Amount on Which Future Tax Deductions Can Be Claimed

No definition available.

Name:	lbtya_AmountonWhichFutureTaxDeductionsCanBeClaimed
Namespace Prefix:	lbtya_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum Percent of Capital Allowances Claimed Allowance

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lbtya_MaximumPercentofCapitalAllowancesClaimedAllowance
Namespace Prefix:	lbtya_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, Incomplete Accounting, Transition Tax for Accumulated Foreign Earnings, Provisional Liability

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lbtya_TaxCutsandJobsActof2017IncompleteAccountingTransitionTaxforAccumulatedForeignEarningsProvisionalLiability
Namespace Prefix:	lbtya_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of decrease reasonably possible in the next twelve months for the unrecognized tax benefit.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (d)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32718-109319

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DecreaseInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIsReasonablyPossible
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of domestic federal statutory tax rate applicable to pretax income (loss).

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 6.I)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34349781&loc=d3e330036-122817

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 12
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32687-109319

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32698-109319

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SignificantChangeInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIsReasonablyPossibleLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries intended to be permanently reinvested outside the country of domicile.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 740
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6487024&loc=d3e29054-158556

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (b)(c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6424122&loc=d3e41874-109331

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 25
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115928272&loc=d3e28200-109314

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 740
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6479915&loc=d3e66715-112838

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_UndistributedEarningsOfForeignSubsidiaries
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount accrued for interest on an underpayment of income taxes and penalties related to a tax position claimed or expected to be claimed in the tax return.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32718-109319

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of expense for interest on an underpayment of income taxes and penalties related to a tax position claimed or expected to be claimed in the tax return.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32718-109319

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 15A
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=SL6600010-109319

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) in the valuation allowance for a specified deferred tax asset.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 20
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84176650&loc=d3e32123-109318

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis=lbtya_OtherDeferredTaxAssetMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=lbtya_VirginMediaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis=us-gaap_DomesticCountryMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis=us-gaap_ScenarioForecastMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityNameAxis=us-gaap_TaxAndCustomsAdministrationNetherlandsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityNameAxis=us-gaap_AdministrationOfTheTreasuryBelgiumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityNameAxis=us-gaap_InternalRevenueServiceIRSMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Income Taxes (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Income Taxes (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	May 01, 2020	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Significant Change in Unrecognized Tax Benefits is Reasonably Possible [Line Items]
Change in valuation allowances						$ (150.0)
Deferred tax liability, temporary difference						5,900.0
Recorded liability for the Mandatory Repatriation Tax						293.3
Unrecognized tax benefits - favorable impact on effective income tax rate if ultimately recognized, net of valuation allowances						759.8
Reductions to our unrecognized tax benefits reasonably possible						225.0
Income tax penalties and interest expense						(58.9)	$ (5.5)	$ 30.9
Accrued interest and penalties on tax related items						94.0
Other Deferred Tax Asset [Member]
Significant Change in Unrecognized Tax Benefits is Reasonably Possible [Line Items]
Change in valuation allowances						34.9
Virgin Media
Significant Change in Unrecognized Tax Benefits is Reasonably Possible [Line Items]
Amount on which future tax deductions can be claimed			$ 19,400.0			$ 18,100.0	$ 19,400.0
Maximum percent of capital allowances claimed allowance						18.00%
Domestic Tax Authority [Member]
Significant Change in Unrecognized Tax Benefits is Reasonably Possible [Line Items]
Statutory income tax rate		20.00%	19.00%			19.00%	19.25%	20.00%
Domestic Tax Authority [Member] \| Scenario, Forecast
Significant Change in Unrecognized Tax Benefits is Reasonably Possible [Line Items]
Statutory income tax rate	17.00%
The Netherlands
Significant Change in Unrecognized Tax Benefits is Reasonably Possible [Line Items]
Statutory income tax rate						25.00%
The Netherlands \| Scenario, Forecast
Significant Change in Unrecognized Tax Benefits is Reasonably Possible [Line Items]
Statutory income tax rate				20.50%	22.50%
Belgium
Significant Change in Unrecognized Tax Benefits is Reasonably Possible [Line Items]
Statutory income tax rate						29.58%	33.90%
Belgium \| Scenario, Forecast
Significant Change in Unrecognized Tax Benefits is Reasonably Possible [Line Items]
Statutory income tax rate					25.00%
U.S.
Significant Change in Unrecognized Tax Benefits is Reasonably Possible [Line Items]
Statutory income tax rate						21.00%	35.00%