2.2.0.25truefalse40301 - Disclosure - Wireless Licenses, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Narrative) (Details)truefalseIn Billionsfalse1falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis} : Wireless Licenses [Member]
3/31/2011
USD ($)
$As_Of_3_31_2011_us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis_vz_WirelessLicensesMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000732712instant2011-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseWireless Licenses [Member]us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldivz_WirelessLicensesMemberus-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis} : Wireless Licenses [Member]
12/31/2010
USD ($)
$As_Of_12_31_2010_us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis_vz_WirelessLicensesMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000732712instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseWireless Licenses [Member]us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldivz_WirelessLicensesMemberus-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2false0us-gaap_ConstructionInProgressGrossus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse33000000003.3falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse1220000000012.2falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryGross amount, at the balance sheet date, of long-lived assets under construction that include construction costs to date on capital projects that have not been completed and assets being constructed that are not ready to be placed into service.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
-Number 12
-Paragraph 5
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229
falsefalse21Wireless Licenses, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Narrative) (Details) (Wireless Licenses [Member], USD $)HundredMillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue