| **Claim and Claim Adjustment Expense Reserves and Future Policy Benefit Reserves (Impact of Loss Portfolio Transfer on the Consolidated Statement of Operations) (Details) - Asbestos and Environmental Reserves - USD ($) $ in Millions** | 12 Months Ended |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|
||
| **Liability for Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                        |            |   |   |
| Net A&EP adverse development before consideration of LPT                                                                                                                                                                               | $ 92            | $ 143 | $ 125 |
| Provision for uncollectible third-party reinsurance on A&EP                                                                                                                                                                            | (5)             | (5) | (25) |
| Total additional amounts ceded under LPT                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 87              | 138 | 100 |
| Retroactive reinsurance benefit recognized                                                                                                                                                                                                 | (91)            | (107) | (94) |
| Pretax impact of deferred retroactive reinsurance                                                                                                                                                                                          | $ (4)           | $ 31 | $ 6 |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Net AEP adverse development before consideration of LPT
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**cna_NetAEPadversedevelopmentbeforeconsiderationofLPT**Namespace Prefix:**cna_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Policyholder Benefits and Claims Incurred, Additional Amount Ceded
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**cna_PolicyholderBenefitsandClaimsIncurredAdditionalAmountCeded**Namespace Prefix:**cna_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Pretax impact of deferred retroactive reinsurance benefit
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**cna_Pretaximpactofdeferredretroactivereinsurancebenefit**Namespace Prefix:**cna_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Provision For Uncollectible Third-Party Reinsurance
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**cna_ProvisionForUncollectibleThirdPartyReinsurance**Namespace Prefix:**cna_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Retroactive reinsurance benefit recognized
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**cna_Retroactivereinsurancebenefitrecognized**Namespace Prefix:**cna_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**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_LiabilityForClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpenseLineItems**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                           |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=cna_AsbestosandEnvironmentalReservesMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |