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, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	$ 62,048	$ 65,197	$ 186,858	$ 190,325
Other revenues	30,947	28,013	89,659	80,781
Total revenues	92,995	93,210	276,517	271,106
Industrial and Commercial [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	7,234	7,061	22,010	21,630
Building [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,176	5,211	15,083	15,147
Consumer [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,749	4,578	13,530	12,956
Grocery and Convenience Store Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	7,882	8,212	22,984	23,540
Food and Beverage Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,372	4,775	13,286	14,439
Auto Sales [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	2,722	2,752	7,988	8,106
Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,154	5,428	15,655	16,512
Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	9,150	9,056	26,667	26,883
Electricity, Natural Gas and Fuel [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	15,609	18,124	49,655	51,112
Manufacturing Businesses [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	18,347	17,989	54,145	53,067
Other revenues	1,323	1,179	3,843	3,440
Total revenues	19,670	19,168	57,988	56,507
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Industrial and Commercial [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	7,185	7,008	21,854	21,458
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Building [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,176	5,211	15,083	15,147
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Consumer [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,749	4,578	13,530	12,956
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	823	807	2,485	2,420
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	414	385	1,193	1,086
McLane [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	12,486	13,237	36,968	38,726
Other revenues	41	42	130	131
Total revenues	12,527	13,279	37,098	38,857
McLane [Member] | Grocery and Convenience Store Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	7,882	8,212	22,984	23,540
McLane [Member] | Food and Beverage Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,372	4,775	13,286	14,439
McLane [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	232	250	698	747
Service and Retailing [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	7,833	8,128	23,529	24,685
Other revenues	1,995	1,793	5,893	5,247
Total revenues	9,828	9,921	29,422	29,932
Service and Retailing [Member] | Industrial and Commercial [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	49	53	156	172
Service and Retailing [Member] | Auto Sales [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	2,722	2,752	7,988	8,106
Service and Retailing [Member] | Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	3,598	3,933	11,107	12,301
Service and Retailing [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	1,464	1,390	4,278	4,106
BNSF [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,866	5,811	17,182	17,587
Other revenues	54	18	162	51
Total revenues	5,920	5,829	17,344	17,638
BNSF [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,866	5,811	17,182	17,587
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	6,932	6,945	19,048	19,043
Other revenues	391	324	1,020	1,015
Total revenues	7,323	7,269	20,068	20,058
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	1,098	1,141	3,108	3,169
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] | Electricity, Natural Gas and Fuel [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,834	5,804	15,940	15,874
Pilot [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	10,584	13,087	35,986	37,217	[1]
Other revenues	39	58	115	157	[1]
Total revenues	10,623	13,145	36,101	37,374	[1]
Pilot [Member] | Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	733	688	2,063	1,791	[1]
Pilot [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	76	79	208	188	[1]
Pilot [Member] | Electricity, Natural Gas and Fuel [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	9,775	12,320	33,715	35,238	[1]
Insurance, Corporate and Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Other revenues	27,104	24,599	78,496	70,740
Total revenues	$ 27,104	$ 24,599	$ 78,496	$ 70,740

[1] Revenues from Pilot are for the eight months ending September 30, 2023.