Name:	cof_AdvisedLineofCredit
Namespace Prefix:	cof_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Letter of credit issued contractual amount and unused commitment to extend credit

No definition available.

Name:	cof_LetterofCreditIssuedContractualAmountandUnusedCommitmenttoExtendCredit
Namespace Prefix:	cof_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The carrying value of off-balance sheet lending-related financial instruments (e.g., commitments and guarantees), which represents the allowance for lending-related commitments, deferred revenue and the guarantee liability.

No definition available.

Name:	cof_OffBalanceSheetLendingCommitmentCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix:	cof_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

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

Unused amount of commitments to extend credit to customers.

No definition available.