Stock Based Compensation - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Billions, except Share data in Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013 Y	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Maximum number of shares available for awards under the Long-Term Incentive Plan	119.6
Period of stock option life following date of grant, in years	10
Share-based compensation	$ 0.4	$ 0.7	$ 0.5
Percentage of fair market value of Verizon common stock on the grant date	100.00%
Vesting period of stock options, in years	3 years
Cash received from the exercise of stock options	0.1	0.3	0.2
Stock option expense	0	0	0
Value Appreciation Rights
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Payments made to settle compensation classified as liability awards	0.1	0.1	0.1
Period of stock option life following date of grant, in years	10
Restricted Stock Units and Performance Stock Units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation expense related to the unvested portion of Verizon's RSUs and PSUs	0.4
Weighted-average period of unrecognized compensation expense related to the unvested portion of Verizon's RSUs and PSUs (in years)	2 years
Payments made to settle compensation classified as liability awards	$ 1.1	$ 0.6	$ 0.7
Restricted Stock Units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted average grant date fair value per unit	$ 47.96	$ 38.67

Aggregate proceeds received by the entity during the annual period from exercises of stock or unit options and conversion of similar instruments granted under equity-based payment arrangements.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (j)

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Weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation is expected to be recognized for equity-based compensation plans, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

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Unrecognized cost of unvested share-based awards, other than options, awarded to employees as compensation.

+ References

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The aggregate amount of noncash, equity-based employee remuneration. This may include the value of stock or unit options, amortization of restricted stock or units, and adjustment for officers' compensation. As noncash, this element is an add back when calculating net cash generated by operating activities using the indirect method.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

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Period which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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The weighted average fair value of nonvested awards on equity-based plans excluding option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, revenue or profit achievement stock award plan) for which the employer is contingently obligated to issue equity instruments or transfer assets to an employee who has not yet satisfied service or performance criteria necessary to gain title to proceeds from the sale of the award or underlying shares or units.

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Amount of liabilities paid for share-based compensation.

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The maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) originally approved (usually by shareholders and board of directors), net of any subsequent amendments and adjustments, for awards under the equity-based compensation plan. As stock or unit options and equity instruments other than options are awarded to participants, the shares or units remain authorized and become reserved for issuance under outstanding awards (not necessarily vested).

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- Definition

The noncash expense that accounts for the value of stock or unit options distributed to employees as compensation.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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Percentage of fair market value of common stock on the grant date

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Life in years of each grant of stock options.

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