v2.4.1.9
Composition of Other Intangible Assets Net (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Gross Amount 17,482us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross $ 16,100us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
Accumulated Amortization (11,754)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization (10,300)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
Net Amount 5,728us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet 5,800us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
Customer Lists    
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Gross Amount 3,618us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerListsMember
3,639us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerListsMember
Accumulated Amortization (2,924)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerListsMember
(2,660)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerListsMember
Net Amount 694us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerListsMember
979us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerListsMember
Customer Lists | Minimum    
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Useful life for finite-lived intangible assets, years 5 years  
Customer Lists | Maximum    
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Useful life for finite-lived intangible assets, years 13 years  
Non-Network Internal-Use Software    
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Gross Amount 13,194us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= vz_NonNetworkInternalUseSoftwareMember
11,770us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= vz_NonNetworkInternalUseSoftwareMember
Accumulated Amortization (8,462)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= vz_NonNetworkInternalUseSoftwareMember
(7,317)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= vz_NonNetworkInternalUseSoftwareMember
Net Amount 4,732us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= vz_NonNetworkInternalUseSoftwareMember
4,453us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= vz_NonNetworkInternalUseSoftwareMember
Non-Network Internal-Use Software | Minimum    
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Useful life for finite-lived intangible assets, years 3 years  
Non-Network Internal-Use Software | Maximum    
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Useful life for finite-lived intangible assets, years 7 years  
Other Intangible Assets    
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Gross Amount 670us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember
691us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember
Accumulated Amortization (368)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember
(323)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember
Net Amount 302us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember
$ 368us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember
Other Intangible Assets | Minimum    
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Useful life for finite-lived intangible assets, years 2 years  
Other Intangible Assets | Maximum    
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Useful life for finite-lived intangible assets, years 25 years