Accrued Liabilities Accrued expenses and other liabilities Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Accumulated other comprehensive loss Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Additional Paid in Capital Additional paid-in capital Additional Paid-In Capital Adjustments, Noncash Items, to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Other Other Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition, Value Stock-based compensation expense Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Tax Effect from Share-based Compensation Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Amendment Flag Total assets Total assets Assets Securities available for sale Receivables from Brokerage Clients Cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year Increase (decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents Increase (decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and investments segregated and on deposit for regulatory purposes (including resale agreements of $8,346 in 2009 and $6,701 in 2008) Cash Paid During Period For [Abstract] Cash paid during the year for: Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Discontinued Operations Net cash provided by discontinued operations Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Discontinued Operations Net cash provided by discontinued operations Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Discontinued Operations Net cash provided by discontinued operations Commitments and Contingent Liabilities Dividends Declared Per Common Share Common Stock Common stock, par value Common stock, shares authorized Common stock, shares issued Common stock - 3 billion shares authorized; $.01 par value per share; 1,392,091,544 shares issued Communications Employee Incentive, Deferred Compensation, and Retirement Plans Total comprehensive income Total comprehensive income Comprehensive income: Comprehensive Income Note [Text Block] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss The Charles Schwab Corporation - Parent Company Only Financial Statements Effect of change in accounting for income taxes Effect of change in accounting for sabbatical leave Current Fiscal Year End Date Borrowings Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Text Block] Other Assets Provision for deferred income taxes Deposit Liabilities Disclosures [Text Block] Deposits from Banking Clients Deposits Deposits from banking clients Depreciation and amortization Depreciation and amortization expense Discontinued Operations Dividends declared on common stock Dividends declared on common stock Document Information [Text Block] Document Period End Date Document Type Due to and from Broker-Dealers and Clearing Organizations Disclosure Payables to Brokers, Dealers, and Clearing Organizations Earnings Per Share, Basic Net income Earnings Per Share - Basic Earnings Per Share, Diluted Net income Earnings Per Share - Diluted Earnings Per Share Entity Central Index Key Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Entity Current Reporting Status Entity [Domain] Entity Filer Category Entity Public Float Entity Registrant Name Entity [Text Block] Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Equity Component [Domain] Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Operating Activities Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities Asset management and administration fees Other securities owned - at fair value Goodwill Securities held to maturity (fair value - $6,880 in 2009 and $244 in 2008) Securities held to maturity, fair value Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent Income from continuing operations Income from continuing operations before taxes on income Income from continuing operations before taxes on income Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Basic Share Income from continuing operations Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Diluted Share Income from continuing operations Loss (income) from discontinued operations, net of tax (Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax Loss (income) from discontinued operations, net of tax Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Basic Share (Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Diluted Share (Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax Income Statement [Abstract] Taxes on Income Income taxes (2008 and 2007 amounts include discontinued operations) Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Taxes on income Increase (Decrease) in Accrued Liabilities Accrued expenses and other liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Brokerage Receivables Receivables from brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations The net change during the reporting period in the amount of cash subject to withdrawal restrictions, restricted deposits held as compensating balances, and cash and securities segregated in compliance with regulations (such as cash deposited in a special reserve account for the exclusive benefit of customers pursuant). Cash and investments segregated and on deposit for regulatory purposes Cash and investments segregated and on deposit for regulatory purposes Net change in deposits from banking clients Increase (Decrease) in Financial Instruments Used in Operating Activities Other securities owned Net change in: Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets Other assets Increase (Decrease) in Payables to Broker-Dealers Payables to brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations The net change during the reporting period in the amounts payable to customers at the balance sheet date. The term customers generally excludes other broker-dealers; persons who are principal officers, directors, and stockholders; and persons whose securities or funds are part of the regulatory net capital of the broker-dealer. Another broker-dealer's account can be classified as a customer if the account is carried as an omnibus account in compliance with certain regulations. The accounts of principal officers, directors and stockholders may be combined in the customer captions if they are not material and the combination is disclosed in the oath that is required to accompany the annual audited FOCUS Report. Increase (Decrease) in Payables to Customers Payables to brokerage clients The net change during the reporting period in receivables from brokerage clients. Brokerage client balances include margin loans to clients stated net of allowance for doubtful accounts. Increase (Decrease) in Receivables from brokerage clients Receivables from brokerage clients Interest Expense Interest expense Net interest revenue Net interest revenue Interest