v2.4.1.9
Reconciliation of Total Reportable Segments Operating Income to Consolidated Income before Provision for Income Taxes (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Operating income $ 7,960us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss $ 7,160us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated businesses (34)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments 1,902us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
Other income and (expense), net 75us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense (894)us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense
Interest expense (1,332)us-gaap_InterestExpense (1,214)us-gaap_InterestExpense
Income Before Provision For Income Taxes 6,669us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest 6,954us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
Operating Segments    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Operating income 8,215us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
7,459us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
Operating Income Generated By Assets Sold    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Operating income   6us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= vz_OperatingIncomeGeneratedByAssetsSoldMember
Corporate, Eliminations and Other    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Operating income $ (255)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= vz_CorporateEliminationsAndOtherMember
$ (305)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= vz_CorporateEliminationsAndOtherMember