Amount of short-term and long-term debt and lease obligation.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.13,16)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=119400593&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations
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://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-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

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
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

Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (b)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109500613&loc=SL6031897-161870

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=119400593&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt, classified as current. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19,20)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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

- Definition

The fair value amount of long-term debt whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs of long-term debt classified as noncurrent and excluding amounts to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

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

+ Details

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

- Definition

Finance Leases, Asset Financing And Other

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	xpo_FinanceLeasesAssetFinancingAndOther
Namespace Prefix:	xpo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Long-Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations, Excluding Current Maturities And Short-Term Debt

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	xpo_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsExcludingCurrentMaturitiesAndShortTermDebt
Namespace Prefix:	xpo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Short-Term Debt And Current Maturities Of Long-Term Debt

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	xpo_ShortTermDebtAndCurrentMaturitiesOfLongTermDebt
Namespace Prefix:	xpo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=xpo_TermLoanFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=xpo_SeniorNotesDue2023Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=xpo_SeniorNotesDue2022Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=xpo_SeniorDebenturesDue2034Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=xpo_SeniorNotesDue2024Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=xpo_AssetFinanceDebtMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis=us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=xpo_ABLFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=xpo_TradeReceivablesSecuritizationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Debt - Schedule of Long-term Debt (Details) € in Millions, $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2020 EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt, principal balance	$ 6,175		$ 5,418
Short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt, principal balance	260		84
Long-term debt excluding current maturities, principal balance	5,915		5,334
Long-term debt, carrying value	5,766		5,182
Term loan facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, principal balance	2,003		2,003
6.125% Senior notes due 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, principal balance	$ 535		535
Stated interest rate	6.125%	6.125%
6.50% Senior notes due 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, principal balance	$ 1,200		1,200
Stated interest rate	6.50%	6.50%
6.70% Senior debentures due 2034
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, principal balance	$ 300		300
Stated interest rate	6.70%	6.70%
6.75% Senior notes due 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, principal balance	$ 1,000		1,000
Stated interest rate	6.75%	6.75%
Finance leases, asset financing and other
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Finance leases, asset financing and other	$ 356		380
Carrying Value
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt, carrying value	6,026		5,266
Short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt, carrying value	260		84
Long-term debt, carrying value	5,766		5,182
Carrying Value \| Term loan facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt, carrying value	1,969		1,969
Carrying Value \| 6.125% Senior notes due 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt, carrying value	530		530
Carrying Value \| 6.50% Senior notes due 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt, carrying value	1,193		1,192
Carrying Value \| 6.70% Senior debentures due 2034
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt, carrying value	208		208
Carrying Value \| 6.75% Senior notes due 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt, carrying value	987		987
Carrying Value \| Finance leases, asset financing and other
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Finance leases, asset financing and other	358		380
ABL facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, principal balance	600		0
ABL facility \| Carrying Value
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt, carrying value	600		0
Borrowings related to securitization program
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, principal balance	$ 181	€ 164	0
Borrowings related to securitization program \| Carrying Value
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt, carrying value			$ 0