Securities Available for Sale, Credit Loss Component (Details) (USD $) In Millions	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Other than Temporary Impairment, Credit Losses Recognized in Earnings [Roll Forward]
Credit loss component, beginning of period	$ 1,087	$ 1,002	$ 1,043	$ 1,187	$ 1,251	$ 1,049
Initial credit impairments	31	39	42	59
Subsequent credit impairments	158	67	226	136
For securities sold	(15)	(51)	(38)	(76)
For securities derecognized resulting from adoption of consolidation accounting guidance	0	0	0	(242)
Due to change in intent to sell or requirement to sell	0	(2)	0	(2)
For recoveries of previous credit impairments	(10)	(6)	(22)	(13)
Total reductions	(25)	(59)	(60)	(333)
Debt Securities [Member]
Other than Temporary Impairment, Credit Losses Recognized in Earnings [Roll Forward]
Total Additions	$ 189	$ 106	$ 268	$ 195

This item represents an increase to the cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings for an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) of a debt security held for which a previous OTTI was recognized and the investor does not intend to sell the debt security and it is not more likely than not that the investor will be required to sell the debt security before recovery of its amortized cost basis.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)
-Number FAS115-1/124-1
-Paragraph 18B
-Subparagraph e
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph (e)
-SubTopic 10
-Topic 320
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6872113&loc=d3e27340-111563

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsAdditionsAdditionalCreditLosses
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents an increase to the cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings for an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) of a debt security held for which no such other than temporary impairment (OTTI) was previously recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)
-Number FAS115-1/124-1
-Paragraph 18B
-Subparagraph b
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph (b)
-SubTopic 10
-Topic 320
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6872113&loc=d3e27340-111563

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsAdditionsNoPreviousImpairment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents reductions in the cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings for an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) of a debt security held due to increases in cash flows expected to be collected and recognized over the remaining life of the security.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)
-Number FAS115-1/124-1
-Paragraph 18B
-Subparagraph f
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph (f)
-SubTopic 10
-Topic 320
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6872113&loc=d3e27340-111563

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsReductionsCashFlows
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents reductions in the amount of cumulative losses recognized in earnings for other than temporary impairments (OTTI) for which a portion of the impairment had been recognized in other comprehensive income (a component of shareholders' equity) due to a change in status of the impaired security because of a change in the entity's intent to either sell the impaired security or it has become more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell the security before recovery of its cost basis.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)
-Number FAS115-1/124-1
-Paragraph 18B
-Subparagraph d
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph (d)
-SubTopic 10
-Topic 320
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6872113&loc=d3e27340-111563

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsReductionsChangeInStatus
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents reductions in the cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings for an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) of a debt security because of the sale of impaired securities during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)
-Number FAS115-1/124-1
-Paragraph 18B
-Subparagraph c
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph (c)
-SubTopic 10
-Topic 320
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6872113&loc=d3e27340-111563

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsReductionsSecuritiesSold
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.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsRollForward
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Other Than Temporary Impairment Credit Losses Investments Portion Recognized In Earnings Net Available for sale Securities

+ Details

Name:	wfc_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNetAvailableForSaleSecurities
Namespace Prefix:	wfc
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings related to debt securities held for which a portion of an other than temporary impairment was recognized in other comprehensive income (a component of shareholders' equity).

+ Details

Name:	wfc_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsCreditLossesOnDebtSecuritiesHeldBeginningBalance
Namespace Prefix:	wfc
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Other than Temporary Impairment, Credit Losses Recognized in Earnings, Total Reductions.

+ Details

Name:	wfc_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsReductions
Namespace Prefix:	wfc
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents reductions in the cumulative amount of other than temporary impairment due to credit loss that has been recognized in earnings due to securities derecognized under consolidation accounting guidance.

+ Details

Name:	wfc_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsReductionsSecuritiesDerecognized
Namespace Prefix:	wfc
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration