Revenue from contracts with customers disaggregated by reportable segment and source of revenue (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2024	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2024	Jun. 30, 2023
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	$ 63,519	$ 65,383	$ 124,810	$ 125,128
Other revenues	30,134	27,120	58,712	52,768
Total revenues	93,653	92,503	183,522	177,896
Industrial and Commercial [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	7,514	7,275	14,776	14,569
Building [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,233	5,178	9,907	9,936
Consumer [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,588	4,343	8,781	8,378
Grocery and Convenience Store Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	7,500	7,535	15,102	15,328
Food and Beverage Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,478	4,902	8,914	9,664
Auto Sales [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	2,714	2,789	5,266	5,354
Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,300	5,633	10,501	11,084
Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	9,054	9,046	17,517	17,827
Electricity, Natural Gas and Fuel [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	17,138	18,682	34,046	32,988
Manufacturing Businesses [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	18,525	17,903	35,798	35,078
Other revenues	1,282	1,171	2,520	2,261
Total revenues	19,807	19,074	38,318	37,339
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Industrial and Commercial [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	7,459	7,221	14,669	14,450
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Building [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,233	5,178	9,907	9,936
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Consumer [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,588	4,343	8,781	8,378
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	843	814	1,662	1,613
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	402	347	779	701
McLane [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	12,223	12,650	24,482	25,489
Other revenues	48	47	89	89
Total revenues	12,271	12,697	24,571	25,578
McLane [Member] | Grocery and Convenience Store Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	7,500	7,535	15,102	15,328
McLane [Member] | Food and Beverage Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,478	4,902	8,914	9,664
McLane [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	245	213	466	497
Service and Retailing [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	7,947	8,371	15,696	16,557
Other revenues	1,975	1,738	3,898	3,454
Total revenues	9,922	10,109	19,594	20,011
Service and Retailing [Member] | Industrial and Commercial [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	55	54	107	119
Service and Retailing [Member] | Auto Sales [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	2,714	2,789	5,266	5,354
Service and Retailing [Member] | Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	3,741	4,138	7,509	8,368
Service and Retailing [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	1,437	1,390	2,814	2,716
BNSF [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,698	5,791	11,316	11,776
Other revenues	89	17	108	33
Total revenues	5,787	5,808	11,424	11,809
BNSF [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,698	5,791	11,316	11,776
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	6,181	5,996	12,116	12,098
Other revenues	299	354	629	691
Total revenues	6,480	6,350	12,745	12,789
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	1,204	1,217	2,010	2,028
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] | Electricity, Natural Gas and Fuel [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,977	4,779	10,106	10,070
Pilot [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	12,945	14,672	25,402	24,130	[1]
Other revenues	39	61	76	99	[1]
Total revenues	12,984	14,733	25,478	24,229	[1]
Pilot [Member] | Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	716	681	1,330	1,103	[1]
Pilot [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	68	88	132	109	[1]
Pilot [Member] | Electricity, Natural Gas and Fuel [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	12,161	13,903	23,940	22,918	[1]
Insurance, Corporate and Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Other revenues	26,402	23,732	51,392	46,141
Total revenues	$ 26,402	$ 23,732	$ 51,392	$ 46,141

[1] Revenues from Pilot are for the five months ending June 30, 2023.