v3.26.1
Business segment data - Additional tabular disclosures (Detail) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2026
Mar. 31, 2025
Dec. 31, 2025
Dec. 31, 2024
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Interest expense $ 1,301 $ 1,257    
Income tax expense (benefit) 2,140 476    
Depreciation and amortization 3,510 3,265    
Goodwill [1] 83,180   $ 83,074 $ 83,880
Assets 1,252,271   1,222,176  
Business Segments [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Interest expense 1,402 1,309    
Income tax expense (benefit) 2,187 1,939    
Capital expenditures 4,986 4,281    
Depreciation and amortization 3,365 3,112    
Goodwill 83,180   83,074  
Identifiable assets 1,010,552   977,411  
Business Segments [Member] | Insurance Group [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Income tax expense (benefit) 1,172 1,054    
Capital expenditures 25 24    
Depreciation and amortization 101 107    
Goodwill 16,557   16,557  
Identifiable assets 587,951   571,145  
Business Segments [Member] | BNSF [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Interest expense 277 272    
Income tax expense (benefit) 443 389    
Capital expenditures 744 652    
Depreciation and amortization 690 671    
Goodwill 15,351   15,351  
Identifiable assets 82,747   82,532  
Business Segments [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy ("BHE") [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Interest expense 700 646    
Income tax expense (benefit) (430) (422)    
Capital expenditures 2,418 2,128    
Depreciation and amortization 1,089 1,019    
Goodwill 11,656   11,778  
Identifiable assets 139,581   136,515  
Business Segments [Member] | Manufacturing Businesses [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Interest expense 344 285    
Income tax expense (benefit) 716 611    
Capital expenditures 904 707    
Depreciation and amortization 746 610    
Goodwill 27,154   26,928  
Identifiable assets 133,396   122,132  
Business Segments [Member] | Service and Retailing [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Interest expense 26 27    
Income tax expense (benefit) 261 225    
Capital expenditures 583 544    
Depreciation and amortization 408 399    
Goodwill 5,684   5,682  
Identifiable assets 40,022   39,124  
Business Segments [Member] | McLane [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Interest expense 8 7    
Income tax expense (benefit) 34 45    
Capital expenditures 50 22    
Depreciation and amortization 50 49    
Goodwill 232   232  
Identifiable assets 7,288   7,135  
Business Segments [Member] | Pilot [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Interest expense 47 72    
Income tax expense (benefit) (9) 37    
Capital expenditures 262 204    
Depreciation and amortization 281 257    
Goodwill 6,546   6,546  
Identifiable assets 19,567   18,828  
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Investment gains (losses), tax (346) (1,390)    
Equity method earnings 21 11    
Goodwill 83,180   83,074  
Corporate, Eliminations and Other [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Interest expense (101) (52)    
Income tax expense (benefit) 278 (84)    
Depreciation and amortization 145 $ 153    
Identifiable assets $ 158,539   $ 161,691  
[1] Net of accumulated goodwill impairments of $13.0 billion as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025 and $11.5 billion as of December 31, 2024.