Name:	cof_VariableInterestEntitiesnonconsolidatedCarryingamountofAssetsincludedincertaininvestmentstructures
Namespace Prefix:	cof_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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No definition available.

Name:	cof_VariableInterestEntitiesnonconsolidatedCarryingamountofliabilitiesincludedincertaininvestmentstructures
Namespace Prefix:	cof_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The carrying amount of the consolidated Variable Interest Entity's assets included in the reporting entity's statement of financial position.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (bb)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64801991&loc=d3e5710-111685

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityConsolidatedCarryingAmountAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The carrying amount of the consolidated Variable Interest Entity's liabilities included in the reporting entity's statement of financial position.

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityConsolidatedCarryingAmountLiabilities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The reporting entity's maximum amount of exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with the Variable Interest Entity (VIE).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph b
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64801991&loc=d3e5728-111685

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64801991&loc=d3e5747-111685

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityEntityMaximumLossExposureAmount
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

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

Carrying amount of the assets in the reporting entity's statement of financial position that relate to the reporting entity's variable interest in the Variable Interest Entity (VIE), where the reporting entity is not the VIE's primary beneficiary.

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNonconsolidatedCarryingAmountAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Carrying amount of the liabilities in the reporting entity's statement of financial position that relate to the reporting entity's variable interest in the Variable Interest Entity (VIE), where the reporting entity is not the VIE's primary beneficiary.

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNonconsolidatedCarryingAmountLiabilities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

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Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=cof_InvestmentCompaniesProvidingCapitaltoLowIncomeandRuralCommunitiesMember
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Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_OtherInvestmentsMember
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Data Type:	na
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Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=cof_NonsecuritizationRelatedVariableInterestEntitiesMember
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