1.0.0.3trueConsolidated Statements of Earnings Parentheticalfalse4$truefalsefalsefalseClass Bus-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_CommonClassBMemberus-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxisexplicitMemberRatiosStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDperShareDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0false5$truefalsefalsefalseClass Bus-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_CommonClassBMemberus-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxisexplicitMemberRatiosStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDperShareDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0false6$truefalsefalsefalseClass Bus-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_CommonClassBMemberus-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxisexplicitMemberRatiosStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDperShareDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0false7$truefalsefalsefalseClass Bus-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_CommonClassBMemberus-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxisexplicitMemberRatiosStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli010natruenananaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalse00falsefalse2falsefalse00falsefalse3falsefalse00falsefalse4falsefalse00falsefalseNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.false32us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasicus-gaaptruenadurationdecimalNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetrue1truetrue51935193falsefalse2truetrue32243224falsefalse3truetrue85488548falsefalse4falsefalse00falsefalseNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.false50natruenananaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalse00falsefalse2falsefalse00falsefalse3falsefalse00falsefalse4falsefalse00falsefalseNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.false62brka_NetEarningsPerShareRatiobrkafalsenadurationdecimalRatio representing the net earnings per equivalent Class A common share.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsetrue0.0006670.000667falsefalse2falsetrue0.0006670.000667falsefalse3falsetrue0.0006670.000667falsefalse4falsefalse00falsefalseRatio representing the net earnings per equivalent Class A common share.No authoritative reference available.false72us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasicus-gaaptruenadurationdecimalNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetrue1truetrue3.463.46falsefalse2truetrue2.152.15falsefalse3truetrue5.705.70falsefalse4falsefalse00falsefalseNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.false82brka_StockSplitConversionRatebrkafalsenainstantpureElement represents the conversion rate to reflect a stock split.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalse00falsefalse2falsefalse00falsefalse3falsefalse00falsefalse4falsetrue5050falsefalseElement represents the conversion rate to reflect a stock split.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse46falseUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruetrue