WINDSTREAM HOLDINGS, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (UNAUDITED) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	Accumulated Deficit	Revision of Prior Period, Accounting Standards Update, Adjustment [Member]	Revision of Prior Period, Accounting Standards Update, Adjustment [Member] Additional Paid-In Capital	Revision of Prior Period, Accounting Standards Update, Adjustment [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	Revision of Prior Period, Accounting Standards Update, Adjustment [Member] Accumulated Deficit	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment [Member]	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment [Member] Additional Paid-In Capital	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment [Member] Accumulated Deficit
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest | Adoption of ASU 2016-02					$ 3,013.0	$ 0.0	$ 0.0	$ 3,013.0
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ (1,919.3)	$ 1,250.4	$ 35.6	$ (3,205.3)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss	(2,310.3)	0.0	0.0	(2,310.3)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:
Change in pension and postretirement plans	(0.3)	0.0	(0.3)	0.0
Amortization of net unrealized gains on de-designated interest rate swaps	(0.9)	0.0	(0.9)	0.0
Changes in designated interest rate swaps	(2.4)	0.0	(2.4)	0.0
Comprehensive loss	(2,313.9)	0.0	(3.6)	(2,310.3)
Share-based compensation	2.4	2.4	0.0	0.0
Taxes withheld on vested restricted stock and other	0.4	0.4	0.0	0.0
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2019	(1,218.2)	1,252.4	32.0	(2,502.6)
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2018	(1,919.3)	1,250.4	35.6	(3,205.3)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss	(2,854.4)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:
Change in pension and postretirement plans	(0.7)
Comprehensive loss	(2,860.6)
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2019	(1,766.4)	1,250.9	29.4	(3,046.7)
Beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2019	(1,218.2)	1,252.4	32.0	(2,502.6)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss	(544.1)	0.0	0.0	(544.1)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:
Change in pension and postretirement plans	(0.4)	0.0	(0.4)	0.0
Amortization of net unrealized gains on de-designated interest rate swaps	(2.2)	0.0	(2.2)	0.0
Comprehensive loss	(546.7)	0.0	(2.6)	(544.1)
Share-based compensation	(1.6)	(1.6)	0.0	0.0
Taxes withheld on vested restricted stock and other	0.1	0.1	0.0	0.0
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2019	(1,766.4)	1,250.9	29.4	(3,046.7)
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest | Adoption of ASU 2016-13 (See Note 1)									$ (1.8)	$ 0.0	$ 0.0	$ (1.8)
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2019	(2,074.4)	1,253.1	22.6	(3,350.1)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss	(101.6)	0.0	0.0	(101.6)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:
Change in pension and postretirement plans	(0.3)	0.0	(0.3)	0.0
Amortization of net unrealized gains on de-designated interest rate swaps	(2.4)	0.0	(2.4)	0.0
Comprehensive loss	(104.3)	0.0	(2.7)	(101.6)
Share-based compensation	0.6	0.6	0.0	0.0
Taxes withheld on vested restricted stock and other	0.1	0.1	0.0	0.0
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2020	(2,179.8)	1,253.8	19.9	(3,453.5)
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2019	(2,074.4)	1,253.1	22.6	(3,350.1)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss	(264.0)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:
Change in pension and postretirement plans	(1.2)
Comprehensive loss	(270.1)
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2020	(2,345.2)	1,254.2	16.5	(3,615.9)
Beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2020	(2,179.8)	1,253.8	19.9	(3,453.5)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss	(162.4)	0.0	0.0	(162.4)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:
Change in pension and postretirement plans	(0.9)	0.0	(0.9)	0.0
Amortization of net unrealized gains on de-designated interest rate swaps	(2.5)	0.0	(2.5)	0.0
Comprehensive loss	(165.8)	0.0	(3.4)	(162.4)
Share-based compensation	0.4	0.4	0.0	0.0
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2020	$ (2,345.2)	$ 1,254.2	$ 16.5	$ (3,615.9)