| Cover | Aug. 01, 2019 | |
| Entity Information [Line Items] | ||
| Document Type | 8-K | |
| Document Period End Date | Aug. 1, 2019 | |
| Entity Registrant Name | BB&T Corporation | |
| Entity Address, Address Line One | 200 West Second Street | |
| Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code | NC | |
| Entity File Number | 1-10853 | |
| City Area Code | 336 | |
| Local Phone Number | 733-2000 | |
| Entity Tax Identification Number | 56-0939887 | |
| Entity Address, City or Town | Winston-Salem, | |
| Entity Address, State or Province | NC | |
| Entity Address, Postal Zip Code | 27101 | |
| Written Communications | false | |
| Pre-commencement Tender Offer | false | |
| Soliciting Material | false | |
| Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer | false | |
| Entity Central Index Key | 0000092230 | |
| Amendment Flag | false | |
| Entity Emerging Growth Company | false | |
| Common Stock [Member] | ||
| Entity Information [Line Items] | ||
| Trading Symbol | BBT | |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | Common Stock, $5 par value | |
| Series D Preferred Stock [Member] | ||
| Entity Information [Line Items] | ||
| Trading Symbol | BBT PrD | |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | Depositary Shares of Series D Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock (1) | [1] |
| Series E Preferred Stock [Member] | ||
| Entity Information [Line Items] | ||
| Trading Symbol | BBT PrE | |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | Depositary Shares of Series E Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock (1) | [1] |
| Series F Preferred Stock [Member] | ||
| Entity Information [Line Items] | ||
| Trading Symbol | BBT PrF | |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | Depositary Shares of Series F Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock (1) | [1] |
| Series G Preferred Stock [Member] | ||
| Entity Information [Line Items] | ||
| Trading Symbol | BBT PrG | |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | Depositary Shares of Series G Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock (1) | [1] |
| Series H Preferred Stock [Member] | ||
| Entity Information [Line Items] | ||
| Trading Symbol | BBT PrH | |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | Depositary Shares of Series H Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock (1) | [1] |
| [1] | (1) Each depositary share represents a 1/1,000th interest in a share of the respective series of preferred stock | |
