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

The reporting entity’s carrying amount of exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with the Variable Interest Entity (VIE) that was previously excluded.

No definition available.

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

The reporting entity’s maximum amount of exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with the Variable Interest Entity (VIE) that was previously excluded.

No definition available.

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

The unpaid principal balance of Variable Interest Entity (VIE) assets, where the reporting entity is not the VIE’s primary beneficiary.

No definition available.

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

The unpaid principal balance of Variable Interest Entity (VIE) assets, where the reporting entity is not the VIE’s primary beneficiary that was previously excluded.

No definition available.

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

The reporting entity's maximum amount of exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with the Variable Interest Entity (VIE).

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118582676&loc=d3e5747-111685

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph b
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118582676&loc=d3e5728-111685

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityEntityMaximumLossExposureAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

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

Carrying amount of the assets in the reporting entity's statement of financial position that relate to the reporting entity's variable interest in the Variable Interest Entity (VIE), where the reporting entity is not the VIE's primary beneficiary.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph a
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118582676&loc=d3e5728-111685

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

Carrying amount of the liabilities in the reporting entity's statement of financial position that relate to the reporting entity's variable interest in the Variable Interest Entity (VIE), where the reporting entity is not the VIE's primary beneficiary.

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNonconsolidatedCarryingAmountLiabilities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Name:	ms_VariableInterestEntityByProductGroupAxis=ms_MortgageAndAssetBackedSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	ms_VariableInterestEntityByProductGroupAxis=us-gaap_CollateralizedDebtObligationsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	ms_VariableInterestEntityByProductGroupAxis=ms_MunicipalTenderOptionBondsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	ms_VariableInterestEntityByProductGroupAxis=us-gaap_StructuredFinanceMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	ms_VariableInterestEntityByProductGroupAxis=ms_OtherVariableInterestsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	ms_VariableInterestEntityByInterestAxis=us-gaap_AssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	ms_VariableInterestEntityByInterestAxis=ms_DebtandEquityInterestsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	ms_VariableInterestEntityByInterestAxis=us-gaap_DerivativeFinancialInstrumentsAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	ms_VariableInterestEntityByInterestAxis=ms_CommitmentsGuaranteesAndOtherMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: