Other comprehensive income (loss) - Components (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021
Pre-tax amount
Total other comprehensive income (loss), Pre-tax amount		$ (1,482)	$ (1,593)	$ (334)	$ (5,206)	$ (1,198)
Tax (expense) benefit
Total other comprehensive income (loss), Tax (expense) benefit		143	164	1	767	180
After-tax amount
Total other comprehensive (loss), net of tax	[1]	(1,339)	(1,429)	(333)	(4,439)	(1,018)
Foreign currency translation
Pre-tax amount
Other comprehensive income (loss), Pre-tax amount		(292)	(436)	(158)	(848)	(247)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), Pre-tax amount		(292)	(436)	(158)	(848)	(247)
Tax (expense) benefit
Other comprehensive income (loss), Tax (expense) benefit		(150)	(119)	(44)	(302)	(54)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), Tax (expense) benefit		(150)	(119)	(44)	(302)	(54)
After-tax amount
Other comprehensive income (loss), After-tax amount		(442)	(555)	(202)	(1,150)	(301)
Total other comprehensive (loss), net of tax		(442)	(555)	(202)	(1,150)	(301)
Unrealized (loss) on assets available-for-sale
Pre-tax amount
Other comprehensive income (loss), Pre-tax amount		(1,205)	(1,167)	(201)	(4,393)	(1,021)
Reclassification adjustment, Pre-tax amount		(1)	0	(2)	(5)	(4)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), Pre-tax amount		(1,206)	(1,167)	(203)	(4,398)	(1,025)
Tax (expense) benefit
Other comprehensive income (loss), Tax (expense) benefit		297	285	51	1,072	245
Reclassification adjustment, Tax (expense) benefit		0	0	0	1	1
Total other comprehensive income (loss), Tax (expense) benefit		297	285	51	1,073	246
After-tax amount
Other comprehensive income (loss), After-tax amount		(908)	(882)	(150)	(3,321)	(776)
Reclassification adjustment, After-tax amount		(1)	0	(2)	(4)	(3)
Total other comprehensive (loss), net of tax		(909)	(882)	(152)	(3,325)	(779)
Defined benefit plans
Pre-tax amount
Reclassification adjustment, Pre-tax amount		17	17	28	51	83
Total other comprehensive income (loss), Pre-tax amount		17	17	28	51	83
Tax (expense) benefit
Reclassification adjustment, Tax (expense) benefit		(4)	(4)	(6)	(7)	(14)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), Tax (expense) benefit		(4)	(4)	(6)	(7)	(14)
After-tax amount
Reclassification adjustment, After-tax amount		13	13	22	44	69
Total other comprehensive (loss), net of tax		13	13	22	44	69
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges
Pre-tax amount
Other comprehensive income (loss), Pre-tax amount		(5)	(8)	1	(16)	2
Reclassification adjustment, Pre-tax amount		4	1	(2)	5	(11)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), Pre-tax amount		(1)	(7)	(1)	(11)	(9)
Tax (expense) benefit
Other comprehensive income (loss), Tax (expense) benefit		1	2	0	4	0
Reclassification adjustment, Tax (expense) benefit		(1)	0	0	(1)	2
Total other comprehensive income (loss), Tax (expense) benefit		0	2	0	3	2
After-tax amount
Other comprehensive income (loss), After-tax amount		(4)	(6)	1	(12)	2
Reclassification adjustment, After-tax amount		3	1	(2)	4	(9)
Total other comprehensive (loss), net of tax		(1)	(5)	(1)	(8)	(7)
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges | Staff expense
Pre-tax amount
Reclassification adjustment, Pre-tax amount		3	1	(2)	4	(11)
Tax (expense) benefit
Reclassification adjustment, Tax (expense) benefit		(1)	0	0	(1)	2
After-tax amount
Reclassification adjustment, After-tax amount		2	1	(2)	3	(9)
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges | Other revenue
Pre-tax amount
Reclassification adjustment, Pre-tax amount		1	0	0	1	0
Tax (expense) benefit
Reclassification adjustment, Tax (expense) benefit		0	0	0	0	0
After-tax amount
Reclassification adjustment, After-tax amount		$ 1	$ 0	$ 0	$ 1	$ 0

[1] Other comprehensive (loss) attributable to The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation shareholders was $(1,320) million for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2022, $(1,426) million for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, $(333) million for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2021, $(4,414) million for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2022 and $(1,018) million for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2021.