Other Comprehensive Income, Components of Other Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Investment securities:
Net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period, Before tax	$ (944)	$ 842	$ 3,866	$ (5,922)
Net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period, Tax effect	260	(199)	(1,569)	2,331
Net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period, Net of tax	(684)	643	2,297	(3,591)
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Before tax	(661)	(114)	(1,205)	(197)
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Tax effect	250	42	455	74
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Net of tax	(411)	(72)	(750)	(123)
Net change, Before tax	(1,605)	728	2,661	(6,119)
Net change, Tax effect	510	(157)	(1,114)	2,405
Net change, Net of tax	(1,095)	571	1,547	(3,714)
Derivatives and hedging activities:
Net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period, Before tax	(34)	(7)	222	(10)
Net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period, Tax effect	13	3	(84)	4
Net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period, Net of tax	(21)	(4)	138	(6)
Reclassification of net (gains) losses on cash flow hedges to net income, Before tax	(127)	(69)	(348)	(225)
Reclassification of net (gains) losses on cash flow hedges to net income, Tax effect	47	21	131	80
Reclassification of net (gains) losses on cash flow hedges to net income, Net of tax	(80)	(48)	(217)	(145)
Net change, Before tax	(161)	(76)	(126)	(235)
Net change, Tax effect	60	24	47	84
Net change, Net of tax	(101)	(52)	(79)	(151)
Defined benefit plans adjustments:
Net actuarial gains (losses) arising during the period, Before tax	0	297	(12)	1,075
Net actuarial gains (losses) arising during the period, Tax effect	0	(112)	5	(405)
Net actuarial gains (losses) arising during the period, Net of tax	0	185	(7)	670
Amortization of net actuarial loss, Before tax	19	33	56	124
Amortization of net actuarial loss, Tax effect	(8)	(13)	(22)	(47)
Amortization of net actuarial loss, Net of tax	11	20	34	77
Settlements and other, Before tax	(1)	26	0	97
Settlements and other, Tax effect	1	(9)	0	(36)
Settlements and other, Net of tax	0	17	0	61
Reclassification of amounts to net periodic benefit costs, Before tax	18	59	56	221
Reclassification of amounts to net periodic benefit costs, Tax effect	(7)	(22)	(22)	(83)
Reclassification of amounts to net periodic benefit costs, Net of tax	11	37	34	138
Net change, Before tax	18	356	44	1,296
Net change, Tax effect	(7)	(134)	(17)	(488)
Net change, Net of tax	11	222	27	808
Foreign currency translation adjustments:
Net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period, Before tax	(32)	12	(32)	(27)
Net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period, Tax effect	(3)	2	(3)	(4)
Net unrealized gains (osses) arising during the period, Net of tax	(35)	14	(35)	(31)
Reclassification of net gains (losses) to net income, Before tax	0	3	6	(12)
Reclassification of net gains (losses) to net income, Net of tax	0	3	6	(7)
Net change, Before tax	(32)	15	(26)	(39)
Net change, Tax effect	(3)	2	(3)	1
Net change, Net of tax	(35)	17	(29)	(38)
Other comprehensive income (loss), Before tax	(1,780)	1,023	2,553	(5,097)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax effect	560	(265)	(1,087)	2,002
Other comprehensive income (loss), Net of tax	(1,220)	758	1,466	(3,095)
Less: Other comprehensive income (loss) from noncontrolling interests, net of tax	(221)	266	(266)	266
Wells Fargo other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(999)	492	1,732	(3,361)
Interest income [Member] | Loans [Member]
Derivatives and hedging activities:
Reclassification of net (gains) losses on cash flow hedges to net income, Before tax	(133)	(106)	(387)	(337)
Reclassification of net (gains) losses on cash flow hedges to net income, Tax effect	49	35	145	122
Reclassification of net (gains) losses on cash flow hedges to net income, Net of tax	(84)	(71)	(242)	(215)
Interest income [Member] | Investment securities [Member]
Investment securities:
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Before tax	(5)	0	(31)	0
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Tax effect	2	0	12	0
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Net of tax	(3)	0	(19)	0
Derivatives and hedging activities:
Reclassification of net (gains) losses on cash flow hedges to net income, Before tax	0	0	(1)	0
Reclassification of net (gains) losses on cash flow hedges to net income, Tax effect	0	0	1	0
Reclassification of net (gains) losses on cash flow hedges to net income, Net of tax	0	0	0	0
Gain(Loss) on investments [Member] | Debt securities available for sale [Member]
Investment securities:
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Before tax	(253)	6	(407)	15
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Tax effect	96	(3)	154	(6)
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Net of tax	(157)	3	(253)	9
Gain(Loss) on investments [Member] | Equity investments [Member]
Investment securities:
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Before tax	(403)	(120)	(767)	(212)
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Tax effect	152	45	289	80
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Net of tax	(251)	(75)	(478)	(132)
Noninterest income [Member]
Derivatives and hedging activities:
Reclassification of net (gains) losses on cash flow hedges to net income, Before tax	0	18	0	35
Reclassification of net (gains) losses on cash flow hedges to net income, Tax effect	0	(7)	0	(13)
Reclassification of net (gains) losses on cash flow hedges to net income, Net of tax	0	11	0	22
Foreign currency translation adjustments:
Reclassification of net gains (losses) to net income, Before tax	0	3	6	(12)
Reclassification of net gains (losses) to net income, Tax effect	0	0	0	5
Reclassification of net gains (losses) to net income, Net of tax	0	3	6	(7)
Interest expense on long-term debt [Member]
Derivatives and hedging activities:
Reclassification of net (gains) losses on cash flow hedges to net income, Before tax	6	19	40	73
Reclassification of net (gains) losses on cash flow hedges to net income, Tax effect	(2)	(7)	(15)	(27)
Reclassification of net (gains) losses on cash flow hedges to net income, Net of tax	4	12	25	46
Salaries expense [Member]
Derivatives and hedging activities:
Reclassification of net (gains) losses on cash flow hedges to net income, Before tax	0	0	0	4
Reclassification of net (gains) losses on cash flow hedges to net income, Tax effect	0	0	0	(2)
Reclassification of net (gains) losses on cash flow hedges to net income, Net of tax	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 2