Netting Arrangements Narratives (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative assets not subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement	$ 27,000,000	$ 28,000,000
Derivative liabilities not subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement	1,000,000	1,000,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Securities purchased under agreements to resell or similar arrangements	19,000,000,000	16,600,000,000
Securities purchased under agreements to resell [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Fair value of non-cash collateral accepted	39,300,000,000	47,600,000,000
Fair value of non-cash collateral accepted that can be sold or repledged	31,900,000,000	41,900,000,000
Fair value of securities accepted as collateral that have been sold or repledged	0	0
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Fair value of non-cash collateral pledged	87,000,000	50,000,000
OTC Risk Management Derivatives [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Fair value of non-cash collateral accepted	$ 5,000,000	$ 51,000,000

Fair value of financial asset or other contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset, not subject to a master netting arrangement.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 20

-Section 55

-Paragraph 22

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36459792&loc=SL20226052-175313

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34720828&loc=SL20225862-175312

+ Details

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

- Definition

Fair value of financial liability or contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset, not subject to a master netting arrangement.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Details

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

- Definition

Fair value of collateral permitted, by contact or custom, to be sold or re-pledged.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Fair value of the collateral, or portion thereof, that has been re-pledged, delivered, or otherwise used.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount, after the effects of master netting arrangements, of funds outstanding loaned in the form of a security resale agreement between the entity and another party for the purchase and resale of identical or substantially the same securities at a date certain for a specified price. Includes purchases of participations in pools of securities that are subject to a resale agreement, assets not subject to a master netting arrangement and not elected to be offset.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34720828&loc=SL20225862-175312

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 20

-Section 55

-Paragraph 10

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36459792&loc=SL20226008-175313

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(m)(2)(i))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 08

-Paragraph m

-Subparagraph 1(i)

-Article 4

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Article 9

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 08

-Paragraph m

-Subparagraph 2

-Article 4

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 11

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=45278096&loc=d3e9760-107771

+ Details

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

- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the assets received as collateral against securities loaned to other broker-dealers. Borrowers of securities generally are required to provide collateral to the lenders of securities, commonly cash but sometimes other securities or standby letters of credit, with a value slightly higher than that of the securities borrowed. In instances where the entity is permitted to sell or re-pledge these securities, the entity reports the fair value of the collateral received and the related obligation to return the collateral as a liability.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 860

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1A

-Subparagraph (b)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34720971&loc=SL6224234-111729

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 860

-SubTopic 10

-Section 05

-Paragraph 17

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7517284&loc=d3e93645-111703

+ Details

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

- Definition

Fair value of securities pledged as collateral against securities sold under agreement to repurchase.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 20

-Section 55

-Paragraph 12

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36459792&loc=SL20226013-175313

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis=fnm_OTCRiskManagementDerivativesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis=us-gaap_FederalFundsPurchasedAndSecuritiesSoldUnderAgreementsToRepurchaseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis=us-gaap_FederalFundsSoldAndSecuritiesBorrowedOrPurchasedUnderAgreementsToResellMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: