<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<FilingSummary xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
  <Version>2.4.1.9</Version>
  <ProcessingTime />
  <ReportFormat>Html</ReportFormat>
  <ContextCount>16</ContextCount>
  <ElementCount>118</ElementCount>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <FootnotesReported>true</FootnotesReported>
  <SegmentCount>9</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <UnitCount>5</UnitCount>
  <MyReports>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R1.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000100 - Document - Document and Entity Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://alliancebernstein.com/role/DocumentAndEntityInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Document and Entity Information</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R2.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>010000 - Statement - Condensed Statements of Financial Condition (unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://alliancebernstein.com/role/CondensedStatementsOfFinancialConditionUnaudited</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Statements of Financial Condition (unaudited)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R3.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>010100 - Statement - Condensed Statements of Financial Condition (unaudited) (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://alliancebernstein.com/role/CondensedStatementsOfFinancialConditionUnauditedParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Statements of Financial Condition (unaudited) (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R4.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>020000 - Statement - Condensed Statements of Income (unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://alliancebernstein.com/role/CondensedStatementsOfIncomeUnaudited</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Statements of Income (unaudited)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R5.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>030000 - Statement - Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income (unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://alliancebernstein.com/role/CondensedStatementsOfComprehensiveIncomeUnaudited</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income (unaudited)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R6.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>040000 - Statement - Condensed Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://alliancebernstein.com/role/CondensedStatementsOfCashFlowsUnaudited</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R7.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>060100 - Disclosure - Business Description, Organization and Basis of Presentation</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://alliancebernstein.com/role/BusinessDescriptionOrganizationAndBasisOfPresentation</Role>
      <ShortName>Business Description, Organization and Basis of Presentation</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R8.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>060200 - Disclosure - Cash Distributions</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://alliancebernstein.com/role/CashDistributions</Role>
      <ShortName>Cash Distributions</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R9.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>060300 - Disclosure - Long-term Incentive Compensation Plans</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://alliancebernstein.com/role/LongtermIncentiveCompensationPlans</Role>
      <ShortName>Long-term Incentive Compensation Plans</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R10.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>060400 - Disclosure - Net Income per Unit</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://alliancebernstein.com/role/NetIncomePerUnit</Role>
      <ShortName>Net Income per Unit</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R11.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>060500 - Disclosure - Investment in AB</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://alliancebernstein.com/role/InvestmentInAb</Role>
      <ShortName>Investment in AB</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R12.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>060600 - Disclosure - Units Outstanding</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://alliancebernstein.com/role/UnitsOutstanding</Role>
      <ShortName>Units Outstanding</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R13.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>060700 - Disclosure - Income Taxes</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://alliancebernstein.com/role/IncomeTaxes</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R14.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>060800 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://alliancebernstein.com/role/CommitmentsAndContingencies</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments and Contingencies</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R15.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>080100 - Disclosure - Business Description, Organization and Basis of Presentation (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://alliancebernstein.com/role/BusinessDescriptionOrganizationAndBasisOfPresentationTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Business Description, Organization and Basis of Presentation (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R16.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>080400 - Disclosure - Net Income per Unit (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://alliancebernstein.com/role/NetIncomePerUnitTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Net Income per Unit (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R17.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>080500 - Disclosure - Investment in AB (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://alliancebernstein.com/role/InvestmentInAbTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Investment in AB (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R18.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>080600 - Disclosure - Units Outstanding (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://alliancebernstein.com/role/UnitsOutstandingTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Units Outstanding (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R19.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>080700 - Disclosure - Income Taxes (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://alliancebernstein.com/role/IncomeTaxesTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R20.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>090100 - Disclosure - Business Description, Organization and Basis of Presentation (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://alliancebernstein.com/role/BusinessDescriptionOrganizationAndBasisOfPresentationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Business Description, Organization and Basis of Presentation (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R21.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>090200 - Disclosure - Cash Distributions (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://alliancebernstein.com/role/CashDistributionsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Cash Distributions (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R22.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>090300 - Disclosure - Long-term Incentive Compensation Plans (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://alliancebernstein.com/role/LongtermIncentiveCompensationPlansDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Long-term Incentive Compensation Plans (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R23.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>090400 - Disclosure - Net Income per Unit (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://alliancebernstein.com/role/NetIncomePerUnitDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Net Income per Unit (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R24.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>090500 - Disclosure - Investment in AB (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://alliancebernstein.com/role/InvestmentInAbDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Investment in AB (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R25.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>090600 - Disclosure - Units Outstanding (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://alliancebernstein.com/role/UnitsOutstandingDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Units Outstanding (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R26.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>090700 - Disclosure - Income Taxes (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://alliancebernstein.com/role/IncomeTaxesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R27.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>090800 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://alliancebernstein.com/role/CommitmentsAndContingenciesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments and Contingencies (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>true</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <LongName>All Reports</LongName>
      <ReportType>Book</ReportType>
      <ShortName>All Reports</ShortName>
    </Report>
  </MyReports>
  <Logs>
    <Log type="Info">Element us-gaap_LimitedLiabilityCompanyLLCOrLimitedPartnershipLPMembersOrLimitedPartnersOwnershipInterest had a mix of decimals attribute values: 0 3.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Monetary' elements on report '090300 - Disclosure - Long-term Incentive Compensation Plans (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Shares' elements on report '090400 - Disclosure - Net Income per Unit (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 010000 - Statement - Condensed Statements of Financial Condition (unaudited)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 010100 - Statement - Condensed Statements of Financial Condition (unaudited) (Parenthetical)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 020000 - Statement - Condensed Statements of Income (unaudited)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 030000 - Statement - Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income (unaudited)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 040000 - Statement - Condensed Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)</Log>
  </Logs>
  <InputFiles>
    <File>ab-20150331.xml</File>
    <File>ab-20150331.xsd</File>
    <File>ab-20150331_cal.xml</File>
    <File>ab-20150331_def.xml</File>
    <File>ab-20150331_lab.xml</File>
    <File>ab-20150331_pre.xml</File>
  </InputFiles>
  <SupplementalFiles />
  <BaseTaxonomies />
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>
