Long-Term Debt, Financing and Capital Lease Obligations (Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Premium (Discount), Net	$ 43	$ 52
Current and Long-term Debt, Financing and Capital Lease Obligations	18,529	20,191
Long Term Debt Financing And Capital Lease Obligations, Current portion	(2,257)	(1,656)
Long-term debt, financing and capital lease obligations	16,272	18,535
Senior Notes [Member] \| Sprint Nextel Corporation Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Minimum	6.00%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Maximum	9.25%
Maturity Date Range, Start	2016
Maturity Date Range, End	2022
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	3,500	3,500
Senior Notes [Member] \| Sprint Capital Corporation Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Minimum	6.88%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Maximum	8.75%
Maturity Date Range, Start	2012
Maturity Date Range, End	2032
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	8,204	9,854
Senior Notes [Member] \| Nextel Communications Inc Serial Redeemable Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Minimum	5.95%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Maximum	7.38%
Maturity Date Range, Start	2013
Maturity Date Range, End	2015
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	4,780	4,780
Secured notes [Member] \| iPCS Inc Secured Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Minimum	2.38%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Maximum	3.50%
Maturity Date Range, Start	2013
Maturity Date Range, End	2014
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	481	481
Line of Credit Facility, Lender [Domain] \| Bank Credit Facilities Sprint Nextel Corporation [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Maximum	3.63%
Maturity Date Range, End	2013
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	0	0
Line of Credit Facility, Lender [Domain] \| Export Development Canada Credit Facilities Sprint Nextel Corporation [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Minimum	3.55%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Maximum	4.25%
Maturity Date Range, Start	2012
Maturity Date Range, End	2015
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	750	750
Financing Obligation [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Maximum	9.50%
Maturity Date Range, End	2030
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	698	698
Capital Lease Obligations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Minimum	4.11%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Maximum	15.49%
Maturity Date Range, Start	2014
Maturity Date Range, End	2022
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	$ 73	$ 76

Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of all debt, including all short-term borrowings, long-term debt, and capital lease obligations.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16)

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-Publisher FASB

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- Definition

The stated principal amount of the debt instrument at time of issuance, which may vary from the carrying amount because of unamortized premium or discount.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 21

-Paragraph 16, 20

-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 835

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- Definition

When presenting a range of interest rates, the highest stated (contractual) rate for funds borrowed under the debt agreement as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

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-Topic 210

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- Definition

When presenting a range of interest rates, the lowest stated (contractual) rate for funds borrowed under the debt agreement as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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- Definition

When presenting a range of maturity dates, the latest date when the outstanding debt instruments are required to be repaid. May be presented in a variety of ways (for example: year only, month and year, day, month and year, and number of years).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

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-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(2))

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 129

-Paragraph 4

-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.

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

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Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-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.

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- Definition

When presenting a range of maturity dates, the earliest date when the outstanding debt instruments are required to be repaid. May be presented in a variety of ways (for example: year only, month and year, day, month and year, and number of years).

+ References

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- Definition

The amount of debt discount (net of debt premium) that was originally recognized at the issuance of the instrument that has yet to be amortized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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- Definition

Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of all long-term debt, which is debt initially having maturities due after one year from the balance sheet date or beyond the operating cycle, if longer, but excluding the portions thereof scheduled to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer plus capital lease obligations due to be paid more than one year after the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 6

-Section H

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-Topic 210

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-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)

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Obligation related to long-term debt (excluding convertible debt) and capital leases, the portion which is due in one year or less in the future.

+ References

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