Consolidated Statements Of Changes In Equity (Parenthetical) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Cash dividends paid on common stock (per share)	$ 0.857	$ 0.816	$ 2.090
Cash dividends paid on preferred stock (per share)	$ 0.675	$ 0	$ 0
Stock dividend rate (percent)	5.00%cbsh_StockDividendRate	5.00%cbsh_StockDividendRate	5.00%cbsh_StockDividendRate

Aggregate dividends paid during the period for each share of common stock outstanding.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770

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Period Type:	duration