The Charles Schwab Corporation – Parent Company Only Financial Statements (Condensed Statements of Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Interest revenue										$ 2,657	$ 2,374	$ 2,085
Interest expense										(132)	(102)	(105)
Net interest revenue										2,525	2,272	1,980
Other										328	343	236
Expenses excluding interest		$ (1,046)	$ (1,014)	$ (999)	$ (1,042)	$ (997)	$ (1,033)	$ (957)	$ (956)	(4,101)	(3,943)	(3,730)
Income tax benefit										(832)	(794)	(634)
Equity in net income of subsidiaries:
Net Income		416	376	353	302	350	321	324	326	1,447	1,321	1,071
Preferred stock dividends and other	[1]									83	60	61
Net Income Available to Common Stockholders		$ 378	$ 365	$ 330	$ 291	$ 329	$ 312	$ 302	$ 318	1,364	1,261	1,010
Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Interest revenue										12	2	4
Interest expense										(86)	(64)	(65)
Net interest revenue										(74)	(62)	(61)
Other										4	1
Expenses excluding interest										(27)	(24)	(28)
Loss before income tax benefit and equity in net income of subsidiaries										(97)	(85)	(89)
Income tax benefit										41	32	38
Loss before equity in net income of subsidiaries										(56)	(53)	(51)
Equity in net income of subsidiaries:
Equity in undistributed net income of subsidiaries										1,287	1,157	830
Dividends from bank subsidiary											45	163
Dividends from non-bank subsidiaries										216	172	129
Net Income										1,447	1,321	1,071
Preferred stock dividends and other										83	60	61
Net Income Available to Common Stockholders										$ 1,364	$ 1,261	$ 1,010

[1] Includes preferred stock dividends and undistributed earnings and dividends allocated to non-vested restricted stock units.