Other Comprehensive Income, Components of Other Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017		Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Debt securities (1):
Net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period, Before tax	[1]	$ (1,468)	$ 891		$ (5,528)	$ 2,825
Net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period, Tax effect		360	(353)		1,360	(1,075)
Net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period, Net of tax		(1,108)	538		(4,168)	1,750
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Before tax	[1]	51	(200)		168	(522)
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Tax effect		(12)	77		(41)	193
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Net of tax		39	(123)		127	(329)
Net change, Before tax		(1,417)	691		(5,360)	2,303
Net change, Tax effect		348	(276)		1,319	(882)
Net change, Net of tax		(1,069)	415		(4,041)	1,421
Cash Flow Hedges:
Net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period on cash flow hedges, Before Tax		(24)	104	[2]	(416)	18	[2]
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income on cash flow hedges, Before tax		79	(105)	[2]	216	(460)	[2]
Net change, Before tax		55	(1)		(200)	(442)
Net change, Tax effect		(14)	3		49	168
Net change, Net of tax		41	2		(151)	(274)
Defined benefit plans adjustments:
Net actuarial and prior service gains arising during the period, Before tax		0	11		6	4
Net actuarial and prior service gains arising during the period, Tax effect		0	(5)		(2)	(2)
Net actuarial and prior service gains arising during the period, Net of tax		0	6		4	2
Amortization of net actuarial loss, Before tax		32	37		95	114
Amortization of net actuarial loss, Tax effect		(8)	(13)		(23)	(43)
Amortization of net actuarial loss, Net of tax		24	24		72	71
Settlements and other, Before tax		(3)	4		(5)	6
Settlements and other, Tax effect		2	(1)		3	0
Settlements and other, Net of tax		(1)	3		(2)	6
Reclassification of amounts to net periodic benefit costs, Before tax		29	41		90	120
Reclassification of amounts to net periodic benefit costs, Tax effect		(6)	(14)		(20)	(43)
Reclassification of amounts to net periodic benefit costs, Net of tax		23	27		70	77
Net change, Before tax		29	52		96	124
Net change, Tax effect		(6)	(19)		(22)	(45)
Net change, Net of tax		23	33		74	79
Foreign currency translation adjustments:
Net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period, Before tax		(9)	39		(94)	86
Net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period, Tax effect		2	3		0	6
Net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period, Net of tax		(7)	42		(94)	92
Net change, Before tax		(9)	39		(94)	86
Net change, Tax effect		2	3		0	6
Net change, Net of tax		(7)	42		(94)	92
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax		(1,342)	781	[2]	(5,558)	2,071	[2]
Other comprehensive income (loss), tax effect		330	(289)	[2]	1,346	(753)	[2]
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		(1,012)	492	[2],[3]	(4,212)	1,318	[2],[4]
Less: Other comprehensive loss from noncontrolling interests		0	(34)		(1)	(29)
Wells Fargo other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		(1,012)	526	[2]	(4,211)	1,347	[2]
Cash Flow Hedging [Member]
Cash Flow Hedges:
Net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period on cash flow hedges, Before Tax		(3)	32		(269)	272
Net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period on cash flow hedges, Tax		0	(12)		66	(103)
Net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period on cash flow hedges, Net of tax		(3)	20		(203)	169
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income on cash flow hedges, Before tax		79	(105)		216	(460)
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income on cash flow hedges, Tax effect		(19)	41		(53)	175
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income on cash flow hedges, Net of tax		60	(64)		163	(285)
Fair Value Hedging [Member]
Fair Value Hedges:
Change in fair value of excluded components on fair value hedges, Before Tax		(21)	72		(147)	(254)
Change in fair value of excluded components on fair value hedges, Tax		5	(26)		36	96
Change in fair value of excluded components on fair value hedges, Net of Tax		(16)	46		(111)	(158)
Interest expense on long-term debt [Member] | Cash Flow Hedging [Member]
Cash Flow Hedges:
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income on cash flow hedges, Before tax		1	2		1	8
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income on cash flow hedges, Tax effect		0	(1)		0	(3)
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income on cash flow hedges, Net of tax		1	1		1	5
Other noninterest income [Member]
Debt securities (1):
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Before tax		(1)	2		(1)	1
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Tax effect		0	0		0	0
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Net of tax		(1)	2		(1)	1
Debt securities [Member] | Interest income [Member]
Debt securities (1):
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Before tax		109	70		268	122
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Tax effect		(27)	(26)		(66)	(46)
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Net of tax		82	44		202	76
Debt securities [Member] | Net gains on debt securities [Member]
Debt securities (1):
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Before tax		(57)	(166)		(99)	(322)
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Tax effect		15	62		25	119
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Net of tax		(42)	(104)		(74)	(203)
Equity Securities | Net gains from equity securities [Member]
Debt securities (1):
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Before tax		0	(106)		0	(323)
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Tax effect		0	41		0	120
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Net of tax		0	(65)		0	(203)
Loans [Member] | Interest income [Member] | Cash Flow Hedging [Member]
Cash Flow Hedges:
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income on cash flow hedges, Before tax		78	(107)		215	(468)
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income on cash flow hedges, Tax effect		(19)	42		(53)	178
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income on cash flow hedges, Net of tax		$ 59	(65)		$ 162	(290)
Accounting Standards Update 2016-01 [Member]
Debt securities (1):
Net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period, Before tax			(13)			113
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Before tax			$ (106)			$ (323)

[1] (2)The quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2017, includes net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period from equity securities of $(13) million and $113 million and reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income related to equity securities of $(106) million and $(323) million, respectively. With the adoption in first quarter 2018 of ASU 2016-01, the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2018, reflects net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period and reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income from only debt securities.

[2] (1)Financial information for the prior period has been revised to reflect the impact of the adoption of ASU 2017-12 – Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities, effective January 1, 2017.

[3] (3)Financial information for the prior period has been revised to reflect the impact of the adoption of ASU 2017-12 – Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities, effective January 1, 2017.

[4] (5)Financial information for the prior period has been revised to reflect the impact of the adoption of ASU 2017-12 – Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities, effective January 1, 2017.