Name:	dfs_DerivativeCollateralRighttoReclaimCashandSecurities
Namespace Prefix:	dfs_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of obligation to return cash collateral under master netting arrangements that have not been offset against derivative assets.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 13
-SubTopic 20
-Topic 210
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147483444/210-20-55-13

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 20
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147483444/210-20-55-20

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (d)(2)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147483466/210-20-50-3

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480434/815-10-50-8

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralObligationToReturnCash
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Fair value, before effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial asset or other contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset. Includes assets elected not to be offset. Excludes assets not subject to a master netting arrangement.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 22
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147483444/210-20-55-22

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147483466/210-20-50-3

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 7
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147483444/210-20-55-7

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4B
-Subparagraph (a),(c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480434/815-10-50-4B

Reference 5: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4D
-Subparagraph (c)(2)
-SubTopic 20
-Topic 860
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481326/860-20-50-4D

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Fair value, after effect of master netting arrangement and deduction of obligation to return financial collateral not offset and financial instrument subject to master netting arrangement not offset, of financial asset or other contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and contract can be net settled by means outside contract or delivery of asset. Includes derivative not subject to master netting arrangement or similar agreement.

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAssetAmountOffsetAgainstCollateral
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Fair value, before effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial liability or contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset. Includes liabilities elected not to be offset. Excludes liabilities not subject to a master netting arrangement.

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Fair value, after effect of master netting arrangement and deduction of obligation to return financial collateral not offset and financial instrument subject to master netting arrangement not offset, of financial liability or contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and contract can be net settled by means outside contract or delivery of asset. Includes derivative not subject to master netting arrangement or similar agreement.

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiabilityAmountOffsetAgainstCollateral
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Nominal or face amount used to calculate payment on derivative.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1B
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480434/815-10-50-1B

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (d)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480434/815-10-50-1A

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeNotionalAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The number of derivative instruments of a particular group held by the entity.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (e)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480524/946-210-50-6

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480493/946-210-55-1

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 320
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-13(Column A)(Footnote 3))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480032/946-320-S99-5

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 320
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-13(Column C))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480032/946-320-S99-5

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 320
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 5A
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-13A(Column B))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480032/946-320-S99-5A

Reference 6: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1B
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480434/815-10-50-1B

Reference 7: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (d)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480434/815-10-50-1A

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeNumberOfInstrumentsHeld
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

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

Name:	us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis=us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis=us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis=us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis=us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	srt_CurrencyAxis=currency_EUR
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	srt_CurrencyAxis=currency_GBP
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	srt_CurrencyAxis=currency_SGD
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	srt_CurrencyAxis=currency_INR
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	srt_CurrencyAxis=currency_AUD
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: