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Share-based Compensation (Details) - USD ($)
$ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Millions
2 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Nov. 02, 2017
Nov. 01, 2017
Mar. 31, 2017
Mar. 31, 2016
Mar. 30, 2015
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2017
Jun. 30, 2017
Mar. 31, 2017
Mar. 31, 2016
Sep. 30, 2015
Mar. 31, 2015
Sep. 30, 2016
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Oct. 31, 2017
Share-based compensation, aggregate disclosures                                    
Compensation cost                             $ 111 $ 80 $ 73  
Tax benefit recognized in the income statement for share-based payment arrangements                             28 $ 31 28  
Unrecognized compensation cost $ 240           $ 240 $ 240             $ 240      
Weighted-average recognition period                             1 year 11 months      
Stock options                                    
Share-based compensation                                    
Option expiration term (in years)                             10 years      
Summary of stock options activity                                    
Outstanding at December 31, 2016                   3,008         3,008      
Exercised                             (12)      
Forfeited/Expired                             (1,974)      
Outstanding at December 31, 2017 1,022           1,022 1,022             1,022 3,008    
Exercisable at December 31 1,023           1,023 1,023             1,023 3,008    
Summary of stock options weighted-average exercise price activity                                    
Exercised (in dollars per share)                             $ 10.75      
Forfeited/Expired (in dollars per share)                             46.82      
Outstanding at December 31, 2017 (in dollars per share)                               $ 40.08    
Exercisable at December 31 (in dollars per share) $ 27.41           $ 27.41 $ 27.41             $ 27.41 $ 40.08    
Stock options additional disclosures                                    
Outstanding at the end of the period, intrinsic value $ 1           $ 1 $ 1             $ 1      
Exercisable at the end of the period, intrinsic value $ 1           $ 1 $ 1             $ 1      
Outstanding options weighted-average remaining contractual term                             1 year 5 months 10 days      
Exercisable options weighted- average remaining contractual term                             1 year 5 months 10 days      
Net cash proceeds received in connection with option exercises (less than $1 million)                             $ 1      
Tax benefit realized from option exercises (less than $1 million)                             1      
Total intrinsic value of options exercised (less than $1 million)                             $ 1 $ 1 $ 4  
Restricted Stock                                    
Summary of restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity                                    
Nonvested at the beginning of the period (in shares)                   5,948         5,948      
Granted (in shares) 1,100     2,000 1,900     948 894 784 766   496   5,223 3,600    
Vested (in shares)                             (2,762)      
Forfeited (in shares)                             (1,165)      
Nonvested at the end of the period (in shares) 19,774           19,774 19,774             19,774 5,948    
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value                                    
Nonvested at the beginning of the period (in dollars per share)                   $ 31.89         $ 31.89      
Granted (in dollars per share)                             22.02 $ 30.83 $ 31.83  
Vested (in dollars per share)                             28.55      
Forfeited (in dollars per share)                             26.43      
Nonvested at the end of the period (in dollars per share) $ 21.90           $ 21.90 $ 21.90             $ 21.90 $ 31.89    
Total fair value of awards vested during the period                             $ 60 $ 47 $ 59  
Restricted Stock | Minimum                                    
Restricted stock awards                                    
Percentage of target award (as a percent)                             0.00%      
Restricted Stock | Maximum                                    
Restricted stock awards                                    
Percentage of target award (as a percent)                             200.00%      
Service conditions | Restricted Stock                                    
Share-based compensation                                    
Vesting period                               3 years 3 years  
Summary of restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity                                    
Granted (in shares)               493             4,700 3,100 2,600  
Service conditions | Restricted Stock | Minimum                                    
Share-based compensation                                    
Vesting period                       3 years   3 years 1 year      
Service conditions | Restricted Stock | Maximum                                    
Share-based compensation                                    
Vesting period                       7 years   7 years 2 years      
Services conditions and either market or performance conditions | Restricted Stock                                    
Share-based compensation                                    
Vesting period                             3 years      
Summary of restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity                                    
Granted (in shares)                             1,300 700 300  
Target number of shares | Restricted Stock | Minimum                                    
Restricted stock awards                                    
Percentage of target award (as a percent)                 80.00%                  
Target number of shares | Restricted Stock | Maximum                                    
Restricted stock awards                                    
Percentage of target award (as a percent)                 120.00%                  
Service conditions, performance conditions or target number of shares | Restricted Stock                                    
Summary of restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity                                    
Granted (in shares)                             6,000 3,800 2,900  
Level 3 Communications, Inc.                                    
