The Charles Schwab Corporation – Parent Company Only Financial Statements (Condensed Statements of Cash Flows) (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
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income	$ 416	$ 376	$ 353	$ 302	$ 350	$ 321	$ 324	$ 326	$ 1,447	$ 1,321	$ 1,071
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Provision for deferred income taxes									(7)	(25)	(21)
Other									(4)	(7)	15
Net change in:
Other securities owned									(17)	1	119
Other assets									(98)	(30)	17
Accrued expenses and other liabilities									304	196	400
Net cash provided by operating activities									1,246	2,348	1,656
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Purchases of securities available for sale									(21,351)	(15,134)	(22,942)
Proceeds from sales of securities available for sale									2,424	6,556	6,167
Principal payments on securities available for sale									7,340	5,843	10,772
Purchases of securities held to maturity									(19,303)	(6,920)	(16,061)
Other investing activities									(27)	(11)	2
Net cash used for investing activities									(28,623)	(8,395)	(20,050)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Repayment of commercial paper											(300)
Issuance of long-term debt									1,346		275
Repayment of long-term debt									(357)	(6)	(6)
Net proceeds from preferred stock offering									581
Dividends paid									(387)	(373)	(368)
Proceeds from stock options exercised and other									90	189	258
Other financing activities									32	29	5
Net cash provided by financing activities									27,992	9,682	13,459
Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents									615	3,635	(4,935)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year				11,363				7,728	11,363	7,728	12,663
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	11,978				11,363				11,978	11,363	7,728
Parent Company [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income									1,447	1,321	1,071
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries									(1,287)	(1,157)	(830)
Provision for deferred income taxes									8	4	(11)
Other									(39)	(23)	(4)
Net change in:
Other securities owned									9	5	(5)
Other assets									(32)	(9)	29
Accrued expenses and other liabilities									4	(1)	13
Net cash provided by operating activities									110	140	263
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Due from (due to) subsidiaries - net									93	607	(546)
Increase in investments in subsidiaries									(611)	(249)	(225)
Increase in subordinated loan to CS & Co.									(150)
Purchases of securities available for sale									(842)
Proceeds from sales of securities available for sale									200
Principal payments on securities available for sale									75
Purchases of securities held to maturity									(223)
Other investing activities											(1)
Net cash used for investing activities									(1,458)	358	(772)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Repayment of commercial paper											(300)
Issuance of long-term debt									1,346		275
Repayment of long-term debt									(350)
Net proceeds from preferred stock offering									581
Dividends paid									(387)	(373)	(368)
Proceeds from stock options exercised and other									90	189	258
Other financing activities									32	29	5
Net cash provided by financing activities									1,312	(155)	(130)
Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents									(36)	343	(639)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year				$ 1,043				$ 700	1,043	700	1,339
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	$ 1,007				$ 1,043				$ 1,007	$ 1,043	$ 700