SCHEDULE I (Parent Company Information) CONDENSED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Operating costs and expenses:
Selling, general and administrative (including stock-based compensation)									$ 3,566.9	$ 3,171.7	$ 3,164.3
Depreciation and amortization (note 9)									5,801.1	5,825.8	5,500.1
Other operating expenses									2,884.8	2,655.2	2,775.8
Operating income	$ 824.2	$ 902.7	$ 487.8	$ 586.6	$ 621.3	$ 545.5	$ 624.9	$ 557.5	2,801.3	2,349.2	2,228.2
Non-operating income (expense):
Realized and unrealized gains on derivative instruments, net (note 7)									845.1	847.2	88.8
Foreign currency transaction losses, net									(290.0)	(1,149.2)	(836.5)
Other income (expense), net									9.3	(26.9)	(10.7)
Non-operating income (expense)									(2,251.9)	(3,033.8)	(3,284.1)
Income tax expense (benefit)									1,217.9	(364.9)	75.0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Liberty Global shareholders	$ 2,222.5	$ (249.5)	$ 101.4	$ (369.1)	$ (283.6)	$ 133.3	$ (464.7)	$ (537.5)	1,705.3	(1,152.5)	(695.0)
Liberty Global Plc
Operating costs and expenses:
Selling, general and administrative (including stock-based compensation)									52.9	83.2	43.0
Related-party fees and allocations									66.3	62.7	151.8
Depreciation and amortization (note 9)									0.8	0.2	0.0
Other operating expenses									0.7	14.0	3.5
Operating income									(120.7)	(160.1)	(198.3)
Non-operating income (expense):
Interest expense — related-party									(162.3)	(71.2)	(9.6)
Interest income — related-party									781.0	787.3	821.7
Realized and unrealized gains on derivative instruments, net (note 7)									0.0	0.0	13.7
Foreign currency transaction losses, net									45.8	(29.8)	(58.2)
Other income (expense), net									(1.3)	(2.5)	(8.1)
Non-operating income (expense)									663.2	683.8	759.5
Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings (losses) of consolidated subsidiaries, net									542.5	523.7	561.2
Equity in earnings (losses) of consolidated subsidiaries, net									1,279.7	(1,574.7)	(1,120.8)
Income tax expense (benefit)									(116.9)	(101.5)	(135.4)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Liberty Global shareholders									$ 1,705.3	$ (1,152.5)	$ (695.0)