Repurchase of CenturyLink Common Stock (Details) (USD $) Share data in Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013
Repurchase of CenturyLink Common Stock
Stock repurchases, aggregate authorized amount	$ 2,000,000,000
Number of shares repurchased		11.1
Aggregate market price of shares repurchased		386,000,000
Average purchase price at which shares were repurchased (in dollars per share)		$ 34.62
Stock repurchases, remaining authorized amount		1,614,000,000
Number of shares agreed to be repurchased, in transactions that will settle early in the second quarter of 2013		0.9
Aggregate market value of shares agreed to be repurchased, in transactions that will settle early in the second quarter of 2013		$ 32,000,000
Average purchase price of shares agreed to be repurchased, in transactions that will settle early in the second quarter of 2013 (in dollars per share)		$ 35.08