| **Business Segments (Revenues by Line of Business) (Details) (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified** | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|----------------|
||
| Revenues                                                                                                      | $ 2,440        | $ 2,450        | $ 4,903 | $ 4,905 |
| CNA Specialty [Domain]                                                                                        |           |           |   |   |
| Revenues                                                                                                      | 993            | 954            | 1,972 | 1,910 |
| International - Specialty [Member]                                                                            |           |           |   |   |
| Revenues                                                                                                      | 62             | 59             | 126 | 118 |
| Management & Professional Liability [Member]                                                              |           |           |   |   |
| Revenues                                                                                                      | 710            | 687            | 1,414 | 1,387 |
| Surety [Member]                                                                                               |           |           |   |   |
| Revenues                                                                                                      | 125            | 123            | 247 | 239 |
| Warranty & Alternative Risks [Member]                                                                     |           |           |   |   |
| Revenues                                                                                                      | 96             | 85             | 185 | 166 |
| CNA Commercial [Domain]                                                                                       |           |           |   |   |
| Revenues                                                                                                      | 1,027          | 1,104          | 2,068 | 2,205 |
| Commercial Insurance [Member]                                                                                 |           |           |   |   |
| Revenues                                                                                                      | 755            | 827            | 1,517 | 1,653 |
| International - Commercial [Member]                                                                           |           |           |   |   |
| Revenues                                                                                                      | 91             | 90             | 186 | 183 |
| Small Business [Member]                                                                                       |           |           |   |   |
| Revenues                                                                                                      | 181            | 187            | 365 | 369 |
| Hardy [Domain]                                                                                                |           |           |   |   |
| Revenues                                                                                                      | 91             | 77             | 191 | 144 |
| Life and Group Non-Core [Member]                                                                              |           |           |   |   |
| Revenues                                                                                                      | 316            | 303            | 647 | 618 |
| Corporate and Other Non-Core [Member]                                                                         |           |           |   |   |
| Revenues                                                                                                      | 15             | 13             | 28 | 30 |
| Eliminations [Member]                                                                                         |           |           |   |   |
| Revenues                                                                                                      | $ (2)          | $ (1)          | $ (3) | $ (2) |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 1 -Article 5
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_Revenues**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**Period Type:**duration |