revenue Interest Securities Available for Sale and Securities Held to Maturity Compensation and benefits Legal Entity [Axis] Total liabilities Total liabilities Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Loans to banking clients - net Loans to Banking Clients and Related Allowance for Credit Losses Loans held for sale Long-term debt Advertising and market development Net cash provided by financing activities Net cash provided by financing activities Cash Flows from Financing Activities Net cash (used for) provided by investing activities Net cash (used for) provided by investing activities Cash Flows from Investing Activities Net cash provided by operating activities Net cash provided by operating activities Cash Flows from Operating Activities Net income Net Income Net other-than-temporary-impairments (credit related losses) recognized in earnings. Net impairment losses on securities Net impairment losses on securities Change in net unsettled security transactions. Securities purchased during the year but settled after year end Noncash Investing Activities [Abstract] Non-cash investing activity: Noncredit portion of other-than-temporary impairments recognized in other comprehensive income (a component of stockholders' equity) on the consolidated balance sheet. Noncredit portion of loss recognized in other comprehensive income Noncredit portion of loss recognized in other comprehensive income Total expenses excluding interest Total expenses excluding interest Expenses Excluding Interest Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract] Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract] Occupancy and equipment Introduction and Basis of Presentation Other assets Foreign currency translation adjustment Other comprehensive income, net of tax: Minimum pension liability adjustment Minimum pension liability adjustment Appreciation or loss in value (before reclassification adjustment) of the total of unsold securities during the period being reported on, net of tax. Reclassification adjustments include: (1) the unrealized holding gain or loss, net of tax, at the date of the transfer for a debt security from the held-to-maturity category transferred into the available-for-sale category. Also includes the unrealized gain or loss at the date of transfer for a debt security from the available-for-sale category transferred into the held-to-maturity category; (2) the unrealized gains or losses realized upon the sale of securities, after tax; and (3) the unrealized gains or losses realized upon the write-down of securities, after tax. Net unrealized gain on securities available for sale-OTTI securities Net unrealized gain on securities available for sale-OTTI securities Other Comprehensive Income, Net Unrealized Gains and Losses on Securities Not Other Than Temporarily Impaired, Net of Tax Net unrealized gain on securities available for sale-Non-OTTI securities Net unrealized gain on securities available for sale-Non-OTTI securities Net unrealized loss on cash flow hedging instruments Net unrealized gain (loss) on securities available for sale Other Expenses Other Other Income Other Total other-than-temporary-impairments on debt securities, which is based on current fair values, as well as the noncredit portion of that loss, which is the amount of impairment loss the Company does not expect to realize. Total other-than-temporary impairment losses Total other-than-temporary impairment losses Parent Company [Member] Payables to Brokerage Clients Disclosure [Text Block] Payables to Brokerage Clients Disclosure [Text Block] Payables to Brokerage Clients Payables to Broker-Dealers and Clearing Organizations Payables to brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations Payables to Customers Payables to brokerage clients Originations of loans held for sale Originations of loans held for sale Net increase in loans to banking clients Net increase in loans to banking clients Other investing activities Other investing activities Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock Purchase of treasury stock Dividends paid Dividends paid Purchases of securities available for sale Purchases of securities available for sale Cash payments for business combinations, net of cash acquired Cash payments for business combinations, net of cash acquired Purchases of securities held to maturity Purchases of securities held to maturity Purchase of equipment, office facilities, and property Purchase of equipment, office facilities, and property Preferred stock, par value Preferred stock, shares authorized Preferred stock, issued Preferred stock - 9,940,000 shares authorized; $.01 par value per share; none issued Proceeds from sale of U.S. Trust, net of transaction costs Issuance of long-term debt Principal payments on securities available for sale Principal payments on securities held to maturity Other financing activities Proceeds from sales of securities available for sale Proceeds from sales of loans held for sale Proceeds from stock options exercised and other Professional services Equipment, Office Facilities, and Property Equipment, office facilities, and property - net Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) Includes margin loans to clients stated net of allowance for doubtful accounts. Receivables from brokerage clients - net Receivables from brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations Regulatory Requirements Repayment of long-term debt Repayment of long-term debt Restricted shares withheld for tax. Restricted shares withheld for tax Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Retained earnings Retained Earnings Total net revenues Total net revenues Net Revenues Financial Instruments Subject to Off-Balance Sheet Risk, Credit Risk, or Market Risk Other Securities Owned Subsequent Event Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Cash and investments segregated and on deposit for regulatory purposes, resale agreements Segment Information Share-based Compensation Stock-based compensation expense Shares, Issued Ending Balance (in shares) Beginning Balance (in shares) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Statement, Equity Components [Axis] Statement [Line Items] Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract] Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Statement [Table] Total stockholders' equity Ending Balance Beginning Balance Total stockholders' equity Stockholders' equity: Employee stock purchase plan purchases Stock Option Exercises And Other Stock option exercises and other Stock option exercises and other Supplemental Cash Flow Information Trading revenue Trading Symbol Treasury Stock, at cost Treasury stock, shares