Revenue from contracts with customers disaggregated by reportable segment and source of revenue (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	$ 53,306	$ 49,014	$ 155,665	$ 141,747
Other revenues	23,628	21,569	68,259	62,549
Total revenues	76,934	70,583	223,924	204,296
Industrial and Commercial Products [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	6,196	5,643	18,367	16,691
Building Products [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,928	5,005	17,317	14,518
Consumer Products [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,753	4,758	15,355	13,525
Grocery and Convenience Store Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	8,315	7,933	24,000	23,104
Food and Beverage Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,946	4,478	14,510	12,838
Auto Sales [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	2,686	2,423	7,888	7,485
Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,992	4,655	14,972	13,776
Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	9,585	8,981	27,897	25,762
Electricity and Natural Gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,905	5,138	15,359	14,048
Manufacturing Businesses [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	17,957	16,505	54,128	47,890
Other revenues	1,012	951	2,962	2,821
Total revenues	18,969	17,456	57,090	50,711
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Industrial and Commercial Products [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	6,145	5,600	18,219	16,549
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Building Products [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,928	5,005	17,317	14,518
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Consumer Products [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,753	4,758	15,355	13,525
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	803	742	2,343	2,199
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	328	400	894	1,099
McLane [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	13,538	12,586	39,249	36,451
Other revenues	32	26	97	78
Total revenues	13,570	12,612	39,346	36,529
McLane [Member] | Grocery and Convenience Store Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	8,315	7,933	24,000	23,104
McLane [Member] | Food and Beverage Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,946	4,478	14,510	12,838
McLane [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	277	175	739	509
Service and Retailing [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	7,932	7,452	23,755	22,264
Other revenues	1,609	1,202	4,470	3,287
Total revenues	9,541	8,654	28,225	25,551
Service and Retailing [Member] | Industrial and Commercial Products [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	51	43	148	142
Service and Retailing [Member] | Auto Sales [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	2,686	2,423	7,888	7,485
Service and Retailing [Member] | Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,189	3,913	12,629	11,577
Service and Retailing [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	1,006	1,073	3,090	3,060
BNSF [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	6,646	5,747	19,173	16,875
Other revenues	17	14	46	42
Total revenues	6,663	5,761	19,219	16,917
BNSF [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	6,646	5,747	19,173	16,875
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	7,233	6,724	19,360	18,267
Other revenues	294	289	658	755
Total revenues	7,527	7,013	20,018	19,022
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	1,328	1,586	4,001	4,219
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] | Electricity and Natural Gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,905	5,138	15,359	14,048
Insurance, Corporate and Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Other revenues	20,664	19,087	60,026	55,566
Total revenues	$ 20,664	$ 19,087	$ 60,026	$ 55,566