Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities, Cash Flows From Sales and Securitization Activity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities Textual [Abstract]
Amount paid to repurchase loans from securitization vehicles	$ 2,100	$ 2,400	$ 6,000	$ 7,300
Net gain from sale of assets securitizations	91	141	616	436
Residential Mortgage [Member]
Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities Textual [Abstract]
Amount transferred related to mortgages to unconsolidated VIE	57,800	63,300	163,000	165,600
Mortgage loans [Member]
Cash Flow Securitizations [Abstract]
Proceeds from securitizations and whole loan sales	61,756	66,830	172,837	178,301
Fees from servicing rights retained	826	891	2,520	2,636
Cash flows from other interests held	408	930	1,883	1,964
Servicing advances, net of repayments	(90)	(52)	(252)	(159)
Other financial assets [Member]
Cash Flow Securitizations [Abstract]
Proceeds from securitizations and whole loan sales	0	53	25	186
Fees from servicing rights retained	0	0	0	0
Cash flows from other interests held	0	0	0	1
Servicing advances, net of repayments	0	0	0	0
Commercial Loan [Member]
Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities Textual [Abstract]
Net gain from sale of assets securitizations	89	134	265	327
Amount transferred related to mortgages to unconsolidated VIE	4,600	4,000	11,200	13,900
Non-agency securitizations and whole loan transactions [Member] \| Mortgage loans [Member]
Cash Flow Securitizations [Abstract]
Repurchases of assets/loss reimbursements	5	4	12	22
Non-agency securitizations and whole loan transactions [Member] \| Other financial assets [Member]
Cash Flow Securitizations [Abstract]
Repurchases of assets/loss reimbursements	0	0	0	0
Agency securitizations \| Mortgage loans [Member]
Cash Flow Securitizations [Abstract]
Repurchases of assets/loss reimbursements	20	22	66	104
Agency securitizations \| Other financial assets [Member]
Cash Flow Securitizations [Abstract]
Repurchases of assets/loss reimbursements	$ 0	$ 0	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] \| Residential Mortgage [Member]
Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities Textual [Abstract]
Amount of servicing asset at fair value			1,500	1,300
Amount of liability for repurchase reserves at fair value			20	26
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] \| Commercial Loan [Member]
Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities Textual [Abstract]
Amount of servicing asset at fair value			123	204
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] \| Residential Mortgage [Member]
Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities Textual [Abstract]
Securities, at fair value			2,200	3,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] \| Commercial Loan [Member]
Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities Textual [Abstract]
Securities, at fair value			$ 65	$ 236

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Cash Flows between a transferor and a transferee attributable to newly transferred assets related to either a securitization, asset-backed financing arrangement, or similar transfer in which the transferor has continuing involvement with the transferred financial assets underlying the transaction (including, but not limited to, servicing, recourse, and restrictions on transferor's interests in the transferred financial assets).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 860
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (d)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82924980&loc=d3e107207-111719

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CashFlowsBetweenTransfereeAndTransferorProceedsFromNewTransfers
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Cash Flows between a transferor and a transferee attributable to purchases of previously transferred financial assets (or its underlying collateral) related to a securitization, asset-backed financing arrangement, or similar transfer in which the transferor has continuing involvement with the transferred financial assets underlying the transaction (including, but not limited to, servicing, recourse, and restrictions on transferor's interests in the transferred financial assets).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 860
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph b
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82924980&loc=d3e107207-111719

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CashFlowsBetweenTransfereeAndTransferorPurchasesOfPreviouslyTransferredFinancialAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Cash flows between transferor and transferee in payment of service fees in advance, prior to or in contemplation of a securitization, asset-backed financing arrangement, or similar transfer in which the transferor will have continuing involvement with the transferred financial assets underlying the transaction (including, but not limited to, servicing, recourse, and restrictions on transferor's interests in the transferred financial assets).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 860
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph d
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82924980&loc=d3e107207-111719

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CashFlowsBetweenTransfereeAndTransferorServicingFeeAdvances
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Cash Flows between a transferee and a transferor attributable to servicing fees related to a securitization, asset-backed financing arrangement, or similar transfer in which the transferor has continuing involvement with the transferred financial assets underlying the transaction (including, but not limited to, servicing, recourse, and restrictions on transferor's interests in the transferred financial assets).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 860
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph d
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82924980&loc=d3e107207-111719

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CashFlowsBetweenTransfereeAndTransferorServicingFees
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Cash flows between transferee and transferor in payment of the transferor's beneficial interest related to a securitization, asset-backed financing arrangement, or similar transfer in which the transferor has continuing involvement with the transferred financial assets underlying the transaction.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CashFlowsBetweenTransferorAndTransfereeBeneficialInterest
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

A gain (loss) realized on a transfer, accounted for as a sale, of all or a portion of financial assets in which the transferor surrenders control and receives consideration other than a beneficial interest in the assets transferred. Reflects the amount of sales proceeds in excess of, or deficient from, the sum of the carrying amounts of transferred financial assets plus transaction costs.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.7,9)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainLossOnSecuritizationOfFinancialAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount paid to GNMA early pool buy-out loans due to exercise of repurchase option.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wfc_AmountPaidToRepurchaseLoansFromSecuritizationVehicles
Namespace Prefix:	wfc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Carrying value of assets transferred in a securitization or asset-backing financing arrangement or a whole loan sale, accounted for as a sale.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wfc_FinancialAssetsTransferredInSecuritizationsAndWholeLoanSales
Namespace Prefix:	wfc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The increase during the reporting period in liability for mortgage repurchase reserves that are measured using Level 3 measurements. This increase is related to new servicing rights that are created when mortgages are sold or transferred.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wfc_LiabilityForMortgageRepurchaseReservesFairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsAdditions
Namespace Prefix:	wfc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The increase during the reporting period of the amount of investment in debt and equity securities categorized either available-for-sale or trading, relating to loan securitizations, that are measured using Level 2 measurements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wfc_SecuritiesAmountMeasurementWithObservableInputsAdditions
Namespace Prefix:	wfc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities Textual Abstract.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wfc_SecuritizationsAndVariableInterestEntitiesTextualAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	wfc_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The increase during the reporting period in the fair value of an asset representing net future revenue from contractually specified servicing fees, late charges, and other ancillary revenues, in excess of future costs, related to servicing arrangements, relating to loan securitizations, that are measured using Level 3 measurements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wfc_ServicingAssetAtFairValueAmountMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsAdditions
Namespace Prefix:	wfc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_ResidentialMortgageMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_MortgagesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=wfc_OtherFinancialAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_CommercialLoanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis=wfc_NonAgencySecuritizationsAndWholeLoanTransactionsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis=wfc_FederalNationalMortgageAssociationFederalHomeLoanMortgageCorporationAndGovernmentNationalMortgageAssociationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
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: