Equity and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income - Changes in Components of Total equity (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Equity Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance			$ 44,687
Opening balance sheet adjustment related to adoption of Topic 606, ASU 2018-02 and other ASUs (Note 1)					$ 2,906
Adjusted Beginning Balance					47,593
Net Income	$ 4,246	$ 4,478	8,912	$ 8,031
Other comprehensive loss			(84)
Total Comprehensive Income	3,746	$ 4,153	8,828	$ 7,642
Common stock			5
Contributed capital			2,337
Dividends declared			(4,875)
Common stock in treasury			149
Distributions and other			(462)
Ending Balance	53,575		53,575
Verizon
Equity Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance			43,096
Opening balance sheet adjustment related to adoption of Topic 606, ASU 2018-02 and other ASUs (Note 1)					2,862
Adjusted Beginning Balance					45,958
Net Income			8,665
Other comprehensive loss			(84)
Total Comprehensive Income			8,581
Common stock			5
Contributed capital			2,337
Dividends declared			(4,875)
Common stock in treasury			149
Distributions and other			(131)
Ending Balance	52,024		52,024
Noncontrolling Interests
Equity Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance			1,591
Opening balance sheet adjustment related to adoption of Topic 606, ASU 2018-02 and other ASUs (Note 1)					44
Adjusted Beginning Balance					$ 1,635
Net Income			247
Other comprehensive loss			0
Total Comprehensive Income			247
Common stock			0
Contributed capital			0
Dividends declared			0
Common stock in treasury			0
Distributions and other			(331)
Ending Balance	$ 1,551		$ 1,551