Other comprehensive income (loss) - Components (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2022	Mar. 31, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021
Pre-tax amount
Total other comprehensive income (loss), Pre-tax amount		$ (1,593)	$ (2,131)	$ 165	$ (3,724)	$ (864)
Tax (expense) benefit
Total other comprehensive income (loss), Tax (expense) benefit		164	460	(16)	624	179
After-tax amount
Total other comprehensive (loss), net of tax	[1]	(1,429)	(1,671)	149	(3,100)	(685)
Foreign currency translation
Pre-tax amount
Other comprehensive income (loss), Pre-tax amount		(436)	(120)	38	(556)	(89)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), Pre-tax amount		(436)	(120)	38	(556)	(89)
Tax (expense) benefit
Other comprehensive income (loss), Tax (expense) benefit		(119)	(33)	13	(152)	(10)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), Tax (expense) benefit		(119)	(33)	13	(152)	(10)
After-tax amount
Other comprehensive income (loss), After-tax amount		(555)	(153)	51	(708)	(99)
Total other comprehensive (loss), net of tax		(555)	(153)	51	(708)	(99)
Unrealized (loss) on assets available-for-sale
Pre-tax amount
Other comprehensive income (loss), Pre-tax amount		(1,167)	(2,021)	106	(3,188)	(820)
Reclassification adjustment, Pre-tax amount		0	(4)	(2)	(4)	(2)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), Pre-tax amount		(1,167)	(2,025)	104	(3,192)	(822)
Tax (expense) benefit
Other comprehensive income (loss), Tax (expense) benefit		285	490	(29)	775	194
Reclassification adjustment, Tax (expense) benefit		0	1	1	1	1
Total other comprehensive income (loss), Tax (expense) benefit		285	491	(28)	776	195
After-tax amount
Other comprehensive income (loss), After-tax amount		(882)	(1,531)	77	(2,413)	(626)
Reclassification adjustment, After-tax amount		0	(3)	(1)	(3)	(1)
Total other comprehensive (loss), net of tax		(882)	(1,534)	76	(2,416)	(627)
Defined benefit plans
Pre-tax amount
Reclassification adjustment, Pre-tax amount		17	17	27	34	55
Total other comprehensive income (loss), Pre-tax amount		17	17	27	34	55
Tax (expense) benefit
Reclassification adjustment, Tax (expense) benefit		(4)	1	(2)	(3)	(8)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), Tax (expense) benefit		(4)	1	(2)	(3)	(8)
After-tax amount
Reclassification adjustment, After-tax amount		13	18	25	31	47
Total other comprehensive (loss), net of tax		13	18	25	31	47
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges
Pre-tax amount
Other comprehensive income (loss), Pre-tax amount		(8)	(3)	0	(11)	1
Reclassification adjustment, Pre-tax amount		1	0	(4)	1	(9)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), Pre-tax amount		(7)	(3)	(4)	(10)	(8)
Tax (expense) benefit
Other comprehensive income (loss), Tax (expense) benefit		2	1	0	3	0
Reclassification adjustment, Tax (expense) benefit		0	0	1	0	2
Total other comprehensive income (loss), Tax (expense) benefit		2	1	1	3	2
After-tax amount
Other comprehensive income (loss), After-tax amount		(6)	(2)	0	(8)	1
Reclassification adjustment, After-tax amount		1	0	(3)	1	(7)
Total other comprehensive (loss), net of tax		(5)	(2)	(3)	(7)	(6)
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges | Staff expense
Pre-tax amount
Reclassification adjustment, Pre-tax amount		1	0	(4)	1	(9)
Tax (expense) benefit
Reclassification adjustment, Tax (expense) benefit		0	0	1	0	2
After-tax amount
Reclassification adjustment, After-tax amount		$ 1	$ 0	$ (3)	$ 1	$ (7)

[1] Other comprehensive (loss) income attributable to The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation shareholders was $(1,426) million for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, $(1,668) million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, $149 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, $(3,094) million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and $(685) million for the six months ended June 30, 2021.