v2.4.1.9
Benefit or Income Cost Related to Pension and Postretirement Health Care and Life Insurance Plans (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Pension      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Service cost $ 327us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanServiceCost
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
$ 395us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanServiceCost
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
$ 358us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanServiceCost
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Amortization of prior service cost (credit) (8)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAmortizationOfPriorServiceCostCredit
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
6us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAmortizationOfPriorServiceCostCredit
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
(1)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAmortizationOfPriorServiceCostCredit
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Expected return on plan assets (1,181)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedReturnOnPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
(1,245)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedReturnOnPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
(1,795)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedReturnOnPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Interest cost 1,035us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanInterestCost
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
1,002us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanInterestCost
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
1,449us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanInterestCost
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Remeasurement (gain) loss, net 2,380vz_RemeasurementGainLoss
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
(2,470)vz_RemeasurementGainLoss
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
5,542vz_RemeasurementGainLoss
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Net periodic benefit (income) cost 2,553vz_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCostExcludingSettlementsAndCurtailments
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
(2,312)vz_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCostExcludingSettlementsAndCurtailments
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
5,553vz_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCostExcludingSettlementsAndCurtailments
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Curtailment and termination benefits 11us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanCurtailments
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
4us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanCurtailments
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Total 2,564us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCost
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
(2,308)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCost
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
5,553us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCost
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Health Care And Life      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Service cost 258us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanServiceCost
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= vz_HealthCareAndLifeMember
318us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanServiceCost
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= vz_HealthCareAndLifeMember
359us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanServiceCost
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= vz_HealthCareAndLifeMember
Amortization of prior service cost (credit) (253)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAmortizationOfPriorServiceCostCredit
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= vz_HealthCareAndLifeMember
(247)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAmortizationOfPriorServiceCostCredit
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= vz_HealthCareAndLifeMember
(89)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAmortizationOfPriorServiceCostCredit
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= vz_HealthCareAndLifeMember
Expected return on plan assets (161)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedReturnOnPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= vz_HealthCareAndLifeMember
(143)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedReturnOnPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= vz_HealthCareAndLifeMember
(171)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedReturnOnPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= vz_HealthCareAndLifeMember
Interest cost 1,107us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanInterestCost
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= vz_HealthCareAndLifeMember
1,095us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanInterestCost
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= vz_HealthCareAndLifeMember
1,284us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanInterestCost
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= vz_HealthCareAndLifeMember
Remeasurement (gain) loss, net 4,615vz_RemeasurementGainLoss
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= vz_HealthCareAndLifeMember
(3,989)vz_RemeasurementGainLoss
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= vz_HealthCareAndLifeMember
1,262vz_RemeasurementGainLoss
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= vz_HealthCareAndLifeMember
Net periodic benefit (income) cost 5,566vz_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCostExcludingSettlementsAndCurtailments
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= vz_HealthCareAndLifeMember
(2,966)vz_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCostExcludingSettlementsAndCurtailments
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= vz_HealthCareAndLifeMember
2,645vz_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCostExcludingSettlementsAndCurtailments
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= vz_HealthCareAndLifeMember
Total $ 5,566us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCost
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= vz_HealthCareAndLifeMember
$ (2,966)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCost
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= vz_HealthCareAndLifeMember
$ 2,645us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCost
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= vz_HealthCareAndLifeMember