v3.26.1
Revenue from contracts with customers disaggregated by reportable segment and source of revenue (Detail) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2026
Mar. 31, 2025
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]    
Revenue from contracts with customers $ 63,137 $ 59,357
Other revenues 30,538 30,368
Total revenues 93,675 89,725
Industrial and Commercial [Member]    
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]    
Revenue from contracts with customers 9,223 7,426
Building [Member]    
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]    
Revenue from contracts with customers 4,668 4,588
Consumer [Member]    
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]    
Revenue from contracts with customers 4,051 4,260
Grocery and Convenience Store Distribution [Member]    
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]    
Revenue from contracts with customers 6,790 7,442
Food and Beverage Distribution [Member]    
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]    
Revenue from contracts with customers 4,698 4,373
Auto Sales [Member]    
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]    
Revenue from contracts with customers 2,591 2,701
Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]    
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]    
Revenue from contracts with customers 16,262 14,599
Service [Member]    
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]    
Revenue from contracts with customers 9,182 8,622
Electricity and Natural Gas [Member]    
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]    
Revenue from contracts with customers 5,672 5,346
Manufacturing Businesses [Member]    
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]    
Revenue from contracts with customers 19,211 17,361
Other revenues 1,431 1,391
Total revenues 20,642 18,752
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Industrial and Commercial [Member]    
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]    
Revenue from contracts with customers 9,172 7,353
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Building [Member]    
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]    
Revenue from contracts with customers 4,668 4,588
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Consumer [Member]    
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]    
Revenue from contracts with customers 4,051 4,260
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]    
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]    
Revenue from contracts with customers 978 877
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Service [Member]    
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]    
Revenue from contracts with customers 342 283
McLane [Member]    
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]    
Revenue from contracts with customers 11,728 12,008
Other revenues 31 8
Total revenues 11,759 12,016
McLane [Member] | Grocery and Convenience Store Distribution [Member]    
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]    
Revenue from contracts with customers 6,790 7,442
McLane [Member] | Food and Beverage Distribution [Member]    
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]    
Revenue from contracts with customers 4,698 4,373
McLane [Member] | Service [Member]    
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]    
Revenue from contracts with customers 240 193
Service and Retailing [Member]    
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]    
Revenue from contracts with customers 8,605 7,982
Other revenues 2,356 2,130
Total revenues 10,961 10,112
Service and Retailing [Member] | Industrial and Commercial [Member]    
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]    
Revenue from contracts with customers 51 73
Service and Retailing [Member] | Auto Sales [Member]    
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]    
Revenue from contracts with customers 2,591 2,701
Service and Retailing [Member] | Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]    
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]    
Revenue from contracts with customers 4,140 3,569
Service and Retailing [Member] | Service [Member]    
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]    
Revenue from contracts with customers 1,823 1,639
BNSF [Member]    
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]    
Revenue from contracts with customers 5,921 5,653
Other revenues 44 46
Total revenues 5,965 5,699
BNSF [Member] | Service [Member]    
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]    
Revenue from contracts with customers 5,921 5,653
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member]    
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]    
Revenue from contracts with customers 6,463 6,137
Other revenues 195 207
Total revenues 6,658 6,344
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] | Service [Member]    
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]    
Revenue from contracts with customers 791 791
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] | Electricity and Natural Gas [Member]    
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]    
Revenue from contracts with customers 5,672 5,346
Pilot [Member]    
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]    
Revenue from contracts with customers 11,209 10,216
Other revenues 20 206
Total revenues 11,229 10,422
Pilot [Member] | Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]    
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]    
Revenue from contracts with customers 11,144 10,153
Pilot [Member] | Service [Member]    
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]    
Revenue from contracts with customers 65 63
Insurance, Corporate and Other [Member]    
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]    
Other revenues 26,461 26,380
Total revenues $ 26,461 $ 26,380