Cash And Securities Segregated Under Federal And Other Regulations, Fair Value Disclosure

No definition available.

Name:	schw_CashAndSecuritiesSegregatedUnderFederalAndOtherRegulationsFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	schw_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Payables To Broker Dealers And Clearing Organizations, Fair Value Disclosure

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	schw_PayablesToBrokerDealersAndClearingOrganizationsFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	schw_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Receivables From Brokers Dealers And Clearing Organizations, Fair Value Disclosure

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	schw_ReceivablesFromBrokersDealersAndClearingOrganizationsFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	schw_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value portion of liabilities incurred for goods and services received that are used in an entity's business and related party payables.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 14
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49121117&loc=d3e13487-108611

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(a))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358313&loc=d3e6935-107765

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccountsPayableFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value portion of amount due from customers or clients for goods or services, including trade receivables, that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business, and amounts due from others, including related parties.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 14
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49121117&loc=d3e13487-108611

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph a, b
-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccountsReceivableFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value portion of accrued expenses.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.20)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value portion of probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36462937&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value portion of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Cash
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6506951

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Cash Equivalents
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6507016

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value portion of deposit liabilities held by the entity, including, but not limited to, foreign and domestic, interest and noninterest bearing, demand deposits, saving deposits, negotiable orders of withdrawal (NOW) and time deposits.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DepositsFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentsFinancialAssetsBalanceSheetGroupingsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentsFinancialLiabilitiesBalanceSheetGroupingsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair value of financial obligations, including, but not limited to, debt instruments, derivative liabilities, federal funds purchased and sold under agreements to repurchase, securities loaned or sold under agreements to repurchase, financial instruments sold not yet purchased, guarantees, line of credit, loans and notes payable, servicing liability, and trading liabilities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialLiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value of investments in debt securities classified as held-to-maturity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (aa)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27232-111563

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (f)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27232-111563

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27232-111563

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of allowance to cover probable credit losses on loans and leases. Includes carryover of or adjustments to the allowance for loan losses in connection with business combinations. Excludes allowance for loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 11B
-Subparagraph (g)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49124121&loc=SL6953423-111524

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 11B
-Subparagraph (c)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49124121&loc=SL6953423-111524

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7(d))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (b)(1)(ii)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6379141&loc=d3e15032-111544

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 6
-Section L
-Subsection 1

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value portion of loan receivable, including, but not limited to, mortgage loans held for investment, finance receivables held for investment, policy loans on insurance contracts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Glossary Loan
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6517073

