Revenue from contracts with customers disaggregated by reportable segment and source of revenue (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2025	Mar. 31, 2024
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	$ 59,357	$ 61,291
Other revenues	30,368	28,578
Total revenues	89,725	89,869
Industrial and Commercial [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	7,426	7,262
Building [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,588	4,674
Consumer [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,260	4,193
Grocery and Convenience Store Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	7,442	7,602
Food and Beverage Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,373	4,436
Auto Sales [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	2,701	2,552
Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	14,599	16,980
Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	8,622	8,463
Electricity and Natural Gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,346	5,129
Manufacturing Businesses [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	17,361	17,273
Other revenues	1,391	1,238
Total revenues	18,752	18,511
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Industrial and Commercial [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	7,353	7,210
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Building [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,588	4,674
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Consumer [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,260	4,193
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	877	819
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	283	377
McLane [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	12,008	12,259
Other revenues	8	41
Total revenues	12,016	12,300
McLane [Member] | Grocery and Convenience Store Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	7,442	7,602
McLane [Member] | Food and Beverage Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,373	4,436
McLane [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	193	221
Service and Retailing [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	7,982	7,749
Other revenues	2,130	1,923
Total revenues	10,112	9,672
Service and Retailing [Member] | Industrial and Commercial [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	73	52
Service and Retailing [Member] | Auto Sales [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	2,701	2,552
Service and Retailing [Member] | Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	3,569	3,768
Service and Retailing [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	1,639	1,377
BNSF [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,653	5,618
Other revenues	46	19
Total revenues	5,699	5,637
BNSF [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,653	5,618
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	6,137	5,935
Other revenues	207	330
Total revenues	6,344	6,265
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	791	806
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] | Electricity and Natural Gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,346	5,129
Pilot [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	10,216	12,457
Other revenues	206	37
Total revenues	10,422	12,494
Pilot [Member] | Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	10,153	12,393
Pilot [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	63	64
Insurance, Corporate and Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Other revenues	26,380	24,990
Total revenues	$ 26,380	$ 24,990