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Financial Instruments Subject to Off-Balance Sheet Risk, Credit Risk, or Market Risk - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
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12 Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Dec. 31, 2012
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Dec. 31, 2011
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Dec. 31, 2012
Minimum
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Dec. 31, 2012
Maximum
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Dec. 31, 2012
Securities Financing Transaction, Fair Value
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Dec. 31, 2011
Securities Financing Transaction, Fair Value
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Dec. 31, 2012
Dividend Reinvestment Elections
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Dec. 31, 2011
Dividend Reinvestment Elections
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Dec. 31, 2012
Open Option Contracts
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Dec. 31, 2011
Open Option Contracts
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Dec. 31, 2012
Resale And Repurchase Agreements
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Dec. 31, 2011
Resale And Repurchase Agreements
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Dec. 31, 2012
Corporate Debt Securities And Commercial Paper
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Dec. 31, 2011
Corporate Debt Securities And Commercial Paper
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Dec. 31, 2011
Corporate Debt Securities And Commercial Paper FDIC Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program
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Dec. 31, 2012
Residential real estate mortgages
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Dec. 31, 2011
Residential real estate mortgages
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Dec. 31, 2012
Residential real estate mortgages
Minimum
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Dec. 31, 2012
Residential real estate mortgages
California State
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Dec. 31, 2011
Residential real estate mortgages
California State
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Dec. 31, 2012
Home equity lines of credit
California State
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Dec. 31, 2011
Home equity lines of credit
California State
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Dec. 31, 2012
US Government Corporations and Agencies Securities
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Dec. 31, 2011
US Government Corporations and Agencies Securities
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| Fair Value, Off-balance Sheet Risks, Disclosure Information [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fair value of securities loaned | $ 882,000,000 | $ 852,000,000 | $ 852,000,000 | $ 783,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Fair value of borrowed securities to fulfill short sales of its clients | 121,000,000 | 44,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fair value of Schwab's client securities that can be pledged | 17,100,000,000 | 14,700,000,000 | 1,900,000,000 | 1,300,000,000 | 19,700,000,000 | 18,300,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Fair value of Schwab's client securities pledged to fulfill the short sales | 1,200,000,000 | 1,200,000,000 | 109,000,000 | 101,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Investments in corporate debt securities and commercial paper | 8,000,000,000 | 5,600,000,000 | 867,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Residential real estate mortgage loans | 6,000,000,000 | 5,600,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Percent of residential real estate mortgage loans with interest only payment terms | 50.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Percent of interest-only residential real estate mortgage loans with interest rates not scheduled to reset for three or more years | 65.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Initial fixed interest rate period for the Company's adjustable rate mortgages | 3 years | 10 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Percentage of securities loaned secured by properties in California | 45.00% | 44.00% | 50.00% | 50.00% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest-only loans period | 3 years | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. Government and agency securities held as collateral for resale agreements | 19,700,000,000 | 18,300,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commitments to extend credit | 5,400,000,000 | 5,200,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commitments to purchase First Mortgage loans | $ 867,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||