Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Oct. 31, 2018
Document and Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	Liberty Global plc
Entity Central Index Key	0001570585
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2018
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Class A
Document and Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		204,407,277
Class B
Document and Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		11,099,593
Class C
Document and Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		538,312,656