Revenue from contracts with customers disaggregated by reportable segment and source of revenue (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2024	Mar. 31, 2023
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	$ 61,291	$ 59,745
Other revenues	28,578	25,648
Total revenues	89,869	85,393
Industrial and Commercial [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	7,262	7,294
Building [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,674	4,758
Consumer [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,193	4,035
Grocery and Convenience Store Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	7,602	7,793
Food and Beverage Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,436	4,762
Auto Sales [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	2,552	2,565
Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,201	5,451
Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	8,463	8,781
Electricity, Natural Gas and Fuel [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	16,908	14,306
Manufacturing Businesses [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	17,273	17,175
Other revenues	1,238	1,090
Total revenues	18,511	18,265
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Industrial and Commercial [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	7,210	7,229
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Building [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,674	4,758
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Consumer [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,193	4,035
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	819	799
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	377	354
McLane [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	12,259	12,839
Other revenues	41	42
Total revenues	12,300	12,881
McLane [Member] | Grocery and Convenience Store Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	7,602	7,793
McLane [Member] | Food and Beverage Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,436	4,762
McLane [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	221	284
Service and Retailing [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	7,749	8,186
Other revenues	1,923	1,716
Total revenues	9,672	9,902
Service and Retailing [Member] | Industrial and Commercial [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	52	65
Service and Retailing [Member] | Auto Sales [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	2,552	2,565
Service and Retailing [Member] | Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	3,768	4,230
Service and Retailing [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	1,377	1,326
BNSF [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,618	5,985
Other revenues	19	16
Total revenues	5,637	6,001
BNSF [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,618	5,985
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,935	6,102
Other revenues	330	337
Total revenues	6,265	6,439
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	806	811
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] | Electricity, Natural Gas and Fuel [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,129	5,291
Pilot [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	12,457	9,458
Other revenues	37	38
Total revenues	12,494	9,496
Pilot [Member] | Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	614	422
Pilot [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	64	21
Pilot [Member] | Electricity, Natural Gas and Fuel [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	11,779	9,015
Insurance, Corporate and Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Other revenues	24,990	22,409
Total revenues	$ 24,990	$ 22,409