Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities-Table (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Total long-term debt	$ 21,044	[1]
Capital lease and other obligations	619		734
Unamortized premiums, discounts and other, net	78		(18)
Total long-term debt	20,966		20,605
Current maturities of long-term debt	(785)		(1,205)
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities	20,181		19,400
CenturyLink, Inc. | Senior notes
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Total long-term debt	7,825		6,250
CenturyLink, Inc. | Credit facility
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Total long-term debt	725		820
Weighted average interest rate (as a percent)	2.176%		2.45%
CenturyLink, Inc. | Term loan
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Interest rate, stated percentage (percent)	2.42%
Total long-term debt	402		424
Qwest Corporation | Senior notes
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Total long-term debt	8,392		9,168
Embarq Corporation | Senior notes
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Total long-term debt	2,669		2,669
Embarq Corporation | First mortgage bonds
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Total long-term debt	262		322
Embarq Corporation | Other
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Total long-term debt	$ 150		$ 200
Minimum | CenturyLink, Inc. | Senior notes
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Interest rate, stated percentage (percent)	5.00%
Minimum | CenturyLink, Inc. | Credit facility
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Interest rate, stated percentage (percent)	2.179%	[2]
Minimum | Qwest Corporation | Senior notes
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Interest rate, stated percentage (percent)	6.125%
Minimum | Embarq Corporation | Senior notes
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Interest rate, stated percentage (percent)	7.082%
Minimum | Embarq Corporation | First mortgage bonds
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Interest rate, stated percentage (percent)	7.125%
Maximum | CenturyLink, Inc. | Senior notes
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Interest rate, stated percentage (percent)	7.65%
Maximum | CenturyLink, Inc. | Credit facility
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Interest rate, stated percentage (percent)	4.25%	[2]
Maximum | Qwest Corporation | Senior notes
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Interest rate, stated percentage (percent)	8.375%
Maximum | Embarq Corporation | Senior notes
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Interest rate, stated percentage (percent)	7.995%
Maximum | Embarq Corporation | First mortgage bonds
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Interest rate, stated percentage (percent)	8.77%
Maximum | Embarq Corporation | Other
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Interest rate, stated percentage (percent)	9.00%

[1] Actual principal paid in all years may differ due to the possible future refinancing of outstanding debt or the issuance of new debt.

[2] The outstanding amounts of our Credit Facility borrowings at December 31, 2013 and 2012 were $725 million and $820 million, respectively, with weighted average interest rates of 2.176% and 2.450%, respectively. These amounts change on a regular basis.