Intangible Assets, Allocation of Goodwill to Operating Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Beginning Balance	$ 26,418	$ 26,587
Reclassification of goodwill held for sale to other assets	(7)	(155)
Reduction in goodwill related to divested businesses and other		(3)
Goodwill, Foreign Currency Translation Gain (Loss)	4
Goodwill, Ending Balance	26,415	26,429
Goodwill classified as held-for-sale in other assets	7	155
Community Banking [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Beginning Balance	16,685	16,849
Reclassification of goodwill held for sale to other assets	0	(155)
Reduction in goodwill related to divested businesses and other		0
Goodwill, Foreign Currency Translation Gain (Loss)	0
Goodwill, Ending Balance	16,685	16,694
Wholesale Banking [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Beginning Balance	8,450	8,455
Reclassification of goodwill held for sale to other assets	0	0
Reduction in goodwill related to divested businesses and other		(3)
Goodwill, Foreign Currency Translation Gain (Loss)	4
Goodwill, Ending Balance	8,454	8,452
Wealth and Investment Management [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Beginning Balance	1,283	1,283
Reclassification of goodwill held for sale to other assets	(7)	0
Reduction in goodwill related to divested businesses and other		0
Goodwill, Foreign Currency Translation Gain (Loss)	0
Goodwill, Ending Balance	$ 1,276	$ 1,283

Amount classified as goodwill attributable to disposal group held for sale or disposed of.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109222160&loc=SL51721533-107759

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (e)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109226691&loc=d3e2941-110230

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 10
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109222160&loc=d3e1107-107759

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5B
-Subparagraph (e)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109222650&loc=SL51721673-107760

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationGoodwill1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77989000&loc=SL49117168-202975

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99380562&loc=d3e13770-109266

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of foreign currency translation gain (loss) which increases (decreases) an asset representing future economic benefits from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (f)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=108376223&loc=d3e13816-109267

+ Details

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

- Definition

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of divestiture of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=108376223&loc=d3e13816-109267

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount transferred to other assets for held for sale goodwill.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wfc_Goodwillreclassforheldforsale
Namespace Prefix:	wfc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=wfc_CommunityBankingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=wfc_WholesaleBankingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=wfc_WealthAndInvestmentManagementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: