Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930739&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28551-108399

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

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.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Weighted average interest rate of debt outstanding.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash outflow during the period from the repayment of aggregate short-term and long-term debt. Excludes payment of capital lease obligations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RepaymentsOfDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Notes payable and other borrowings - Narrative (Detail) € in Millions, $ in Millions	1 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2017 EUR (€)
Senior Unsecured Notes [Member] \| Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount of debt issued \| €			€ 1,100
Senior Notes [Member] \| Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of borrowings	$ 1,100
Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member] \| Berkshire Hathaway Energy Subsidiaries [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average interest rate, percentage		4.70%
Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member] \| BNSF [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average interest rate, percentage		4.80%
Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member] \| Senior Unsecured Debentures [Member] \| BNSF [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount of debt issued		$ 1,250
Finance and Financial Products [Member] \| Berkshire Hathaway Finance Corporation [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average interest rate, percentage		2.60%
Finance and Financial Products [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member] \| Berkshire Hathaway Finance Corporation [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount of debt issued	1,300
Repayments of borrowings	$ 1,050
Notes Due 2021 at 0.25% [Member] \| Senior Unsecured Notes [Member] \| Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount of debt issued \| €			€ 550
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage	0.25%		0.25%
Notes Due 2023 at 0.625% [Member] \| Senior Unsecured Notes [Member] \| Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount of debt issued \| €			€ 550
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage	0.625%		0.625%
Debt Due 2027 to 2047 [Member] \| Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member] \| Berkshire Hathaway Energy Subsidiaries [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount of debt issued		$ 850
Weighted average interest rate, percentage		3.60%
Debentures Due 2027 at 3.25% [Member] \| Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member] \| Senior Unsecured Debentures [Member] \| BNSF [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount of debt issued		$ 500
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		3.25%
Debentures Due 2047 at 4.125% [Member] \| Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member] \| Senior Unsecured Debentures [Member] \| BNSF [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount of debt issued		$ 750
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		4.125%
Notes Due 2019, Floating Rate [Member] \| Finance and Financial Products [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member] \| Berkshire Hathaway Finance Corporation [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount of debt issued	$ 950
Notes Due 2020, Floating Rate [Member] \| Finance and Financial Products [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member] \| Berkshire Hathaway Finance Corporation [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount of debt issued	$ 350