Changes in Balances of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income by Component (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Equity And Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Balance at January 1, 2015	$ 1,111
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(197)
Amounts reclassified to net income	2
Net other comprehensive income (loss)attributable to Verizon	(195)	(1,068)
Balance at March 31, 2015	916
Foreign currency translation adjustments
Equity And Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Balance at January 1, 2015	(346)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(141)
Net other comprehensive income (loss)attributable to Verizon	(141)
Balance at March 31, 2015	(487)
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedges
Equity And Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Balance at January 1, 2015	(84)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(59)
Amounts reclassified to net income	46
Net other comprehensive income (loss)attributable to Verizon	(13)
Balance at March 31, 2015	(97)
Unrealized gain on marketable securities
Equity And Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Balance at January 1, 2015	112
Other comprehensive income (loss)	3
Net other comprehensive income (loss)attributable to Verizon	3
Balance at March 31, 2015	115
Defined benefit pension and postretirement plans
Equity And Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Balance at January 1, 2015	1,429
Amounts reclassified to net income	(44)
Net other comprehensive income (loss)attributable to Verizon	(44)
Balance at March 31, 2015	$ 1,385

- Definition

Accumulated change in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources, net of tax effect, at period end. Excludes Net Income (Loss), and accumulated changes in equity from transactions resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. Includes foreign currency translation items, certain pension adjustments, unrealized gains and losses on certain investments in debt and equity securities, other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses related to factors other than credit losses on available-for-sale and held-to-maturity debt securities that an entity does not intend to sell and it is not more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell before recovery of the amortized cost basis, as well as changes in the fair value of derivatives related to the effective portion of a designated cash flow hedge.

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