Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				1 Months Ended		1 Months Ended				6 Months Ended		1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended		1 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011 CenturyLink, Inc.	Dec. 31, 2010 CenturyLink, Inc.	Jun. 30, 2011 CenturyLink, Inc. Senior notes	May 31, 2011 CenturyLink, Inc. Senior notes	Jun. 30, 2011 CenturyLink, Inc. 7.60% Senior Notes, Series P, due 2039	Jun. 30, 2011 CenturyLink, Inc. 5.15% Senior Notes, Series R, due 2017	Jun. 30, 2011 CenturyLink, Inc. 6.45% Senior Notes, Series S, due 2021	Jan. 31, 2011 CenturyLink, Inc. Revolving credit facility	Jun. 30, 2011 CenturyLink, Inc. Revolving credit facility	Jun. 30, 2011 CenturyLink, Inc. Uncommitted revolving letter of credit facility	Jun. 30, 2011 CenturyLink, Inc. Bridge financing	Apr. 30, 2011 CenturyLink, Inc. Bridge financing	Jun. 30, 2011 CenturyLink, Inc. Bridge financing	Jun. 30, 2011 CenturyLink, Inc. Bridge financing	Apr. 30, 2011 Qwest	Jun. 30, 2011 Qwest	Apr. 02, 2011 Qwest	Jun. 30, 2011 Qwest Corporation 7.375% Notes due June 1, 2051	Jun. 30, 2011 Qwest Corporation 7.875% Notes due 2011	Jun. 08, 2011 Qwest Corporation 7.875% Notes due 2011	Jun. 30, 2011 Embarq Corporation	Dec. 31, 2010 Embarq Corporation	Jun. 30, 2011 Other	Dec. 31, 2010 Other
Principal Amount
Total long-term debt	$ 20,926		$ 4,519															$ 11,796					$ 4,535		$ 76
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities	19,316
Premiums, Discounts and Other, net
Total long-term debt	418		(24)															615					(173)
Carrying Amount
Less current maturities	1,610	12
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities	19,734	7,316
Number of subsidiaries																		2
Principal amount of notes and debentures at time of acquisition																	11,598
Interest rate range, minimum (as a percent)																	6.50%
Interest rate range, maximum (as a percent)																	8.875%
Weighted average interest rate (as a percent)																			7.63%
Estimated fair value of notes and debentures																			12,292
Estimated fair value of capital lease and other obligations																			383
Amount by which the fair value of debt exceeds the principal amount on the date of acquisition																			693
Interest rate, stated percentage (as a percent)							7.60%	5.15%	6.45%											7.375%		7.875%
Principal amount of notes issued					2,000.00		400.00	350.00	1,250.00											661.00
Net proceeds from issuance of debt					1,959															643
Redemption price of debt instrument that may be redeemed on or after June 1, 2016 (as a percent)																				100.00%
Repayments of notes																					825
Variable rate basis in which principal and interest payments are discounted in determining redemption price					U.S. Treasury security rate
Basis points over Treasury rate (as a percent)					0.50%
Number of banks from which commitment letters received														2
Maximum borrowing capacity										1,000	1,700	160		2,000
Termination fees													16		16	16
Number of forward interest rate swap contracts						5
Aggregate maturities of long term debt
Remainder of 2011 (classified as current)	61
2012 (including $1,549 classified as current)	1,929
2013	1,657
2014	2,006
2015	1,349
Thereafter	13,924
The portion of the aggregate maturities of long-term debt for the year ending December 31, 2012 which are classified as current	1,549
Term of credit facility (in years)										4	4
Maximum available for the issuance of letters of credit											400
Letters of credit outstanding	131										61	70
Available borrowing capacity											1,639
Total long-term debt	$ 21,344	$ 7,328	$ 4,495	$ 2,885														$ 12,411					$ 4,362	$ 4,360	$ 76	$ 83