Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Apr. 30, 2019
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	Mar. 31, 2019
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
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		205,223,842
Class B
Document and Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		11,489,888
Class C
Document and Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		520,930,134