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LoansReceivableFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The fair value amount of long-term debt whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value portion of other assets.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherAssetsFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis=schw_ResidentialRealEstateMortgageLoansMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis=us-gaap_HomeEquityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis=schw_PledgedAssetLinesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis=schw_OtherLoansMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_EligibleItemOrGroupForFairValueOptionAxis=us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_EligibleItemOrGroupForFairValueOptionAxis=schw_CommercialMortageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByPrivateEnterprisesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_EligibleItemOrGroupForFairValueOptionAxis=us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis=schw_CarryingReportedAmountPortionAtOtherThanFairValueMeasurementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis=us-gaap_PortionAtOtherThanFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Assets:
Securities held to maturity	$ 50,088	$ 34,743
Liabilities:
Allowance for loan losses	31	42	$ 48	$ 56
Residential real estate mortgages [Member]
Liabilities:
Allowance for loan losses	20	29	34	36
Home equity loans and lines of credit [Member]
Liabilities:
Allowance for loan losses	11	13	$ 14	$ 20
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	9,650	9,189
Cash and investments segregated and on deposit for regulatory purposes	11,647	14,466
Receivables from brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations	582	469
Receivables from brokerage clients - net	17,310	15,666
Securities held to maturity	50,088	34,743
Bank loans	14,500	13,542
Other assets	184	76
Total	103,961	88,151
Liabilities:
Bank deposits	129,502	102,815
Payables to brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations	2,588	2,004
Payables to brokerage clients	33,185	34,305
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	1,115	687
Long-term debt	2,980	2,010
Total	169,370	141,821
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| Residential real estate mortgages [Member]
Assets:
Bank loans	8,347	8,158
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| Home equity loans and lines of credit [Member]
Assets:
Bank loans	2,857	3,026
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| Pledged asset lines [Member]
Assets:
Bank loans	3,232	2,320
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| Other [Member]
Assets:
Bank loans	64	38
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities [Member]
Assets:
Securities held to maturity	48,883	33,745
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| Non-agency commercial mortgage-backed securities [Member]
Assets:
Securities held to maturity	985	998
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| U.S. Treasury securities [Member]
Assets:
Securities held to maturity	220
Carrying Amount, Portion at Other than Fair Value Measurement [Member]
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	9,650	9,189
Cash and investments segregated and on deposit for regulatory purposes	11,647	14,466
Receivables from brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations	582	469
Receivables from brokerage clients - net	17,310	15,666
Securities held to maturity	50,007	34,389
Bank loans	14,365	13,441
Other assets	184	76
Total	103,745	87,696
Liabilities:
Bank deposits	129,502	102,815
Payables to brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations	2,588	2,004
Payables to brokerage clients	33,185	34,305
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	1,115	687
Long-term debt	2,890	1,899
Total	169,280	141,710
Carrying Amount, Portion at Other than Fair Value Measurement [Member] \| Residential real estate mortgages [Member]
Assets:
Bank loans	8,334	8,127
Carrying Amount, Portion at Other than Fair Value Measurement [Member] \| Home equity loans and lines of credit [Member]
Assets:
Bank loans	2,735	2,955
Carrying Amount, Portion at Other than Fair Value Measurement [Member] \| Pledged asset lines [Member]
Assets:
Bank loans	3,232	2,320
Carrying Amount, Portion at Other than Fair Value Measurement [Member] \| Other [Member]
Assets:
Bank loans	64	39
Carrying Amount, Portion at Other than Fair Value Measurement [Member] \| U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities [Member]
Assets:
Securities held to maturity	48,785	33,388
Carrying Amount, Portion at Other than Fair Value Measurement [Member] \| Non-agency commercial mortgage-backed securities [Member]
Assets:
Securities held to maturity	999	1,001
Carrying Amount, Portion at Other than Fair Value Measurement [Member] \| U.S. Treasury securities [Member]
Assets:
Securities held to maturity	223
Portion at Other than Fair Value Measurement [Member]
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	9,650	9,189
Cash and investments segregated and on deposit for regulatory purposes	11,647	14,466
Receivables from brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations	582	469
Receivables from brokerage clients - net	17,310	15,666
Securities held to maturity	50,088	34,743
Bank loans	14,500	13,542
Other assets	184	76
Total	103,961	88,151
Liabilities:
Bank deposits	129,502	102,815
Payables to brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations	2,588	2,004
Payables to brokerage clients	33,185	34,305
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	1,115	687
Long-term debt	2,980	2,010
Total	169,370	141,821
Portion at Other than Fair Value Measurement [Member] \| Residential real estate mortgages [Member]
Assets:
Bank loans	8,347	8,158
Portion at Other than Fair Value Measurement [Member] \| Home equity loans and lines of credit [Member]
Assets:
Bank loans	2,857	3,026
Portion at Other than Fair Value Measurement [Member] \| Pledged asset lines [Member]
Assets:
Bank loans	3,232	2,320
Portion at Other than Fair Value Measurement [Member] \| Other [Member]
Assets:
Bank loans	64	38
Portion at Other than Fair Value Measurement [Member] \| U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities [Member]
Assets:
Securities held to maturity	48,883	33,745
Portion at Other than Fair Value Measurement [Member] \| Non-agency commercial mortgage-backed securities [Member]
Assets:
Securities held to maturity	985	$ 998
Portion at Other than Fair Value Measurement [Member] \| U.S. Treasury securities [Member]
Assets:
Securities held to maturity	$ 220