v2.4.1.9
Schedule for Principal Reasons for Difference in Effective and Statutory Tax Rates (Detail)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Line Items]      
Statutory federal income tax rate 35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate 35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate 35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
State and local income tax rate, net of federal tax benefits 2.70%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes 2.10%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes (1.90%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes
Affordable housing credit (1.00%)vz_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAffordableHousingCredit (0.60%)vz_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAffordableHousingCredit (1.90%)vz_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAffordableHousingCredit
Employee benefits including ESOP dividend (0.70%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDeductionsEmployeeStockOwnershipPlanDividends (0.40%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDeductionsEmployeeStockOwnershipPlanDividends (1.10%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDeductionsEmployeeStockOwnershipPlanDividends
Noncontrolling interests (5.00%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationMinorityInterestIncomeExpense (14.30%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationMinorityInterestIncomeExpense (33.70%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationMinorityInterestIncomeExpense
Other, net (3.40%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments (2.20%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments (3.10%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments
Effective income tax rate 21.70%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations 19.60%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations (6.70%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations
Vodafone Omnitel N.V.      
Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Line Items]      
Disposition of Omnitel Interest (5.90%)vz_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationIncrementalIncomeFromDispositionOfInterest
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= vz_VodafoneOmnitelMember