Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Schedule of carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt, excluding capital lease obligations, and input level to determine fair values

The following table presents the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of CenturyLink, Inc.'s financial liabilities as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018:

		September 30, 2019			December 31, 2018
	Input Level	Carrying Amount		Fair Value	Carrying Amount	Fair Value
		(Dollars in millions)
Long-term debt, excluding finance lease and other obligations	2	$	34,911	35,739	35,260	32,915
Interest rate swap contracts (see Note 10)	2	71		71	—	—