Note 16 - Investments in subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates - Associates Entities and joint ventures - Changes in the Year (Details) - EUR (€) € in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Investments in subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates
Investments In Subsidiaries Joint Ventures And Associates At The Beginning	€ 765	€ 879	€ 4,509
Changes In Associates Entities And Joint Ventures Abstract
Acquisitions and capital increases	868	456	464
Disposals and capital reductions	(8)	(91)	(32)
Transfers and changes of consolidation method	0	(351)	(3,850)
Share of profit and loss	3	25	174
Exchange Differences	(29)	(34)	(250)
Dividends, valuation adjustments and others	(12)	(118)	(136)
Investments In Subsidiaries Joint Ventures And Associates At The End	1,588	€ 765	€ 879
Commitments In Relation To Joint Ventures	€ 357
Percentage of company shares received	6.41%
Capital increase in Metrovacesa, S.A. for compensation credits	€ 159

The amount of increase in associates, joint ventures and subsidiaries due to acquisitions or capital increases.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	bbva_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of Capital increase in Metrovacesa, SA for compensation credits.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bbva_CapitalincreaseinmetrovacesasaForcompensationcredits
Namespace Prefix:	bbva_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	bbva_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of decreases in associates, joint ventures and subsidiaries due to disposals or capital reductions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bbva_Disposalsandcapitalreductions
Namespace Prefix:	bbva_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of decreases in associates, joint ventures and subsidiaries due to dividends valuation adjustments.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bbva_Dividendsvaluationadjustmentsandothers
Namespace Prefix:	bbva_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of decreases in associates, joint ventures and subsidiaries due to exchange differences.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bbva_Exchangedifferences
Namespace Prefix:	bbva_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage in the capital of Merlin Properties, SOCIMI, SA that the Entity has received for its participation in the capital of Metrovacesa, S.A.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bbva_Percentageofcompanysharesinequityreceived
Namespace Prefix:	bbva_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bbva_Shareofprofitandloss
Namespace Prefix:	bbva_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of decreases or decreases in associates, joint ventures and subsidiaries due to transfers or changes in the consolidation method.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bbva_Transfersandchangesofconsolidationmethod
Namespace Prefix:	bbva_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The commitments that the entity has relating to its joint ventures as specified in paragraphs B18-B20 of IFRS 12. [Refer: Joint ventures [member]]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IFRS
-Number 12
-IssueDate 2016-01-13
-Paragraph 23
-Subparagraph a
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=12&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_23_a&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2016-03-31

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of investments in subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates in an entity's separate financial statements. [Refer: Associates [member]; Joint ventures [member]; Subsidiaries [member]; Investments in subsidiaries]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Name IAS
-Number 1
-IssueDate 2016-01-13
-Paragraph 55
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_55&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2016-03-31

+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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