Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Components of Other Comprehensive Income (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015
After-tax amount
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	[1]	$ 205	$ (259)	$ (587)
AOCI Attributable to Parent
Pre-tax amount
Total other comprehensive income (loss), Pre-tax amount		298	(268)	(504)
Tax (expense) benefit
Total other comprehensive income (loss), Tax (expense) benefit		(93)	9	(83)
After-tax amount
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		205	(259)	(587)
Foreign currency translation
Pre-tax amount
Other comprehensive income (loss), Pre-tax amount	[2]	45	(122)	(503)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), Pre-tax amount		45	(122)	(503)
Tax (expense) benefit
Other comprehensive income (loss), Tax (expense) benefit	[2]	(8)	(42)	(98)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), Tax (expense) benefit		(8)	(42)	(98)
After-tax amount
Other comprehensive income (loss), After-tax amount	[2]	37	(164)	(601)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		37	(164)	(601)
Unrealized gain (loss) on assets available-for-sale
Pre-tax amount
Other comprehensive income (loss), Pre-tax amount		243	(235)	202
Reclassification adjustment, Pre-tax amount	[3]	(20)	(21)	(24)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), Pre-tax amount		223	(256)	178
Tax (expense) benefit
Other comprehensive income (loss), Tax (expense) benefit		(80)	89	(68)
Reclassification adjustment, Tax (expense) benefit	[3]	5	8	9
Total other comprehensive income (loss), Tax (expense) benefit		(75)	97	(59)
After-tax amount
Other comprehensive income (loss), After-tax amount		163	(146)	134
Reclassification adjustment, After-tax amount	[3]	(15)	(13)	(15)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		148	(159)	119
Defined benefit plans
Pre-tax amount
Other comprehensive income (loss), Pre-tax amount		3	77	(185)
Reclassification adjustment, Pre-tax amount	[3]	22	33	7
Total other comprehensive income (loss), Pre-tax amount		25	110	(178)
Tax (expense) benefit
Other comprehensive income (loss), Tax (expense) benefit		(1)	(35)	76
Reclassification adjustment, Tax (expense) benefit	[3]	(7)	(11)	(2)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), Tax (expense) benefit		(8)	(46)	74
After-tax amount
Other comprehensive income (loss), After-tax amount		2	42	(109)
Reclassification adjustment, After-tax amount	[3]	15	22	5
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		17	64	(104)
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges
Pre-tax amount
Other comprehensive income (loss), Pre-tax amount		(81)	0	2
Reclassification adjustment, Pre-tax amount	[3]	86	0	(3)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), Pre-tax amount		5	0	(1)
Tax (expense) benefit
Other comprehensive income (loss), Tax (expense) benefit		27	0	5
Reclassification adjustment, Tax (expense) benefit	[3]	(29)	0	(5)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), Tax (expense) benefit		(2)	0	0
After-tax amount
Other comprehensive income (loss), After-tax amount		(54)	0	7
Reclassification adjustment, After-tax amount	[3]	57	0	(8)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		$ 3	$ 0	$ (1)

[1] Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation shareholders was $210 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, $(245) million for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2015 and $(548) million for the quarter ended March 31, 2015.

[2] Includes the impact of hedges of net investments in foreign subsidiaries. See Note 16 for additional information.

[3] The reclassification adjustment related to the unrealized gain (loss) on assets available-for-sale is recorded as net securities gains on the Consolidated Income Statement. The amortization of prior service credit, net loss and initial obligation included in net periodic benefit cost is recorded as staff expense on the Consolidated Income Statement. See Note 16 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the location of the reclassification adjustment related to cash flow hedges on the Consolidated Income Statement.