Secured Borrowing and Consolidated Variable Interest Entity (Details) (USD $) In Millions	Jun. 30, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Consolidated assets	$ 1,259,734	[1]	$ 1,258,128	[1]
Third party liabilities	(1,121,818)	[2]	(1,130,239)	[2]
Noncontrolling interests	(1,515)		(1,481)
VIEs that we consolidate [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Consolidated assets	18,328		21,915
Third party liabilities	(10,340)		(12,756)
Noncontrolling interests	(132)		(94)
Net assets	7,856		9,065
VIEs that we consolidate [Member] | Other/Nonconforming Residential Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Total VIE assets	11,514		14,518
Consolidated assets	10,756		13,529
Third party liabilities	(4,871)		(6,723)
Noncontrolling interests	0		0
Net assets	5,885		6,806
VIEs that we consolidate [Member] | Auto loan securitizations [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Total VIE assets	489		1,010
Consolidated assets	489		1,010
Third party liabilities	(431)		(955)
Noncontrolling interests	0		0
Net assets	58		55
VIEs that we consolidate [Member] | Multi-seller commercial paper conduit [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Total VIE assets	2,936		3,197
Consolidated assets	2,936		3,197
Third party liabilities	(3,045)		(3,279)
Noncontrolling interests	0		0
Net assets	(109)		(82)
VIEs that we consolidate [Member] | Structured Asset Finance [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Total VIE assets	217		146
Consolidated assets	217		146
Third party liabilities	(19)		(21)
Noncontrolling interests	0		(11)
Net assets	198		114
VIEs that we consolidate [Member] | Investment funds [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Total VIE assets	1,123		1,197
Consolidated assets	1,123		1,197
Third party liabilities	(58)		(54)
Noncontrolling interests	(14)		(14)
Net assets	1,051		1,129
VIEs that we consolidate [Member] | Variable Interest Entity Consolidated Carrying Amount [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Total VIE assets	19,204		23,006
Consolidated assets	18,328		21,915
Third party liabilities	(10,340)		(12,756)
Noncontrolling interests	(132)		(94)
Net assets	7,856		9,065
VIEs that we consolidate [Member] | Other securitizations and transactions [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Total VIE assets	2,925		2,938
Consolidated assets	2,807		2,836
Third party liabilities	(1,916)		(1,724)
Noncontrolling interests	(118)		(69)
Net assets	773		1,043
Total secured borrowings [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Total VIE assets	14,522		12,862
Consolidated assets	11,606		9,967
Third party liabilities	(10,912)		(9,487)
Noncontrolling interests	0		0
Net assets	694		480
Total secured borrowings [Member] | Commercial Real Estate Loans [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Total VIE assets	1,348		1,321
Consolidated assets	1,348		1,321
Third party liabilities	(1,274)		(1,272)
Noncontrolling interests	0		0
Net assets	74		49
Total secured borrowings [Member] | Municipal tender option bond securitizations [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Total VIE assets	12,540		10,687
Consolidated assets	9,695		7,874
Third party liabilities	(9,238)		(7,779)
Noncontrolling interests	0		0
Net assets	457		95
Total secured borrowings [Member] | Residential [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Total VIE assets	634		700
Consolidated assets	563		618
Third party liabilities	(400)		(436)
Noncontrolling interests	0		0
Net assets	163		182
Total secured borrowings [Member] | Auto loan securitizations [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Total VIE assets			154
Consolidated assets			154
Third party liabilities			0
Noncontrolling interests			0
Net assets			154
Total secured borrowings and consolidated VIEs [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Total VIE assets	33,726		35,868
Consolidated assets	29,934		31,882
Third party liabilities	(21,252)		(22,243)
Noncontrolling interests	(132)		(94)
Net assets	$ 8,550		$ 9,545

[1] Our consolidated assets at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, include the following assets of certain variable interest entities (VIEs) that can only be used to settle the liabilities of those VIEs: Cash and due from banks, $172 million and $200 million; Trading assets, $95 million and $143 million; Securities available for sale, $2.3 billion and $2.2 billion; Mortgages held for sale, $408 million and $634 million; Loans held for sale, $135 million and $0; Net loans, $13.6 billion and $16.7 billion; Other assets, $1.6 billion and $2.1 billion, and Total assets, $18.3 billion and $21.9 billion, respectively.

[2] Our consolidated liabilities at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, include the following VIE liabilities for which the VIE creditors do not have recourse to Wells Fargo: Short-term borrowings, $26 million and $7 million; Accrued expenses and other liabilities, $121 million and $98 million; Long-term debt, $6.2 billion and $8.3 billion; and Total liabilities, $6.3 billion and $8.4 billion, respectively.