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Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities    
Capital lease and other obligations $ 479ctl_CapitalLeaseAndOtherObligations $ 509ctl_CapitalLeaseAndOtherObligations
Unamortized discounts, net 115us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumNet 111us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumNet
Total long-term debt 20,456us-gaap_DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations 20,671us-gaap_DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations
Less current maturities (202)us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent (550)us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities 20,254us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations 20,121us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations
CenturyLink, Inc. | Senior notes    
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities    
Long-term debt, gross 7,975us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
7,825us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
CenturyLink, Inc. | Medium-term notes    
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities    
Long-term debt, gross 374us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_MediumTermNotesMember
380us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_MediumTermNotesMember
Interest rate at period end - Term Loan (percent) 1.93%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_MediumTermNotesMember
 
CenturyLink, Inc. | Minimum | Senior notes    
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities    
Stated interest rate (percent) 5.15%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
 
CenturyLink, Inc. | Maximum | Senior notes    
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities    
Stated interest rate (percent) 7.65%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
 
Qwest Corporation | Senior notes    
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities    
Long-term debt, gross 7,311us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= ctl_QwestCorporationMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
7,311us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= ctl_QwestCorporationMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Qwest Corporation | Medium-term notes    
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities    
Long-term debt, gross 100us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= ctl_QwestCorporationMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_MediumTermNotesMember
0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= ctl_QwestCorporationMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_MediumTermNotesMember
Interest rate at period end - Term Loan (percent) 1.93%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= ctl_QwestCorporationMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_MediumTermNotesMember
 
Qwest Corporation | Minimum | Senior notes    
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities    
Stated interest rate (percent) 6.125%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= ctl_QwestCorporationMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
 
Qwest Corporation | Maximum | Senior notes    
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities    
Stated interest rate (percent) 8.375%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= ctl_QwestCorporationMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
 
Qwest Capital Funding, Inc. | Senior notes    
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities    
Long-term debt, gross 981us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= ctl_QwestCapitalFundingIncMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
981us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= ctl_QwestCapitalFundingIncMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Qwest Capital Funding, Inc. | Minimum | Senior notes    
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities    
Stated interest rate (percent) 6.50%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= ctl_QwestCapitalFundingIncMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
 
Qwest Capital Funding, Inc. | Maximum | Senior notes    
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities    
Stated interest rate (percent) 7.75%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= ctl_QwestCapitalFundingIncMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
 
Embarq | Senior notes    
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities    
Long-term debt, gross 2,669us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= ctl_EmbarqMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
2,669us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= ctl_EmbarqMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Embarq | First mortgage bonds    
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities    
Long-term debt, gross 232us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= ctl_EmbarqMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_MortgagesMember
232us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= ctl_EmbarqMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_MortgagesMember
Embarq | Other    
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities    
Long-term debt, gross 150us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= ctl_EmbarqMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_NotesPayableOtherPayablesMember
150us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= ctl_EmbarqMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_NotesPayableOtherPayablesMember
Stated interest rate (percent) 9.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= ctl_EmbarqMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_NotesPayableOtherPayablesMember
 
Embarq | Minimum | Senior notes    
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities    
Stated interest rate (percent) 7.082%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= ctl_EmbarqMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
 
Embarq | Minimum | First mortgage bonds    
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities    
Stated interest rate (percent) 7.125%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= ctl_EmbarqMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_MortgagesMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
 
Embarq | Maximum | Senior notes    
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities    
Stated interest rate (percent) 7.995%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= ctl_EmbarqMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
 
Embarq | Maximum | First mortgage bonds    
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities    
Stated interest rate (percent) 8.77%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= ctl_EmbarqMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_MortgagesMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
 
Revolving credit facility | CenturyLink, Inc. | Line of credit    
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities    
Long-term debt, gross $ 300us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember
$ 725us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember
Long-term debt, weighted average interest rate (percent) 1.93%us-gaap_LongtermDebtWeightedAverageInterestRate
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember
2.27%us-gaap_LongtermDebtWeightedAverageInterestRate
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember
Revolving credit facility | CenturyLink, Inc. | Minimum | Line of credit    
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities    
Interest rate at period end - Credit Facility (percent) 1.91%us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateAtPeriodEnd
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
 
Revolving credit facility | CenturyLink, Inc. | Maximum | Line of credit    
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities    
Interest rate at period end - Credit Facility (percent) 4.00%us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateAtPeriodEnd
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember