Long-lived Assets (Schedule of Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill) (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	$ 23,366.3
Acquisitions and related adjustments	(148.7)
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	287.9
Goodwill ending balance	23,505.5
European Operations Division U.K / Ireland [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	7,412.3
Acquisitions and related adjustments	4.6
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	117.9
Goodwill ending balance	7,534.8
European Operations Division Belgium [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	2,032.7
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0.0
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	28.8
Goodwill ending balance	2,061.5
European Operations Division Germany [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	3,013.2
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0.0
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	42.9
Goodwill ending balance	3,056.1
European Operations Division Switzerland / Austria [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	3,443.4
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0.0
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	57.6
Goodwill ending balance	3,501.0
European Operations Division Total Western Europe [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	15,901.6
Acquisitions and related adjustments	4.6
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	247.2
Goodwill ending balance	16,153.4
European Operations Division Central and Eastern Europe [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	1,144.4
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0.1
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	35.5
Goodwill ending balance	1,180.0
Total European Operations Division [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	17,046.0
Acquisitions and related adjustments	4.7
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	282.7
Goodwill ending balance	17,333.4
Corporate and Other [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	17.7
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0.0
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	0.0
Goodwill ending balance	17.7
Liberty Global Group [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	17,063.7
Acquisitions and related adjustments	4.7
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	282.7
Goodwill ending balance	17,351.1
LiLAC Group CWC [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	5,506.1
Acquisitions and related adjustments	(153.4)
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	(0.8)
Goodwill ending balance	5,351.9
LiLAC Group Chile [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	397.9
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0.0
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	6.0
Goodwill ending balance	403.9
LiLAC Group Puerto Rico [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	277.7
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0.0
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	0.0
Goodwill ending balance	277.7
LiLAC Division [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	6,181.7
Acquisitions and related adjustments	(153.4)
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	5.2
Goodwill ending balance	6,033.5
LiLAC Group Corporate and Other [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	120.9
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0.0
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	0.0
Goodwill ending balance	120.9
LiLAC Group [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	6,302.6
Acquisitions and related adjustments	(153.4)
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	5.2
Goodwill ending balance	$ 6,154.4