| **Investments (Net realized investment gains (losses)) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions** | 12 Months Ended |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|
||
| **Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]**                                 |            |   |   |
| Net realized investment gains (losses)                                                     | $ 93            | $ 50 | $ (67) |
| Fixed maturity securities                                                                  |            |   |   |
| **Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]**                                 |            |   |   |
| Gross realized gains                                                                       | 186             | 204 | 131 |
| Gross realized losses                                                                      | (64)            | (138) | (197) |
| Net realized investment gains (losses)                                                     | 122             | 66 | (66) |
| Equity securities                                                                          |            |   |   |
| **Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]**                                 |            |   |   |
| Gross realized gains                                                                       | 1               | 5 | 2 |
| Gross realized losses                                                                      | (1)             | (10) | (25) |
| Net realized investment gains (losses)                                                     |            | (5) | (23) |
| Derivatives                                                                                |            |   |   |
| **Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]**                                 |            |   |   |
| Net realized investment gains (losses)                                                     | (4)             | (2) | 10 |
| Short term investments and other                                                           |            |   |   |
| **Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]**                                 |            |   |   |
| Net realized investment gains (losses)                                                     | $ (25)          | $ (9) | $ 12 |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
This item represents the difference between the gross realized gains and losses realized on the sale of debt or equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities. Additionally, this item would include any losses recognized for other than temporary impairments (OTTI) of the subject investments in debt and equity securities.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82897076&loc=d3e27357-111563
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGainLossNet**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
This item represents the gross profit realized on the sale of debt or equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82897076&loc=d3e27357-111563
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
This item represents the gross loss realized on the sale of debt or equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82897076&loc=d3e27357-111563
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedLosses**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesLineItems**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                           |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis=us-gaap_FixedIncomeSecuritiesMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                      |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis=us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis=us-gaap_DerivativeMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                         |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis=cna_ShorttermInvestandotherMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |