Basis of Presentation - Reconciliation of Impact of Adoption of Topic 606 on Financial Statement (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jan. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Operating Revenues
Operating Revenues	$ 32,203	$ 30,548	$ 63,975	$ 60,362
Selling, general and administrative expense (including net gain on sale of divested businesses of $1,774 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017)	7,605	5,883	14,449	12,629
Equity in losses of unconsolidated businesses	(228)	(28)	(247)	(49)
Income Before Provision For Income Taxes	5,527	6,967	11,581	12,149
Provision for income taxes	(1,281)	(2,489)	(2,669)	(4,118)
Net Income	4,246	4,478	8,912	8,031
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	126	116	247	219
Net income attributable to Verizon	4,120	4,362	8,665	7,812
Net Income	4,246	4,478	8,912	8,031
Current assets
Accounts receivable, net of allowance	23,099		23,099		$ 23,546	$ 23,493
Prepaid expenses and other	4,925		4,925		5,321	3,307
Investments in unconsolidated businesses	787		787		1,041	1,039
Other assets	10,943		10,943		10,966	9,787
Current liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	18,560		18,560			21,232
Other current liabilities	8,303		8,303		7,811	8,352
Deferred income taxes	35,069		35,069		32,209	31,232
Other liabilities	13,201		13,201		12,339	12,433
Equity
Retained earnings	41,657		41,657		37,867	35,635
Noncontrolling interests	1,551		1,551		1,635	$ 1,591
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Current assets
Accounts receivable, net of allowance					53
Prepaid expenses and other					2,014
Investments in unconsolidated businesses					2
Other assets					1,238
Current liabilities
Other current liabilities					(541)
Deferred income taxes					1,008
Other liabilities					(94)
Equity
Retained earnings					2,890
Noncontrolling interests					$ 44
Balances without adoption of Topic 606
Operating Revenues
Operating Revenues	32,059		63,786
Selling, general and administrative expense (including net gain on sale of divested businesses of $1,774 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017)	7,948		15,182
Equity in losses of unconsolidated businesses	(229)		(248)
Income Before Provision For Income Taxes	5,068		10,699
Provision for income taxes	(1,164)		(2,444)
Net Income	3,904		8,255
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	116		230
Net income attributable to Verizon	3,788		8,025
Net Income	3,904		8,255
Current assets
Accounts receivable, net of allowance	22,895		22,895
Prepaid expenses and other	2,790		2,790
Investments in unconsolidated businesses	784		784
Other assets	9,200		9,200
Current liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	18,233		18,233
Other current liabilities	8,938		8,938
Deferred income taxes	34,164		34,164
Other liabilities	13,304		13,304
Equity
Retained earnings	38,109		38,109
Noncontrolling interests	1,508		1,508
Adjustments | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Operating Revenues
Operating Revenues	144		189
Selling, general and administrative expense (including net gain on sale of divested businesses of $1,774 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017)	(343)		(733)
Equity in losses of unconsolidated businesses	1		1
Income Before Provision For Income Taxes	459		882
Provision for income taxes	(117)		(225)
Net Income	342		657
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	10		17
Net income attributable to Verizon	332		640
Net Income	342		657
Current assets
Accounts receivable, net of allowance	204		204
Prepaid expenses and other	2,135		2,135
Investments in unconsolidated businesses	3		3
Other assets	1,743		1,743
Current liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	327		327
Other current liabilities	(635)		(635)
Deferred income taxes	905		905
Other liabilities	(103)		(103)
Equity
Retained earnings	3,548		3,548
Noncontrolling interests	43		43
Service and Other
Operating Revenues
Operating Revenues	27,159	26,250	53,891	52,300
Service and Other | Balances without adoption of Topic 606
Operating Revenues
Operating Revenues	27,469		54,602
Service and Other | Adjustments | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Operating Revenues
Operating Revenues	(310)		(711)
Wireless equipment
Operating Revenues
Operating Revenues	5,044	4,298	10,084	8,062
Cost of services and equipment	5,397	5,035	10,706	9,843
Wireless equipment | Balances without adoption of Topic 606
Operating Revenues
Operating Revenues	4,590		9,184
Cost of services and equipment	5,351		10,638
Wireless equipment | Adjustments | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Operating Revenues
Operating Revenues	454		900
Cost of services and equipment	46		68
Service
Operating Revenues
Cost of services and equipment	8,234	$ 7,449	16,180	$ 14,688
Service | Balances without adoption of Topic 606
Operating Revenues
Cost of services and equipment	8,251		16,207
Service | Adjustments | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Operating Revenues
Cost of services and equipment	$ (17)		$ (27)