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
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Pension    
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]    
Service cost $ 94us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanServiceCost
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
$ 81us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanServiceCost
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Amortization of prior service credit 1us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAmortizationOfPriorServiceCostCredit
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
(2)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAmortizationOfPriorServiceCostCredit
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Expected return on plan assets (317)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedReturnOnPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
(295)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedReturnOnPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Interest cost 243us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanInterestCost
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
259us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanInterestCost
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Total 21us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCost
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
43us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCost
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Health Care And Life    
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]    
Service cost 81us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanServiceCost
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= vz_HealthCareAndLifeMember
65us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanServiceCost
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= vz_HealthCareAndLifeMember
Amortization of prior service credit (72)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAmortizationOfPriorServiceCostCredit
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= vz_HealthCareAndLifeMember
(63)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAmortizationOfPriorServiceCostCredit
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= vz_HealthCareAndLifeMember
Expected return on plan assets (25)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedReturnOnPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= vz_HealthCareAndLifeMember
(41)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedReturnOnPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= vz_HealthCareAndLifeMember
Interest cost 279us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanInterestCost
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= vz_HealthCareAndLifeMember
277us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanInterestCost
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= vz_HealthCareAndLifeMember
Total $ 263us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCost
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= vz_HealthCareAndLifeMember
$ 238us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCost
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= vz_HealthCareAndLifeMember