Loans and finance receivables - Summary of performing and non-performing home loans before discounts and credit loss allowances by year of loan origination (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and financing receivables by origination year, Total	$ 29,700	$ 26,289
Manufactured Housing Loan Balances [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and financing receivables by origination year, 2024	6,591
Loans and financing receivables by origination year, 2023	4,991
Loans and financing receivables by origination year, 2022	3,667
Loans and financing receivables by origination year, 2021	3,063
Loans and financing receivables by origination year, 2020	2,368
Loans and financing receivables by origination year, Prior	8,217
Loans and financing receivables by origination year, Total	28,897
Performing [Member] \| Manufactured Housing Loan Balances [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and financing receivables by origination year, 2024	6,578
Loans and financing receivables by origination year, 2023	4,969
Loans and financing receivables by origination year, 2022	3,651
Loans and financing receivables by origination year, 2021	3,052
Loans and financing receivables by origination year, 2020	2,358
Loans and financing receivables by origination year, Prior	8,172
Loans and financing receivables by origination year, Total	28,780
Non-Performing [Member] \| Manufactured Housing Loan Balances [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and financing receivables by origination year, 2024	13
Loans and financing receivables by origination year, 2023	22
Loans and financing receivables by origination year, 2022	16
Loans and financing receivables by origination year, 2021	11
Loans and financing receivables by origination year, 2020	10
Loans and financing receivables by origination year, Prior	45
Loans and financing receivables by origination year, Total	$ 117

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 40
-Paragraph 7
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481628/310-20-40-7

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481990/310-10-45-2

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccountsNotesAndLoansReceivableLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amortized cost, before allowance for credit loss, fee, and loan in process, of financing receivable. Excludes financing receivable covered under loss sharing agreement and net investment in lease.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481990/310-10-45-2

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479319/326-20-50-5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(7))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478546/942-210-S99-1

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableBeforeAllowanceForCreditLossAndFee
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amortized cost of financing receivable originated more than five years prior to current fiscal year. Excludes net investment in lease.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 79
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479294/326-20-55-79

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479319/326-20-50-6

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableOriginatedFiveOrMoreYearsBeforeLatestFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amortized cost of financing receivable originated four years prior to current fiscal year. Excludes net investment in lease.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableOriginatedFourYearsBeforeLatestFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amortized cost of financing receivable originated in current fiscal year. Excludes net investment in lease.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableOriginatedInCurrentFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amortized cost of financing receivable originated in fiscal year prior to current fiscal year. Excludes net investment in lease.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableOriginatedInFiscalYearBeforeLatestFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amortized cost of financing receivable originated three years prior to current fiscal year. Excludes net investment in lease.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableOriginatedThreeYearsBeforeLatestFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amortized cost of financing receivable originated two years prior to current fiscal year. Excludes net investment in lease.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableOriginatedTwoYearsBeforeLatestFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis=brka_ManufacturedHousingLoanBalanceMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentPerformanceStatusAxis=us-gaap_PerformingFinancingReceivableMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentPerformanceStatusAxis=us-gaap_NonperformingFinancingReceivableMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: