Regulatory Capital Requirements (Details) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2021 USD ($) Classification	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Trustco Bank [Member]
Compliance With Regulatory Capital Requirements Under Banking Regulations Information [Abstract]
Number of classifications for prompt corrective action regulations provide | Classification		5
Tier One Risk Based Capital [Abstract]
Tier 1 leverage capital		$ 546,391	$ 539,897
Common equity Tier 1 capital		546,391	539,897
Tier 1 risk-based capital		546,391	539,897
Total risk-based capital		$ 283,171	$ 576,257
Risk Based Ratios [Abstract]
Tier 1 leverage ratio, ratio		0.09235	0.09378
Common equity Tier 1 capital, ratio		0.18654	0.18646
Tier 1 risk-based capital, ratio		0.18654	0.18646
Total risk-based capital, ratio		0.19910	0.19902
Leverage Ratios [Abstract]
Tier 1 leverage ratio, well capitalized	[1]	0.05000	0.05000
Tier 1 leverage ratio, minimum for capital adequacy plus capital conservation	[1],[2]	0.04000	0.04000
Common equity Tier 1 capital, well capitalized	[1]	0.06500	0.06500
Common equity Tier 1 capital, minimum for capital adequacy plus capital conservation	[1],[2]	0.07000	0.07000
Tier 1 risk-based capital, well capitalized	[1]	0.08000	0.08000
Tier 1 risk-based capital, minimum for capital adequacy plus capital conservation	[1],[2]	0.08500	0.08500
Total risk-based capital, well capitalized	[1]	0.10000	0.10000
Total risk-based capital, minimum for capital adequacy plus capital conservation	[1],[2]	0.10500	0.10500
Capital Conservation Buffer [Abstract]
Common equity Tier 1 capital conservation buffer		0.0250	0.0250
Tier 1 risk based capital ratio, capital conservation buffer		0.0250	0.0250
Total risk based capital ratio, capital conservation buffer		0.0250	0.0250
TrustCo Bank Corp NY [Member]
Tier One Risk Based Capital [Abstract]
Tier 1 leverage capital		$ 563,210	$ 555,672
Common equity Tier 1 capital		563,210	555,672
Tier 1 risk-based capital		563,210	555,672
Total risk-based capital		$ 599,999	$ 592,040
Risk Based Ratios [Abstract]
Tier 1 leverage ratio, ratio		0.09515	0.09650
Common equity Tier 1 capital, ratio		0.19223	0.19187
Tier 1 risk-based capital, ratio		0.19223	0.19187
Total risk-based capital, ratio		0.20479	0.20443
Leverage Ratios [Abstract]
Tier 1 leverage ratio, minimum for capital adequacy plus capital conservation	[1],[2]	0.04000	0.04000
Common equity Tier 1 capital, minimum for capital adequacy plus capital conservation	[1],[2]	0.07000	0.07000
Tier 1 risk-based capital, minimum for capital adequacy plus capital conservation	[1],[2]	0.08500	0.08500
Total risk-based capital, minimum for capital adequacy plus capital conservation	[1],[2]	0.10500	0.10500
Capital Conservation Buffer [Abstract]
Common equity Tier 1 capital conservation buffer		0.0250	0.0250
Tier 1 risk based capital ratio, capital conservation buffer		0.0250	0.0250
Total risk based capital ratio, capital conservation buffer		0.0250	0.0250

[1] Federal regulatory minimum requirements to be considered to be Well Capitalized and Adequately Capitalized

[2] The March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 common equity tier 1, tier 1 risk-based, and total risk-based capital ratios include a capital conservation buffer of 2.50 percent