Long-lived Assets (Schedule of Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	$ 27,020.4	$ 29,001.6
Acquisitions and related adjustments	5,901.6	259.8
Disposition	(7,637.2)
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	(1,918.5)	(2,241.0)
Goodwill ending balance	23,366.3	27,020.4
European Operations Division U.K / Ireland [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	8,790.7	9,245.1
Acquisitions and related adjustments	12.9	58.7
Disposition	0.0
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	(1,391.3)	(513.1)
Goodwill ending balance	7,412.3	8,790.7
European Operations Division The Netherlands [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	7,851.3	8,605.0
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0.0	142.2
Disposition	(7,621.2)
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	(230.1)	(895.9)
Goodwill ending balance	0.0	7,851.3
European Operations Division Germany [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	3,104.4	3,456.9
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0.0	0.0
Disposition	0.0
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	(91.2)	(352.5)
Goodwill ending balance	3,013.2	3,104.4
European Operations Division Belgium [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	1,777.1	1,978.9
Acquisitions and related adjustments	330.7	0.0
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	(75.1)	(201.8)
Goodwill ending balance	2,032.7	1,777.1
European Operations Division Switzerland / Austria [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	3,500.4	3,591.9
Acquisitions and related adjustments	11.8	0.0
Disposition	0.0
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	(68.8)	(91.5)
Goodwill ending balance	3,443.4	3,500.4
European Operations Division Total Western Europe [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	25,023.9	26,877.8
Acquisitions and related adjustments	355.4	200.9
Disposition	(7,621.2)
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	(1,856.5)	(2,054.8)
Goodwill ending balance	15,901.6	25,023.9
European Operations Division Central and Eastern Europe [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	1,186.9	1,302.1
Acquisitions and related adjustments	1.9	7.3
Disposition	0.0
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	(44.4)	(122.5)
Goodwill ending balance	1,144.4	1,186.9
Total European Operations Division [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	26,210.8	28,179.9
Acquisitions and related adjustments	357.3	208.2
Disposition	(7,621.2)
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	(1,900.9)	(2,177.3)
Goodwill ending balance	17,046.0	26,210.8
Corporate and Other [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	34.0	34.4
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0.0	0.0
Disposition	(16.0)
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	(0.3)	(0.4)
Goodwill ending balance	17.7	34.0
Liberty Global Group [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	26,244.8	28,214.3
Acquisitions and related adjustments	357.3	208.2
Disposition	(7,637.2)
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	(1,901.2)	(2,177.7)
Goodwill ending balance	17,063.7	26,244.8
LiLAC Group CWC [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	0.0
Acquisitions and related adjustments	5,544.3
Disposition	0.0
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	(38.2)
Goodwill ending balance	5,506.1	0.0
LiLAC Group Chile [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	377.0	440.3
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0.0	0.0
Disposition	0.0
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	20.9	(63.3)
Goodwill ending balance	397.9	377.0
LiLAC Group Puerto Rico [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	277.7	226.1
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0.0	51.6
Disposition	0.0
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	0.0	0.0
Goodwill ending balance	277.7	277.7
LiLAC Division [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	654.7	666.4
Acquisitions and related adjustments	5,544.3	51.6
Disposition	0.0
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	(17.3)	(63.3)
Goodwill ending balance	6,181.7	654.7
LiLAC Group Corporate and Other [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	120.9	120.9
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0.0	0.0
Disposition	0.0
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	0.0	0.0
Goodwill ending balance	120.9	120.9
LiLAC Group [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	775.6	787.3
Acquisitions and related adjustments	5,544.3	51.6
Disposition	0.0
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	(17.3)	(63.3)
Goodwill ending balance	$ 6,302.6	$ 775.6