| **Claim and Claim Adjustment Expense Reserves (Net prior year claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development for CNA Commercial segment) (Details) (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified** | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|----------------|
||
| **Pretax (favorable) unfavorable net prior year claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development:**                                                                                                   |           |           |   |   |
| Pretax (favorable) unfavorable net prior year claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development, excluding Life & Group                                                                            | $ (52)         | $ (111)        | $ (70) | $ (130) |
| CNA Commercial [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                               |           |           |   |   |
| **Pretax (favorable) unfavorable net prior year claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development:**                                                                                                   |           |           |   |   |
| Commercial Auto                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 2              | (44)           | 2 | (34) |
| General Liability                                                                                                                                                                                                     | (13)           |      | (5) | 22 |
| Workers' Compensation                                                                                                                                                                                                 | 8              | 28             | (11) | 36 |
| Property and Other                                                                                                                                                                                                    | (10)           | (34)           | (13) | (81) |
| Pretax (favorable) unfavorable net prior year claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development, excluding Life & Group                                                                            | $ (13)         | $ (50)         | $ (27) | $ (57) |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Net Prior Year Claim and Allocated Claim Adjustment, Commercial Auto
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**cna_NetPriorYearClaimAndAllocatedClaimAdjustmentCommercialAuto**Namespace Prefix:**cna_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Net Prior Year Claim and Allocated Claim Adjustment, General Liability
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**cna_NetPriorYearClaimAndAllocatedClaimAdjustmentGeneralLiability**Namespace Prefix:**cna_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Net Prior Year Claim and Allocated Claim Adjustment, Property and Other
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**cna_NetPriorYearClaimAndAllocatedClaimAdjustmentPropertyAndOther**Namespace Prefix:**cna_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Net Prior Year Claim and Allocated Claim Adjustment, Workers' Compensation
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**cna_NetPriorYearClaimAndAllocatedClaimAdjustmentWorkersCompensation**Namespace Prefix:**cna_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**cna_PretaxFavorableUnfavorableNetPriorYearClaimAndAllocatedClaimAdjustmentExpenseReserveDevelopmentAbstract**Namespace Prefix:**cna_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Pretax (favorable) unfavorable net prior year claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development, P&C
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**cna_PretaxFavorableUnfavorableNetPriorYearClaimAndAllocatedClaimAdjustmentExpenseReserveDevelopmentExcludingLifeGroup**Namespace Prefix:**cna_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**Period Type:**duration |