Share-based compensation                                    
Price per share of stock in business acquisition (per share)     $ 26.50                              
Level 3 Communications, Inc. | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)                                    
Share-based compensation                                    
Preliminary aggregate fair value of Level 3 RSUs at acquisition     $ 239                              
Nonvested Continuing RSUs compensation not yet recognized $ 137           $ 137 $ 137             $ 137      
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value                                    
Total fair value of awards vested during the period   $ 103                                
Level 3 Communications, Inc. | Restricted Stock                                    
Summary of restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity                                    
Level 3 replacement awards (in shares)             12,530                      
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value                                    
Level 3 replacement awards (in dollars per share)                                   $ 18.99
Level 3 Communications, Inc. | Common Stock                                    
Share-based compensation                                    
Stock per share issuable in business acquisition, Description   1.4286 shares of our common stock 1.4286 shares of CenturyLink common stock                              
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value                                    
Level 3 replacement awards (in dollars per share)                                   $ 18.99
Level 3 Communications, Inc. | Common Stock | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)                                    
Share-based compensation                                    
Stock per share issuable in business acquisition, Description   each outstanding Level 3 restricted stock unit award granted on or after April 1, 2014 (other than these granted to outside directors of Level 3) was converted into a CenturyLink restricted stock unit award using a conversion ratio of 2.8386 to 1 as determined in accordance with a formula set forth in the merger agreement (the "Continuing RSU Awards") Each outstanding Level 3 restricted stock unit award granted on or after April 1, 2014 (other than those granted to outside directors of Level 3) was converted into a CenturyLink restricted stock unit award using a conversion ratio of 2.8386 to 1 as determined in accordance with a formula set forth in the merger agreement (“the Continuing RSU Awards”)                              
Awards vesting equally on February 21, 2018, 2019 and 2020 | Service conditions | Restricted Stock                                    
Summary of restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity                                    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Description                   314                
Awards vesting on February 21, 2020 | Services conditions and either market or performance conditions | Restricted Stock                                    
Summary of restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity                                    
Granted (in shares)                   470                
Awards vesting equally on February 20, 2018, 2019 and 2020 | Service conditions | Restricted Stock                                    
Summary of restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity                                    
Granted (in shares)       1,800                            
Awards vesting on February 20, 2020 | Services conditions and either market or performance conditions | Restricted Stock                                    
Summary of restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity                                    
Granted (in shares)       200                            
Awards vesting on June 1, 2018, 2019 and 2020 | Service conditions | Restricted Stock                                    
Summary of restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity                                    
Granted (in shares)                 647                  
Awards vesting on December 15, 2018 and 2019 | Services conditions and either market or performance conditions | Restricted Stock                                    
Summary of restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity                                    
Granted (in shares)                 125                  
Awards vesting on December 15, 2018 | Target number of shares | Restricted Stock                                    
Summary of restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity                                    
Granted (in shares)                 122                  
Awards vesting on March 31, 2019 and November 1, 2020 | Services conditions and either market or performance conditions | Restricted Stock                                    
Summary of restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity                                    
Granted (in shares)               455                    
Awards vesting on November 1, 2019 and 2020 | Service conditions | Restricted Stock                                    
Summary of restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity                                    
Granted (in shares) 911                                  
Awards vesting on November 1, 2018, 2019 and 2020 | Service conditions | Restricted Stock                                    
Summary of restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity                                    
Granted (in shares) 187                                  
Awards vesting equally on February 23, 2017, 2018 and 2019 | Service conditions | Restricted Stock                                    
Summary of restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity                                    
Granted (in shares)                     306              
Awards vesting on February 23, 2019 | Services conditions and either market or performance conditions | Restricted Stock                                    
Summary of restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity                                    
Granted (in shares)                     460              
Awards vesting equally on February 25, 2017, 2018, and 2019 | Service conditions | Restricted Stock                                    
Summary of restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity                                    
Granted (in shares)         1,700                          
Awards vesting on February 25, 2019 | Services conditions and either market or performance conditions | Restricted Stock                                    
Summary of restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity                                    
Granted (in shares)         200                          
Awards vesting on August 16, 2019 | Service conditions | Restricted Stock                                    
Summary of restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity                                    
Granted (in shares)                           113        
Awards vesting on August 16, 2021 | Service conditions | Restricted Stock                                    
Summary of restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity                                    
Granted (in shares)                           322        
Awards vesting on August 16, 2023 | Service conditions | Restricted Stock                                    
Summary of restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity                                    
Granted (in shares)                           209        
Awards vesting on January 13, 2021 | Service conditions | Restricted Stock                                    
Summary of restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity                                    
Granted (in shares)                           22        
Awards vesting on January 13, 2023 | Service conditions | Restricted Stock                                    
Summary of restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity                                    
Granted (in shares)                           22        
Awards vesting equally on February 23, 2016, 2017 and 2018 | Service conditions | Restricted Stock                                    
Summary of restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity                                    
Granted (in shares)                         198          
Awards vesting on February 23, 2018 | Services conditions and either market or performance conditions | Restricted Stock                                    
Summary of restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity                                    
Granted (in shares)                         298          
Awards vesting equally on March 12, 2016, 2017 and 2018 | Service conditions | Restricted Stock                                    
Summary of restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity                                    
Granted (in shares)           1,200                        
Awards vesting on August 14, 2018 | Service conditions | Restricted Stock                                    
Summary of restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity                                    
Granted (in shares)                       193            
Awards vesting on August 14, 2020 | Service conditions | Restricted Stock                                    
Summary of restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity                                    
Granted (in shares)                       423            
Awards vesting on August 14, 2022 | Service conditions | Restricted Stock                                    
Summary of restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity                                    
Granted (in shares)                       230            
Awards vesting equally on August 14, 2017, 2019 and 2021 | Service conditions | Restricted Stock                                    
Summary of restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity                                    
Granted (in shares)                       55