Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020 shares
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2020
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-35651
Entity Registrant Name	THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON CORPORATION
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	13-2614959
Entity Address, Address Line One	240 Greenwich Street
Entity Address, City or Town	New York
Entity Address, State or Province	NY
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	10286
City Area Code	212
Local Phone Number	495-1784
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (shares)	886,135,805
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Central Index Key	0001390777
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Common Stock, $0.01 par value | New York Stock Exchange
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.01 par value
Trading Symbol	BK
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Series C Noncumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock | New York Stock Exchange
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Depositary Shares, each representing 1/4,000th of a share of Series C Noncumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock
Trading Symbol	BK PrC
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
6.244% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Normal Preferred Capital Securities of Mellon Capital IV | New York Stock Exchange
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	6.244% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Normal Preferred Capital Securities of Mellon Capital IV
Trading Symbol	BK/P
Security Exchange Name	NYSE