Long-lived Assets (Schedule of Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill) (Details) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	$ 23,366.3
Acquisitions and related adjustments	182.2
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	1,137.0
Goodwill ending balance	24,685.5
European Operations Division U.K / Ireland [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	7,412.3
Acquisitions and related adjustments	2.3
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	405.5
Goodwill ending balance	7,820.1
European Operations Division Belgium [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	2,032.7
Acquisitions and related adjustments	359.6
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	175.1
Goodwill ending balance	2,567.4
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	247.4
Goodwill ending balance	3,260.6
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	222.4
Goodwill ending balance	3,665.8
European Operations Division Total Western Europe [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	15,901.6
Acquisitions and related adjustments	361.9
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	1,050.4
Goodwill ending balance	17,313.9
European Operations Division Central and Eastern Europe [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	1,144.4
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0.9
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	126.6
Goodwill ending balance	1,271.9
Total European Operations Division [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	17,046.0
Acquisitions and related adjustments	362.8
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	1,177.0
Goodwill ending balance	18,585.8
Corporate and Other [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	17.7
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0.0
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	0.1
Goodwill ending balance	17.8
Liberty Global Group [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	17,063.7
Acquisitions and related adjustments	362.8
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	1,177.1
Goodwill ending balance	18,603.6
LiLAC Group CWC [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	5,506.1
Acquisitions and related adjustments	(180.6)
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	(43.9)
Goodwill ending balance	5,281.6
LiLAC Group Chile [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	397.9
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0.0
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	3.8
Goodwill ending balance	401.7
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	(180.6)
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	(40.1)
Goodwill ending balance	5,961.0
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	(180.6)
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	(40.1)
Goodwill ending balance	$ 6,081.9