Share-Based Compensation - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended							24 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013 Stock Option and Stock Appreciation Rights	Dec. 31, 2012 Stock Option and Stock Appreciation Rights	Dec. 31, 2011 Stock Option and Stock Appreciation Rights	Dec. 31, 2013 Stock Option and Stock Appreciation Rights Maximum	Dec. 31, 2013 Stock Option and Stock Appreciation Rights Minimum	Dec. 31, 2013 Stock Option and Stock Appreciation Rights Non Vested	Dec. 31, 2011 Non-qualified Stock Options	Dec. 31, 2013 Non-qualified Stock Options	Dec. 31, 2013 Stock Appreciation Right	Dec. 31, 2013 Restricted Stock Unit (RSUs)	Dec. 31, 2012 Restricted Stock Unit (RSUs)	Dec. 31, 2011 Restricted Stock Unit (RSUs)	Dec. 31, 2012 Restricted Stock Unit (RSUs) Maximum	Dec. 31, 2012 Restricted Stock Unit (RSUs) Minimum	Dec. 31, 2013 Restricted Stock Unit (RSUs) Employees	Dec. 31, 2013 Restricted Stock Unit (RSUs) Director	Dec. 31, 2013 Restricted Stock Unit (RSUs) Performance-Based Units	Dec. 31, 2012 Restricted Stock Unit (RSUs) Performance-Based Units	Dec. 31, 2013 Employee Stock Purchase Plan	Dec. 31, 2013 Lorillard Plan	Dec. 31, 2013 Lorillard Plan Carolina Group Plan	Dec. 31, 2013 Lorillard Plan Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Aggregate number shares of common stock available for grant		4,690,378	4,375,683	4,270,449																	11,144,475	2,144,475	1,500,000
Vesting period					10 years	4 years						2 years				3 years	1 year
Stock awarded								1,790,244			217,216	210,891
Awards outstanding									1,252,410	777,172	219,211	207,339
Weighted average remaining contractual term of awards outstanding		5 years 11 months 5 days
Weighted average remaining contractual term of awards vested		5 years 5 months 16 days
Aggregate intrinsic value of awards outstanding		$ 44,000,000
Aggregate intrinsic value of awards vested		32,000,000
Total intrinsic value of awards exercised		31,000,000
Share-based compensation		2,000,000	5,000,000	5,000,000							16,000,000	15,000,000	11,000,000
Income tax benefit recognized under compensation plan		1,000,000	1,000,000	2,000,000							5,000,000	5,000,000	4,000,000
Compensation cost awards not yet recognized							1,000,000				16,000,000
Compensation cost awards recognition period							1 year 26 days				1 year 8 months 27 days
Expected volatility description	The expected volatility is based upon the implied volatility of traded call options on the Company's Stock with remaining maturities of greater than 180 days.
Expected volatility minimum term	180 days
Performance period to receive restricted shares of common stock												1 year
Award percentage of target based on pre-established financial performance														200.00%	0.00%
Total fair value of award granted																		$ 9	$ 9
Total market value of awards outstanding																		$ 11	$ 8
Price of common stock as percentage of fair market fair market value																				95.00%
Maximum number of shares available for purchase by eligible employees																				1,500,000
Purchase of common stock from initial offering period																				Feb. 28, 2013