No definition available.

Name:	ms_LoansInTrustFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	ms_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The value (monetary amount) of the additional award the plaintiff seeks in the legal matter.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ms_LossContingencyDamagesSoughtValueAdditional
Namespace Prefix:	ms_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Mortgage pass through certificate backed by securitization trusts original amount.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ms_MortgagePassThroughCertificateBackedBySecuritizationTrustsAmount
Namespace Prefix:	ms_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Mortgage pass through certificate backed by securitization trusts unpaid amount.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ms_MortgagePassThroughCertificateBackedBySecuritizationTrustsUnpaidAmount
Namespace Prefix:	ms_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ms_MortgagePassThroughCertificateIncurredLosses
Namespace Prefix:	ms_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair value of credit risk derivative asset.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 10

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35750535&loc=d3e13433-108611

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4K

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=SL5708775-113959

+ Details

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

- Definition

The amount of expense provided in the period for legal costs incurred on or before the balance sheet date pertaining to resolved, pending or threatened litigation, including arbitration and mediation proceedings.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LegalFees
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The value (monetary amount) of the award the plaintiff seeks in the legal matter.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 9

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14557-108349

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14435-108349

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyDamagesSoughtValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The estimated maximum amount of possible loss from the contingency.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14435-108349

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 9

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14557-108349

+ Details

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

- Definition

The estimated minimum amount of possible loss from the contingency.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=ms_ChinaDevelopmentIndustrialBankVersusMorganStanleyCoIncorporatedEtAliiMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=ms_PrudentialInsuranceCompanyOfAmericaEtAlVersusMorganStanleyEtAlMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=ms_MorganStanleyMortgageLoanTrustsVersusMorganStanleyMortgageCapitalHoldingsLlcMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=ms_MorganStanleyMortgageLoanTrust20064slVersusMorganStanleyMortgageCapitalIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=ms_MorganStanleyMortgageLoanTrust200614slVersusMorganStanleyMortgageCapitalHoldingsLlcMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=ms_MorganStanleyMortgageLoanTrust20074slVersusMorganStanleyMortgageCapitalHoldingsLlcMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=ms_MorganStanleyMortgageLoanTrust200613arxVersusMorganStanleyMortgageCapitalHoldingsLlcMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=ms_MorganStanleyMortgageLoanTrust200610slVersusMorganStanleyMortgageCapitalHoldingsLlcMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=ms_NationalCreditUnionAdministrationBoardVersusMorganStanleyAndCoIncEtAliiMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=ms_DeutscheZentralGenossenschaftsbankAgEtAlVMorganStanleyEtAlMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=ms_DeutscheBankNationalTrustCompanyVersusMorganStanleyMortgageCapitalHoldingsLlcMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=ms_UsBankNationalAssociation20072axVMorganStanleyMortgageCapitalHoldingsLlcMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=ms_DeutscheBankNationalTrustCompany2007Nc4VMorganStanleyMortgageCapitalHoldingsLlcMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies (Narrative - Contingencies) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 25, 2015	Jul. 15, 2010	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Jan. 23, 2015	Apr. 28, 2014	Sep. 23, 2013	Jul. 08, 2013	May. 03, 2013	Jan. 10, 2013	Oct. 16, 2012	Sep. 28, 2012	Aug. 08, 2012	Aug. 07, 2012
Contingencies
Legal Expenses			$ 320	$ 66	$ 555	$ 256
China Development Industrial Bank v. Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated et al.
Contingencies
Damages sought		$ 228
Additional damages sought		12
Estimate of possible loss, maximum			240		240
Credit default swap asset		$ 275
The Prudential Insurance Company of America, et al. v. Morgan Stanley, et al.
Contingencies
Estimate of possible loss, minimum			581		581
Mortgage pass through certificate backed by securitization trusts original amount													$ 1,073
Mortgage pass through certificate backed by securitization trusts unpaid amount	$ 581
Morgan Stanley Mortgage Loan Trusts v Morgan Stanley Mortgage Capital Holdings LLC
Contingencies
Estimate of possible loss, maximum			527		527
Morgan Stanley Mortgage Loan Trust 2006-4SL v. Morgan Stanley Mortgage Capital Inc.
Contingencies
Estimate of possible loss, maximum			149		149
Original principal balance of loans in trust																$ 303
Morgan Stanley Mortgage Loan Trust 2006-14SL v Morgan Stanley Mortgage Capital Holdings LLC
Contingencies
Original principal balance of loans in trust															$ 354
Morgan Stanley Mortgage Loan Trust 2007-4SL v Morgan Stanley Mortgage Capital Holdings LLC
Contingencies
Original principal balance of loans in trust															$ 305
Morgan Stanley Mortgage Loan Trust 2006-13ARX v. Morgan Stanley Mortgage Capital Holdings LLC
Contingencies
Estimate of possible loss, maximum			170		170
Original principal balance of loans in trust														$ 609
Morgan Stanley Mortgage Loan Trust 2006-10SL v. Morgan Stanley Mortgage Capital Holdings LLC
Contingencies
Estimate of possible loss, maximum			197		197
Original principal balance of loans in trust												$ 300
National Credit Union Administration Board v Morgan Stanley & Co. Inc., et al.
Contingencies
Estimate of possible loss, minimum			194		194
Mortgage pass through certificate backed by securitization trusts original amount									$ 417
Mortgage pass through certificate backed by securitization trusts unpaid amount	194
Mortgage pass through certificate incurred losses	31
Deutsche Zentral-Genossenschaftsbank AG et al. v. Morgan Stanley et al.
Contingencies
Estimate of possible loss, minimum			277		277
Mortgage pass through certificate backed by securitization trusts original amount											$ 644
Mortgage pass through certificate backed by securitization trusts unpaid amount	277
Mortgage pass through certificate incurred losses	$ 81
Deutsche Bank National Trust Company v. Morgan Stanley Mortgage Capital Holdings Llc
Contingencies
Estimate of possible loss, maximum			292		292
Original principal balance of loans in trust								$ 735
U.S. Bank National Association 2007-2AX v. Morgan Stanley Mortgage Capital Holdings LLC
Contingencies
Estimate of possible loss, maximum			240		240
Original principal balance of loans in trust										$ 650
Deutsche Bank National Trust Company (2007-NC4) v. Morgan Stanley Mortgage Capital Holdings LLC
Contingencies
Estimate of possible loss, maximum			$ 277		$ 277
Original principal balance of loans in trust							$ 1,050