Restructuring Reserve, Accounting Change

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Restructuring Reserve, As Adjusted for Accounting Change

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of cash payments made as the result of exit or disposal activities. Excludes payments associated with a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 17
-Subparagraph (f)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118932676&loc=d3e3367-108585

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of expenses associated with exit or disposal activities pursuant to an authorized plan. Excludes expenses related to a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 5.P.3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115931487&loc=d3e140864-122747

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118932676&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 5.P.4(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115931487&loc=d3e140904-122747

+ Details

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

- Definition

Carrying amount (including both current and noncurrent portions of the accrual) as of the balance sheet date pertaining to a specified type of cost associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructuring pursuant to a duly authorized plan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.4(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115931487&loc=d3e140904-122747

+ Details

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

- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of known and estimated obligations associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructurings pursuant to a duly authorized plan, which are expected to be paid in the next twelve months or in the normal operating cycle if longer. Costs of such activities include those for one-time termination benefits, termination of an operating lease or other contract, consolidating or closing facilities, relocating employees, and costs associated with an ongoing benefit arrangement, but excludes costs associated with the retirement of a long-lived asset.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 5.P.4(b)(2))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115931487&loc=d3e140904-122747

+ Details

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

- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of known and estimated costs associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructurings pursuant to a duly authorized plan, which are expected to be paid after one year or beyond the next operating cycle, if longer. Costs of such activities include those for one-time termination benefits, termination of an operating lease or other contract, consolidating or closing facilities, and relocating employees, and costs associated with an ongoing benefit arrangement, but excludes costs associated with the retirement of a long-lived asset.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of foreign currency translation gain (loss) which decreases (increases) the restructuring reserve.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 5.P.4(b)(2))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115931487&loc=d3e140904-122747

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis=us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_StatementGeographicalAxis=lbtya_U.K.IrelandMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_CH
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis=us-gaap_FacilityClosingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis=us-gaap_OtherRestructuringMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=lbtya_CentralandCorporateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Restructuring Liability (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
Restructuring Liability (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring liability as of January 1, 2019, before effect of accounting change	$ 41.1
Accounting change			$ (2.4)
Restructuring liability as of January 1, 2019, as adjusted for accounting change			38.7
Restructuring charges (b)	55.5
Cash paid	(46.3)
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	(1.0)
Restructuring liability as of June 30, 2019	46.9
Current portion		$ 35.9
Noncurrent portion		11.0
Total	41.1	46.9	41.1
Employee severance and termination
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring liability as of January 1, 2019, before effect of accounting change	14.7
Accounting change			0.0
Restructuring liability as of January 1, 2019, as adjusted for accounting change			14.7
Restructuring charges (b)	52.1
Cash paid	(39.3)
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	(0.1)
Restructuring liability as of June 30, 2019	27.4
Current portion		25.9
Noncurrent portion		1.5
Total	14.7	27.4	14.7
Employee severance and termination \| U.K./Ireland
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring charges (b)	26.3
Employee severance and termination \| Switzerland
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring charges (b)	9.0
Office closures
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring liability as of January 1, 2019, before effect of accounting change	8.5
Accounting change			(2.4)
Restructuring liability as of January 1, 2019, as adjusted for accounting change			6.1
Restructuring charges (b)	1.0
Cash paid	(1.6)
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	(0.8)
Restructuring liability as of June 30, 2019	4.7
Current portion		3.7
Noncurrent portion		1.0
Total	8.5	4.7	8.5
Contract termination and other
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring liability as of January 1, 2019, before effect of accounting change	17.9
Accounting change			0.0
Restructuring liability as of January 1, 2019, as adjusted for accounting change			17.9
Restructuring charges (b)	2.4
Cash paid	(5.4)
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	(0.1)
Restructuring liability as of June 30, 2019	14.8
Current portion		6.3
Noncurrent portion		8.5
Total	17.9	$ 14.8	$ 17.9
Central and Corporate \| Employee severance and termination
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring charges (b)	$ 16.5