Revenue from contracts with customers disaggregated by reportable segment and source of revenue (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers		$ 249,714	$ 254,906	$ 207,771
Other revenues		121,719	109,576	94,249
Total revenues		371,433	364,482	302,020
Industrial and Commercial [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers		29,117	28,299	24,765
Building [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers		19,892	20,119	22,762
Consumer [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers		18,204	17,702	19,912
Grocery and Convenience Store Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers		31,841	31,524	32,599
Food and Beverage Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers		18,068	19,040	19,388
Auto Sales [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers		10,802	10,747	10,486
Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers		64,858	70,775	20,126
Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers		35,941	36,053	37,416
Electricity and Natural Gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers		20,991	20,647	20,317
Manufacturing Businesses [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers		71,963	70,633	71,634
Other revenues		5,185	4,650	4,016
Total revenues		77,148	75,283	75,650
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Industrial and Commercial [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers		28,907	28,066	24,566
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Building [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers		19,892	20,119	22,762
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Consumer [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers		18,204	17,702	19,912
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers		3,390	3,289	3,195
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers		1,570	1,457	1,199
McLane [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers		50,908	51,643	53,090
Other revenues		178	171	119
Total revenues		51,086	51,814	53,209
McLane [Member] | Grocery and Convenience Store Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers		31,841	31,524	32,599
McLane [Member] | Food and Beverage Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers		18,068	19,040	19,388
McLane [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers		999	1,079	1,103
Service and Retailing [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers		31,808	32,743	32,055
Other revenues		7,975	7,136	6,154
Total revenues		39,783	39,879	38,209
Service and Retailing [Member] | Industrial and Commercial [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers		210	233	199
Service and Retailing [Member] | Auto Sales [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers		10,802	10,747	10,486
Service and Retailing [Member] | Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers		15,035	16,289	16,931
Service and Retailing [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers		5,761	5,474	4,439
BNSF [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers		23,278	23,724	25,742
Other revenues		212	67	60
Total revenues		23,490	23,791	25,802
BNSF [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers		23,278	23,724	25,742
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers		25,050	24,702	25,250
Other revenues		1,250	1,258	1,097
Total revenues		26,300	25,960	26,347
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers		4,059	4,055	4,933
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] | Electricity and Natural Gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers		20,991	20,647	20,317
Pilot [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	[1]	46,707	51,461
Other revenues	[1]	149	203
Total revenues	[1]	46,856	51,664
Pilot [Member] | Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	[1]	46,433	51,197
Pilot [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	[1]	274	264
Insurance, Corporate and Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Other revenues		106,770	96,091	82,803
Total revenues		$ 106,770	$ 96,091	$ 82,803

[1] Revenues from Pilot are principally fuel sales and revenues in 2023 are for the eleven months ending December 31.