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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 CyMZA7AlZ8aEfnbCw3GPqG0RHHL5Dshbo9GkGlRWXKvGmmkp3+acq0rwLxq0ZzB7
 Pmdnpf+UvGPbFD7O8iQ7zw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001188403-09-000004.txt : 20090403
<SEC-HEADER>0001188403-09-000004.hdr.sgml : 20090403
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090403111907
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001188403-09-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090401
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090403
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090403

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MCLIN STEPHEN T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001188403

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09700
		FILM NUMBER:		09730599

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		120 KEARNEY STREET
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94108

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SCHWAB CHARLES CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000316709
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SECURITY BROKERS, DEALERS & FLOTATION COMPANIES [6211]
		IRS NUMBER:				943025021
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		120 KEARNY STREET
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94104
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4156367000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		101 MONTGOMERY ST
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94104
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-04-01</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000316709</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SCHWAB CHARLES CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SCHW</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001188403</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCLIN STEPHEN T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O THE CHARLES SCHWAB CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>120 KEARNY STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94108</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Nonqualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>15.47</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-04-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5742</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-04-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-04-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5742</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5742</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The option was received pursuant to the Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan II and vests immediately.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Gwendolyn M. Ely, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-04-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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