Other Comprehensive Income, Components of Other Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Debt securities:
Net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period, Before tax	$ 1,709	$ (617)	$ 4,540	$ (4,060)
Net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period, Tax effect	(422)	152	(1,117)	1,000
Net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period, Net of tax	1,287	(465)	3,423	(3,060)
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Before tax	39	49	(42)	117
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Tax effect	(9)	(12)	11	(29)
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Net of tax	30	37	(31)	88
Net change, Before tax	1,748	(568)	4,498	(3,943)
Net change, Tax effect	(431)	140	(1,106)	971
Net change, Net of tax	1,317	(428)	3,392	(2,972)
Cash Flow Hedges:
Reclassification of net losses to net income on cash flow hedges, Before Tax	79	77	158	137
Net change, Before tax	136	(73)	180	(255)
Net change, Tax effect	(34)	18	(44)	63
Net change, Net of tax	102	(55)	136	(192)
Defined benefit plans adjustments:
Net actuarial and prior service gains (losses) arising during the period, Before tax	0	0	(4)	6
Net actuarial and prior service gains (losses) arising during the period, Tax effect	0	0	1	(2)
Net actuarial and prior service gains (losses) arising during the period, Net of tax	0	0	(3)	4
Amortization of net actuarial loss, Before tax	36	31	71	63
Amortization of net actuarial loss, Tax effect	(9)	(7)	(17)	(15)
Amortization of net actuarial loss, Net of tax	27	24	54	48
Settlements and other, Before tax	(3)	(2)	(3)	(2)
Settlements and other, Tax effect	2	0	2	1
Settlements and other, Net of tax	(1)	(2)	(1)	(1)
Reclassification of amounts to non interest expense, Before tax	33	29	68	61
Reclassification of amounts to non interest expense, Tax effect	(7)	(7)	(15)	(14)
Reclassification of amounts to non interest expense, Net of tax	26	22	53	47
Net change, Before tax	33	29	64	67
Net change, Tax effect	(7)	(7)	(14)	(16)
Net change, Net of tax	26	22	50	51
Foreign currency translation adjustments:
Net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period, Before tax	14	(83)	56	(85)
Net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period, Tax effect	(1)	3	(3)	(2)
Net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period, Net of tax	13	(80)	53	(87)
Net change, Before tax	14	(83)	56	(85)
Net change, Tax effect	(1)	3	(3)	(2)
Net change, Net of tax	13	(80)	53	(87)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	1,931	(695)	4,798	(4,216)
Other comprehensive income (loss), tax effect	(473)	154	(1,167)	1,016
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1,458	(541)	3,631	(3,200)
Less: Other comprehensive loss from noncontrolling interests	0	(1)	0	(1)
Wells Fargo other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1,458	(540)	3,631	(3,199)
Cash Flow Hedging [Member]
Cash Flow Hedges:
Net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period on cash flow hedges, Before Tax	1	0	(8)	(266)
Net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period on cash flow hedges, Tax	0	0	2	66
Net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period on cash flow hedges, Net of Tax	1	0	(6)	(200)
Reclassification of net losses to net income on cash flow hedges, Before Tax	79	77	158	137
Reclassification of net losses to net income on cash flow hedges, Tax	(20)	(19)	(39)	(34)
Reclassification of net losses to net income on cash flow hedges, Net of Tax	59	58	119	103
Fair Value Hedging [Member]
Fair Value Hedges:
Change in fair value of excluded components on fair value hedges, Before Tax	56	(150)	30	(126)
Change in fair value of excluded components on fair value hedges, Tax	(14)	37	(7)	31
Change in fair value of excluded components on fair value hedges, Net of Tax	42	(113)	23	(95)
Interest expense on long-term debt [Member] | Cash Flow Hedging [Member]
Cash Flow Hedges:
Reclassification of net losses to net income on cash flow hedges, Before Tax	2	0	3	0
Reclassification of net losses to net income on cash flow hedges, Tax	(1)	0	(1)	0
Reclassification of net losses to net income on cash flow hedges, Net of Tax	1	0	2	0
Other noninterest income [Member]
Debt securities:
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Before tax	(2)	0	(3)	0
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Tax effect	1	0	1	0
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Net of tax	(1)	0	(2)	0
Debt securities [Member] | Interest income [Member]
Debt securities:
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Before tax	61	90	106	159
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Tax effect	(15)	(22)	(26)	(39)
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Net of tax	46	68	80	120
Debt securities [Member] | Net gains on debt securities [Member]
Debt securities:
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Before tax	(20)	(41)	(145)	(42)
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Tax effect	5	10	36	10
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income, Net of tax	(15)	(31)	(109)	(32)
Loans [Member] | Interest income [Member] | Cash Flow Hedging [Member]
Cash Flow Hedges:
Reclassification of net losses to net income on cash flow hedges, Before Tax	77	77	155	137
Reclassification of net losses to net income on cash flow hedges, Tax	(19)	(19)	(38)	(34)
Reclassification of net losses to net income on cash flow hedges, Net of Tax	$ 58	$ 58	$ 117	$ 103