1.0.0.3 false Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $) In Millions false 1 $ false false Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 false 2 $ false false Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 false 3 $ false false Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 5 3 us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 6 4 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 true true 8055000000 8055 false false 2 true true 4994000000 4994 false false 3 true true 13213000000 13213 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 7 4 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParentAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 8 5 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeAvailableforsaleSecuritiesAdjustmentBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParent us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 17607000000 17607 false false 2 false true -23342000000 -23342 false false 3 false true 2523000000 2523 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 9 5 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeAvailableforsaleSecuritiesTaxPortionAttributableToParent us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -6263000000 -6263 false false 2 false true 8257000000 8257 false false 3 false true -872000000 -872 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 10 5 brka_ReclassificationOfInvestmentAppreciationInNetEarningsBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParent brka false na duration monetary Reclassification adjustment from Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) to net earnings, which are attributable to the parent... false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 2768000000 2768 false false 2 false true 895000000 895 false false 3 false true -5494000000 -5494 false false Reclassification 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. false 11 5 brka_ReclassificationOfInvestmentAppreciationInNetEarningsTaxPortionAttributableToParent brka false na duration monetary Tax effect of the reclassification adjustment from Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) to net earnings, which are attributable... false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -969000000 -969 false false 2 false true -313000000 -313 false false 3 false true 1923000000 1923 false false Tax effect of the reclassification adjustment from Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) to net earnings, which are attributable to the parent entity. No authoritative reference available. false 12 5 brka_OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParentAndOther brka false credit duration monetary Pre-tax adjustment that results from the process of translating subsidiary financial statements and foreign equity... false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 851000000 851 false false 2 false true -2140000000 -2140 false false 3 false true 456000000 456 false false Pre-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. false 13 5 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentTaxPortionAttributableToParent us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -17000000 -17 false false 2 false true 118000000 118 false false 3 false true -26000000 -26 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 14 5 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParent us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -41000000 -41 false false 2 false true -1071000000 -1071 false false 3 false true 257000000 257 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 15 5 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansTaxPortionAttributableToParent us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -1000000 -1 false false 2 false true 389000000 389 false false 3 false true -102000000 -102 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 16 5 brka_OtherOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent brka false credit duration monetary This element represents Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, for the period, which are not separately disclosed or... false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -206000000 -206 false false 2 false true -60000000 -60 false false 3 false true -22000000 -22 false false This 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. false 17 5 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 13729000000 13729 false false 2 false true -17267000000 -17267 false false 3 false true -1357000000 -1357 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 18 5 us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 21784000000 21784 false false 2 false true -12273000000 -12273 false false 3 false true 11856000000 11856 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 19 5 us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 true true 585000000 585 false false 2 true true 347000000 347 false false 3 true true 389000000 389 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false false 3 15 false Millions UnKnown UnKnown false true