Date when the business acquisition agreement was executed, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionDateOfAcquisitionAgreement1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

For receivables acquired in a business combination, excluding certain loans and debt securities acquired in a transfer (as defined), this element represents the fair value of the receivables acquired, by major class of receivable, such as loans, direct finance leases (as defined), and any other class of receivables.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56956791&loc=d3e4845-128472

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of assets acquired at the acquisition date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56956791&loc=d3e4845-128472

+ Details

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

- Definition

Gross amount of debt extinguished.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 50
-Section 40
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170532&loc=d3e12317-112629

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 50
-Section 40
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170532&loc=d3e12355-112629

+ Details

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

- Definition

The cash outflow to reacquire preferred stocks issued by a business trust or other special purpose entity, mainly established by a bank holding entity, to third party investors. The trust's assets are deeply subordinated debentures of the bank holding entity. Most trust preferred securities are subject to a mandatory redemption upon the repayment of the debentures.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Financing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3291-108585

+ Details

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

- Definition

Detail information of subsequent event by type. User is expected to use existing line items from elsewhere in the taxonomy as the primary line items for this disclosure, which is further associated with dimension and member elements pertaining to a subsequent event.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Deposits

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wtfc_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedDeposits
Namespace Prefix:	wtfc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of Locations

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wtfc_NumberOfLocations
Namespace Prefix:	wtfc_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=wtfc_GenerationsBancorpIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=wtfc_WintrustCapitalTrustEightMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Subsequent Events (Narrative) (Details) - Subsequent Event $ in Millions	Jan. 22, 2016 USD ($)	Jan. 15, 2016	Jan. 14, 2016 USD ($) financial_institution
Generations Bancorp Inc
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Business acquisition, date of acquisition agreement		Jan. 14, 2016
Number of locations \| financial_institution			1
Business acquisition, acquired assets			$ 125.0
Business acquisition, acquired receivables, fair value			72.0
Business acquisition, acquired deposits			$ 97.0
Wintrust Capital Trust Eight
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Payments for repurchase of trust preferred securities	$ 15.0
Extinguishment of debt, amount	15.0
Gains (losses) on extinguishment of debt	$ 4.3