Other Securities Owned (Summary of Other Securities Owned) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Other Securities Owned [Line Items]
Other securities owned	$ 533	$ 516
Schwab Funds money market funds [Member]
Other Securities Owned [Line Items]
Other securities owned	261	224
Equity and bond mutual funds [Member]
Other Securities Owned [Line Items]
Other securities owned	205	215
State and municipal debt obligations [Member]
Other Securities Owned [Line Items]
Other securities owned	50	51
Equity, U.S. Government and corporate debt, and other securities [Member]
Other Securities Owned [Line Items]
Other securities owned	$ 17	$ 26