COVER PAGE - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Oct. 31, 2019
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2019
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	1-9700
Entity Registrant Name	SCHWAB CHARLES CORP
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	94-3025021
Entity Address, Address Line One	211 Main Street
Entity Address, City or Town	San Francisco
Entity Address, State or Province	CA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	94105
City Area Code	415
Local Phone Number	667-7000
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,282,287,840
Entity Central Index Key	0000316709
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Common Stock [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock – $.01 par value per share
Trading Symbol	SCHW
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Series C Preferred Stock [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/40th ownership interest in a share of 6.00% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series C
Trading Symbol	SCHW PrC
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Series D Preferred Stock [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/40th ownership interest in a share of 5.95% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series D
Trading Symbol	SCHW PrD
Security Exchange Name	NYSE