v2.4.1.9
Employee Benefits - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
In Billions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]  
Amount paid in severance benefits over the period $ 0.3us-gaap_PaymentsForPostemploymentBenefits
Post employment benefits liability 0.6us-gaap_SupplementalUnemploymentBenefitsSeveranceBenefits
Other Postretirement Benefit Plan  
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]  
Defined benefit plan contributions by employer 0.3us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByEmployer
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Qualified pension plans  
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]  
Defined benefit plan contributions by employer $ 0.2us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByEmployer
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= vz_QualifiedPensionPlansMember