| Document and Entity Information | Jul. 19, 2020 |
| Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Amendment Flag | true |
| Entity Central Index Key | 0001390777 |
| Document Type | 8-K/A |
| Document Period End Date | Jul. 19, 2020 |
| Entity Registrant Name | THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON CORPORATION |
| Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code | DE |
| Entity File Number | 001-35651 |
| Entity Tax Identification Number | 13-2614959 |
| Entity Address, Address Line One | 240 Greenwich Street |
| Entity Address, City or Town | New York |
| Entity Address, State or Province | NY |
| Entity Address, Postal Zip Code | 10286 |
| City Area Code | 212 |
| Local Phone Number | 495-1784 |
| Written Communications | false |
| Soliciting Material | false |
| Pre-commencement Tender Offer | false |
| Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer | false |
| Entity Emerging Growth Company | false |
| Amendment Description | As previously disclosed, on July 19, 2020 the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (the “Company”) appointed Emily Portney as Chief Financial Officer. This Current Report on Form 8-K/A amends the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 21, 2020 to disclose a new compensation arrangement approved by the Human Resources and Compensation Committee of the Board for Ms. Portney. Such compensation arrangement was not available at the time of the original filing. |
| Common Stock, $0.01 par value | |
| Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | Common Stock, $0.01 par value |
| Trading Symbol | BK |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| Depositary Shares, each representing 1/4,000th of a share of Series C Noncumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock | |
| Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | Depositary Shares, each representing 1/4,000th of a share of Series C Noncumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock |
| Trading Symbol | BK PrC |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| 6.244% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Normal Preferred Capital Securities of Mellon Capital IV | |
| Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | 6.244% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Normal Preferred Capital Securities of Mellon Capital IV |
| Trading Symbol | BK/P |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
