Name:	fhlbsf_LoansAndLeasesReceivableUnamortizedDiscounts
Namespace Prefix:	fhlbsf_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Reflects the cumulative amount of premiums over the face amount of loans that are being amortized into income as an adjustment of yield.

No definition available.

Name:	fhlbsf_LoansAndLeasesReceivableUnamortizedPremiums
Namespace Prefix:	fhlbsf_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount, after allowance for credit loss, of accrued interest on financing receivable.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479344/326-20-45-5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3A
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479319/326-20-50-3A

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

Amount excluding accrued interest, of allowance for credit loss on financing receivable. Excludes net investment in lease.

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

Amortized cost excluding accrued interest, after allowance for credit loss, of financing receivable. Excludes net investment in lease.

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

Amortized cost excluding accrued interest, before allowance for credit loss, of financing receivable. Excludes net investment in lease.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479344/326-20-45-1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3B
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479319/326-20-50-3B

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479319/326-20-50-5

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

Amortized cost excluding accrued interest, before allowance for credit loss, fee, and loan in process, of financing receivable. Excludes net investment in lease.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(7))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478546/942-210-S99-1

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableExcludingAccruedInterestBeforeAllowanceForCreditLossFeeAndLoanInProcess
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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_LoansAndLeasesReceivableDisclosureLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis=fhlbsf_LoansReceivableWithFixedRatesOfInterestMediumTermMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis=fhlbsf_LoansReceivableWithFixedRatesOfInterestLongTermMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis=us-gaap_ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: