Employee compensation and benefits - Future benefit payments (Details) - Dec. 31, 2016 £ in Billions, $ in Billions	USD ($)	GBP (£)
Employee Compensation And Benefits [Abstract]
Estimated assets needed to secure all future pension payments	$ 47	£ 38

Estimated Assets Needed To Secure All Future Pension Payments

No definition available.

Name:	hsbc_EstimatedAssetsNeededToSecureAllFuturePensionPayments
Namespace Prefix:	hsbc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant