Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011	Apr. 30, 2012 Private Forward Repurchase Transaction [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Private Forward Repurchase Transaction [Member]
Supplemental cash flow information - Noncash activities
Transfers from loans to securities available for sale	$ 588	$ 0
Trading assets retained from securitization of MHFS	41,362	12,302
Capitalization of MSRs from sale of MHFS	1,484	1,291
Transfers from MHFS to foreclosed assets	59	40
Transfers from loans to MHFS	1,355	25
Transfers from loans to LHFS	36	106
Transfers from loans to foreclosed assets	2,335	1,237
Changes in consolidations of variable interest entities
Securities available for sale	0	9
Loans	(515)	(210)
Long-term debt	(515)	(204)
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies Textuals [Abstract]
Forward Contract Indexed to Issuer's Equity, Contract Amount			$ 350	$ 150
Common stock repurchased, shares	6,000,000

Number of shares that have been repurchased during the period and have not been retired and are not held in treasury. Some state laws may govern the circumstances under which an entity may acquire its own stock and prescribe the accounting treatment therefore. This element is used when state law does not recognize treasury stock.

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 29, 30

-Article 5

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644

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

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 12

-Paragraph 10

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)

-Number 43

-Chapter 1

-Section B

-Paragraph 11A

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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

- Definition

Value of loans and leases held in the entity's portfolio transferred to loans and leases held-for-sale in noncash transactions.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4332-108586

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 32

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4313-108586

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4304-108586

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TransferOfPortfolioLoansAndLeasesToHeldForSale1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	wfc_ChangesInConsolidationsOfVariableInterestEntitiesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	wfc_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Changes in consolidations of variable interest entities related to loans

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wfc_ChangesInConsolidationsOfVariableInterestEntitiesRelatedToLoans
Namespace Prefix:	wfc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Changes in consolidations of variable interest entities related to long-term debt

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wfc_ChangesInConsolidationsOfVariableInterestEntitiesRelatedToLongTermDebt
Namespace Prefix:	wfc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Changes in consolidations of variable interest entities related to securities available for sale

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wfc_ChangesInConsolidationsOfVariableInterestEntitiesRelatedToSecuritiesAvailableForSale
Namespace Prefix:	wfc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The contract amount for a forward repurchase agreement that indexed to, and potentially settled in, the issuer's equity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wfc_ForwardContractIndexedToIssuersEquityContractAmount
Namespace Prefix:	wfc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Transfers from (to) loans to (from) mortgages held for sale.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wfc_NetTransfersFromLoansToMortgageHeldForSale
Namespace Prefix:	wfc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	wfc_SummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesTextualsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	wfc_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Transfers from loans to foreclosed assets.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wfc_TransfersFromLoansToForeclosedAssets
Namespace Prefix:	wfc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Net transfers from loans to securities available for sale.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wfc_TransfersFromLoansToSecuritiesAvailableForSale
Namespace Prefix:	wfc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Transfers from mortgages held for sale to foreclosed assets.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wfc_TransfersFromMortgageHeldForSaleToForeclosedAssets
Namespace Prefix:	wfc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Transfers from mortgages held for sale to capitalized mortgage servicing rights.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wfc_TransfersFromMortgageHeldForSaleToMortgageServiceRights
Namespace Prefix:	wfc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Transfers from mortgage held for sale to trading assets.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wfc_TransfersFromMortgageHeldForSaleToTradingAssets
Namespace Prefix:	wfc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration