| **Business Segments (Balance Sheet Information) (Details) (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified** | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------|---------------|
| **Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]**                                                             |          |          |
| Reinsurance receivables                                                                                    | $ 6,088       | $ 6,231       |
| Insurance receivables                                                                                      | 2,063         | 1,983         |
| Deferred acquisition costs                                                                                 | 624           | 598           |
| Goodwill                                                                                                   | 155           | 154           |
| **Insurance reserves**                                                                                     |          |          |
| Claim and claim adjustment expenses                                                                        | 24,089        | 24,763        |
| Unearned premiums                                                                                          | 3,718         | 3,610         |
| Future policy benefits                                                                                     | 10,471        | 11,475        |
| Policyholders’ funds                                                                                | 116           | 157           |
| CNA Specialty [Member]                                                                                     |          |          |
| **Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]**                                                             |          |          |
| Reinsurance receivables                                                                                    | 546           | 665           |
| Insurance receivables                                                                                      | 775           | 673           |
| Deferred acquisition costs                                                                                 | 318           | 300           |
| Goodwill                                                                                                   | 117           | 117           |
| **Insurance reserves**                                                                                     |          |          |
| Claim and claim adjustment expenses                                                                        | 6,689         | 6,748         |
| Unearned premiums                                                                                          | 1,805         | 1,685         |
| Future policy benefits                                                                                     |     |     |
| Policyholders’ funds                                                                                | 9             | 8             |
| CNA Commercial [Member]                                                                                    |          |          |
| **Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]**                                                             |          |          |
| Reinsurance receivables                                                                                    | 1,075         | 1,155         |
| Insurance receivables                                                                                      | 1,099         | 1,116         |
| Deferred acquisition costs                                                                                 | 257           | 269           |
| Goodwill                                                                                                   |     |     |
| **Insurance reserves**                                                                                     |          |          |
| Claim and claim adjustment expenses                                                                        | 10,649        | 11,326        |
| Unearned premiums                                                                                          | 1,536         | 1,569         |
| Future policy benefits                                                                                     |     |     |
| Policyholders’ funds                                                                                | 15            | 15            |
| Hardy [Member]                                                                                             |          |          |
| **Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]**                                                             |          |          |
| Reinsurance receivables                                                                                    | 197           | 294           |
| Insurance receivables                                                                                      | 176           | 181           |
| Deferred acquisition costs                                                                                 | 49            | 29            |
| Goodwill                                                                                                   | 38            | 37            |
| **Insurance reserves**                                                                                     |          |          |
| Claim and claim adjustment expenses                                                                        | 386           | 521           |
| Unearned premiums                                                                                          | 249           | 222           |
| Future policy benefits                                                                                     |     |     |
| Policyholders’ funds                                                                                |     |     |
| Life and Group Non-Core [Member]                                                                           |          |          |
| **Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]**                                                             |          |          |
| Reinsurance receivables                                                                                    | 1,203         | 1,273         |
| Insurance receivables                                                                                      | 11            | 9             |
| Deferred acquisition costs                                                                                 |     |     |
| Goodwill                                                                                                   |     |     |
| **Insurance reserves**                                                                                     |          |          |
| Claim and claim adjustment expenses                                                                        | 3,058         | 3,006         |
| Unearned premiums                                                                                          | 128           | 134           |
| Future policy benefits                                                                                     | 10,471        | 11,475        |
| Policyholders’ funds                                                                                | 92            | 134           |
| Corporate and Other Non-Core [Member]                                                                      |          |          |
| **Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]**                                                             |          |          |
| Reinsurance receivables                                                                                    | 3,067         | 2,844         |
| Insurance receivables                                                                                      | 2             | 4             |
| Deferred acquisition costs                                                                                 |     |     |
| Goodwill                                                                                                   |     |     |
| **Insurance reserves**                                                                                     |          |          |
| Claim and claim adjustment expenses                                                                        | 3,307         | 3,162         |
| Unearned premiums                                                                                          |     |     |
| Future policy benefits                                                                                     |     |     |
| Policyholders’ funds                                                                                |     |     |
| Eliminations [Member]                                                                                      |          |          |
| **Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]**                                                             |          |          |
| Reinsurance receivables                                                                                    |     |     |
| Insurance receivables                                                                                      |     |     |
| Deferred acquisition costs                                                                                 |     |     |
| Goodwill                                                                                                   |     |     |
| **Insurance reserves**                                                                                     |          |          |
| Claim and claim adjustment expenses                                                                        |     |     |
| Unearned premiums                                                                                          |     |     |
| Future policy benefits                                                                                     |     |     |
| Policyholders’ funds                                                                                |     |     |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Gross reinsurance receivable
+ References
No definition available.
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Net amount of deferred policy acquisition costs capitalized on contracts remaining in force as of the balance sheet date.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 16 -Article 12Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 825 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6487548&loc=d3e32546-158582Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6481648&loc=d3e11198-158413Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.(a),7) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 7 -Article 7
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=14024403&loc=d3e13816-109267Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266
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| X                                                                                                                                                                 |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_InsuranceLossReservesAbstract**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The amount needed to reflect the estimated ultimate cost of settling claims relating to insured events that have occurred on or before the balance sheet date, whether or not reported to the insurer at that date.
+ References
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of accrued obligation to policyholders that relates to insured events for long-duration contracts.
+ References
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The liability as of the balance sheet date to the policyholders for deposits held under the terms of insurance contracts.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.13(a)(3)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 40 -Section 30 -Paragraph 16 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28366349&loc=d3e13951-158433
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Gross amount, as of the balance sheet date, due the entity from (a) agents and insureds, (b) uncollected premiums and (c) others, before deducting the allowance for doubtful accounts.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.5) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 5 -Article 7
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| X                                                                                                                                                                        |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Carrying amount of premiums written on insurance contracts that have not been earned as of the balance sheet date.
+ References
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