Accounting Changes and New Accounting Guidance (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Other Assets	$ 24,340	[1]	$ 20,566	[1]
Basic (usd per share)	$ 0.57	[2],[3]	$ 0.44	[2],[3]	$ (0.23)	[2],[3]
Diluted (usd per share)	$ 0.57	[2],[3],[4]	$ 0.44	[2],[3],[4]	$ (0.23)	[2],[3],[4]
Income Statement [Abstract]
Total fee and other revenue	2,899	[5]	2,833	[6],[7]	2,894	[6],[8]
Income before income taxes	926	[2]	728	[2]	825	[2]
Provision for income taxes	232	[2]	172	[2]	1,062	[2]
Net income (loss)	694	[2]	556	[2]	(237)	[2]
Net income (loss) applicable to shareholders of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation	674	[2]	539	[2]	(253)	[2]
Net income (loss) applicable to common shareholders of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation	661	[2]	513	[2]	(266)	[2]
Balance Sheet [Abstract]
Total assets	368,241	[9]	374,516	[9]
Total liabilities	329,272	[9]	336,006	[9]
Retained earnings	16,439	[9]	15,952	[9]
The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation shareholders’ equity	37,986	[9]	37,497	[9]
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	38,757	[10],[11],[9]	38,280	[10],[11],[9]
Total liabilities, temporary equity and permanent equity	368,241	[9]	374,516	[9]
As previously reported
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Basic (usd per share)			$ 0.44		$ (0.23)
Diluted (usd per share)			$ 0.44		$ (0.23)
Income Statement [Abstract]
Income before income taxes			711		809
Provision for income taxes			155		1,046
Net income (loss)			556		(237)
Net income (loss) applicable to shareholders of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation			539		(253)
Net income (loss) applicable to common shareholders of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation			513		(266)
Balance Sheet [Abstract]
Total assets			374,310
Total liabilities			335,776
Retained earnings			15,976
The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation shareholders’ equity			37,521
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest			38,304
Total liabilities, temporary equity and permanent equity			374,310
Adjustments
Income Statement [Abstract]
Income before income taxes			17		16
Provision for income taxes			17		16
Net income (loss)			0		0
Net income (loss) applicable to shareholders of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation			0		0
Net income (loss) applicable to common shareholders of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation			0		0
Balance Sheet [Abstract]
Total assets			206
Total liabilities			230
Retained earnings			(24)
The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation shareholders’ equity			(24)
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest			(24)
Total liabilities, temporary equity and permanent equity			206
Operations
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Investment and other income	102	[2]	(43)	[2]	88	[2]
Other Assets	24,340	[9]	20,566	[9]
Income Statement [Abstract]
Total fee revenue	2,861	[2]	2,775	[2]	2,812	[2]
Total fee and other revenue	2,883	[2]	2,814	[2]	2,860	[2]
Balance Sheet [Abstract]
Total assets	356,790	[9]	363,244	[9]
Accrued Liabilities	6,271	[9]	6,996	[9]
Other Liabilities	5,371	[9]	4,827	[9]
Total liabilities	319,114	[9]	325,875	[9]
Operations | As previously reported
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Investment and other income			(60)		72
Other Assets			20,360
Income Statement [Abstract]
Total fee revenue			2,758		2,796
Total fee and other revenue			2,797		2,844
Balance Sheet [Abstract]
Total assets			363,038
Accrued Liabilities			6,985
Other Liabilities			4,608
Total liabilities			325,645
Operations | Adjustments
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Investment and other income			17		16
Other Assets			206
Income Statement [Abstract]
Total fee revenue			17		16
Total fee and other revenue			17		16
Balance Sheet [Abstract]
Total assets			206
Accrued Liabilities			11
Other Liabilities			219
Total liabilities			$ 230

[1] Prior period was restated to reflect the retrospective application of adopting new accounting guidance related to our investments in qualified affordable housing projects (ASU 2014-01). See Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

[2] Prior periods were restated to reflect the retrospective application of adopting new accounting guidance related to our investments in qualified affordable housing projects (ASU 2014-01). See Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

[3] Basic and diluted earnings per share under the two-class method are determined on the net income applicable to common shareholders of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation reported on the income statement less earnings allocated to participating securities, and the change in the excess of redeemable value over the fair value of noncontrolling interests, if applicable.

[4] Diluted earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2013 was calculated using average basic shares. Adding back the dilutive shares would result in anti-dilution.

[5] Both total fee and other revenue and total revenue include income from consolidated investment management funds of $36 million, net of noncontrolling interests of $20 million, for a net impact of $16 million. Income before taxes includes noncontrolling interests of $20 million.

[6] Consolidated results and Other segment results have been restated to reflect the retrospective application of adopting new accounting guidance related to our investments in qualified affordable housing projects (ASU 2014-01). See Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

[7] Both total fee and other revenue and total revenue include income from consolidated investment management funds of $36 million, net of noncontrolling interests of $17 million, for a net impact of $19 million. Income before taxes includes noncontrolling interests of $17 million.

[8] Both total fee and other revenue and total revenue include income from consolidated investment management funds of $50 million, net of noncontrolling interests of $16 million, for a net impact of $34 million. Income before taxes includes noncontrolling interests of $16 million.

[9] Prior period balances were restated to reflect the retrospective application of adopting new accounting guidance related to our investments in qualified affordable housing projects (ASU 2014-01). See Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

[10] Retained earnings was restated to reflect the retrospective application of adopting new accounting guidance related to our investments in qualified affordable housing projects (ASU 2014-01). See Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

[11] Includes total The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation common shareholders’ equity of $35,935 million at Dec. 31, 2013 and $36,424 million at March 31, 2014