funds	$ 85,100			$ 76,300