1.0.0.3falseConsolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $)In Millionsfalse1$falsefalseSharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170false2$falsefalseSharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170false3$falsefalseSharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217053us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxAbstractus-gaaptruenadurationstringNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruefalsefalsefalse1falsefalse00falsefalse2falsefalse00falsefalse3falsefalse00falsefalseNo definition available.false64us-gaap_NetIncomeLossus-gaaptruecreditdurationmonetaryNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1truetrue80550000008055falsefalse2truetrue49940000004994falsefalse3truetrue1321300000013213falsefalseNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.false74us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParentAbstractus-gaaptruenadurationstringNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruefalsefalsefalse1falsefalse00falsefalse2falsefalse00falsefalse3falsefalse00falsefalseNo definition available.false85us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeAvailableforsaleSecuritiesAdjustmentBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParentus-gaaptruecreditdurationmonetaryNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsetrue1760700000017607falsefalse2falsetrue-23342000000-23342falsefalse3falsetrue25230000002523falsefalseNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.false95us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeAvailableforsaleSecuritiesTaxPortionAttributableToParentus-gaaptruedebitdurationmonetaryNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsetrue-6263000000-6263falsefalse2falsetrue82570000008257falsefalse3falsetrue-872000000-872falsefalseNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.false105brka_ReclassificationOfInvestmentAppreciationInNetEarningsBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParentbrkafalsenadurationmonetaryReclassification adjustment from Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) to net earnings, which are attributable to the parent...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsetrue27680000002768falsefalse2falsetrue895000000895falsefalse3falsetrue-5494000000-5494falsefalseReclassification adjustment from Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) to net earnings, which are attributable to the parent entity. Includes reclassification due to write-downs, sales and other.No authoritative reference available.false115brka_ReclassificationOfInvestmentAppreciationInNetEarningsTaxPortionAttributableToParentbrkafalsenadurationmonetaryTax effect of the reclassification adjustment from Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) to net earnings, which are attributable...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsetrue-969000000-969falsefalse2falsetrue-313000000-313falsefalse3falsetrue19230000001923falsefalseTax effect of the reclassification adjustment from Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) to net earnings, which are attributable to the parent entity.No authoritative reference available.false125brka_OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParentAndOtherbrkafalsecreditdurationmonetaryPre-tax adjustment that results from the process of translating subsidiary financial statements and foreign equity...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsetrue851000000851falsefalse2falsetrue-2140000000-2140falsefalse3falsetrue456000000456falsefalsePre-tax adjustment that results from the process of translating subsidiary financial statements and foreign equity investments into functional currency of the reporting entity, net of reclassification of realized foreign currency translation gains (losses), which is attributable to the parent entity. Includes gain (loss) on foreign currency forward exchange contracts. Includes foreign currency transactions designated as hedges of net investment in a foreign entity and intercompany foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term nature, when the entities to the transaction are consolidated, combined, or accounted for by the equity method in the reporting enterprise's financial statements. Includes the gain or loss on a derivative instrument or nonderivative financial instrument that may give rise to a foreign currency transaction gain or loss under FAS 52 and that have been designated and have qualified as hedging instruments for hedges of the foreign currency exposure of a net investment in a foreign operation. Additionally, this element represents foreign currency items which are not separately disclosed or provided for elsewhere in the taxonomy.No authoritative reference available.false135us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentTaxPortionAttributableToParentus-gaaptruedebitdurationmonetaryNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsetrue-17000000-17falsefalse2falsetrue118000000118falsefalse3falsetrue-26000000-26falsefalseNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.false145us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParentus-gaaptruedebitdurationmonetaryNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsetrue-41000000-41falsefalse2falsetrue-1071000000-1071falsefalse3falsetrue257000000257falsefalseNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.false155us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansTaxPortionAttributableToParentus-gaaptruecreditdurationmonetaryNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsetrue-1000000-1falsefalse2falsetrue389000000389falsefalse3falsetrue-102000000-102falsefalseNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.false165brka_OtherOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParentbrkafalsecreditdurationmonetaryThis element represents Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, for the period, which are not separately disclosed or...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsetrue-206000000-206falsefalse2falsetrue-60000000-60falsefalse3falsetrue-22000000-22falsefalseThis element represents Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, for the period, which are not separately disclosed or provided for elsewhere in the taxonomy.No authoritative reference available.false175us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParentus-gaaptruecreditdurationmonetaryNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsetrue1372900000013729falsefalse2falsetrue-17267000000-17267falsefalse3falsetrue-1357000000-1357falsefalseNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.true185us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxus-gaaptruecreditdurationmonetaryNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsetrue2178400000021784falsefalse2falsetrue-12273000000-12273falsefalse3falsetrue1185600000011856falsefalseNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.true195us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestus-gaaptruedebitdurationmonetaryNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1truetrue585000000585falsefalse2truetrue347000000347falsefalse3truetrue389000000389falsefalseNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse315falseMillionsUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue