Contingencies (Details)	0 Months Ended				1 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
	May 22, 2009 Wade L Jones Vs Current Officers defendant	Jun. 03, 2009 Corwin Case defendant	Nov. 04, 2010 Retirees Vs Verizon and Company Employee Benefits Committee and Pension Plans claim	Nov. 25, 2009 Retirees Vs Verizon and Company Employee Benefits Committee and Pension Plans plaintiff	Jun. 05, 2009 Securities Claims claim	Aug. 18, 2009 Securities Claims Buettgen Case claim court
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of separate lawsuits filed					3
Number of plaintiffs				3	3
Number of officers named as defendants	2
Number of cases consolidated						4
Number of courts in which cases were consolidated						1
Number of company directors added as party defendants		2
Number of claims for which motion of dismissal was filed			1
Number of remaining procedural ERISA claims			2