Repurchase of CenturyLink Common Stock (Details) (USD $) Share data in Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2013	Feb. 20, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Stock repurchases, aggregate authorized amount	$ 2,000,000,000
Number of shares repurchased (shares)		51.8	45.7
Aggregate market price of shares repurchased		1,750,000,000	1,570,000,000
Average purchase price at which shares were repurchased (in dollars per share)		$ 33.78	$ 34.26
Stock repurchases, remaining authorized amount			433,000,000
Aggregate market value of shares agreed to be repurchased, in transactions that will settle early in the fourth quarter of 2013			$ 29,000,000
Average purchase price of shares agreed to be repurchased, in transactions that will settle early in the fourth quarter of 2013 (in dollars per share)			$ 31.90