Basis of Presentation - Reconciliation of Impact of Adoption of Topic 606 on Financial Statement (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Jan. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Operating Revenues
Operating Revenues	$ 32,607	$ 31,717	$ 96,582	$ 92,079
Selling, general and administrative expense (including net gain on sale of divested businesses of $1,774 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017)	7,224	7,483	21,673	20,112
Equity in losses of unconsolidated businesses	(3)	(22)	(250)	(71)
Income Before Provision For Income Taxes	6,675	5,511	18,256	17,660
Provision for income taxes	(1,613)	(1,775)	(4,282)	(5,893)
Net Income	5,062	3,736	13,974	11,767
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	138	116	385	335
Net income attributable to Verizon	4,924	3,620	13,589	11,432
Net Income	5,062	3,736	13,974	11,767
Current assets
Accounts receivable, net of allowance	24,012		24,012		$ 23,546	$ 23,493
Prepaid expenses and other	5,334		5,334		5,321	3,307
Investments in unconsolidated businesses	732		732		1,041	1,039
Other assets	11,275		11,275		10,966	9,787
Current liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	19,342		19,342			21,232
Other current liabilities	8,323		8,323		7,811	8,352
Deferred income taxes	35,712		35,712		32,209	31,232
Other liabilities	13,496		13,496		12,339	12,433
Equity
Retained earnings	44,091		44,091		37,867	35,635
Noncontrolling interests	1,592		1,592		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	32,532		96,318
Selling, general and administrative expense (including net gain on sale of divested businesses of $1,774 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017)	7,545		22,727
Equity in losses of unconsolidated businesses	(3)		(251)
Income Before Provision For Income Taxes	6,308		17,007
Provision for income taxes	(1,512)		(3,956)
Net Income	4,796		13,051
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	133		363
Net income attributable to Verizon	4,663		12,688
Net Income	4,796		13,051
Current assets
Accounts receivable, net of allowance	23,755		23,755
Prepaid expenses and other	3,041		3,041
Investments in unconsolidated businesses	729		729
Other assets	9,406		9,406
Current liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	18,820		18,820
Other current liabilities	8,905		8,905
Deferred income taxes	34,901		34,901
Other liabilities	13,682		13,682
Equity
Retained earnings	40,300		40,300
Noncontrolling interests	1,526		1,526
Adjustments | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Operating Revenues
Operating Revenues	75		264
Selling, general and administrative expense (including net gain on sale of divested businesses of $1,774 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017)	(321)		(1,054)
Equity in losses of unconsolidated businesses	0		1
Income Before Provision For Income Taxes	367		1,249
Provision for income taxes	(101)		(326)
Net Income	266		923
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	5		22
Net income attributable to Verizon	261		901
Net Income	266		923
Current assets
Accounts receivable, net of allowance	257		257
Prepaid expenses and other	2,293		2,293
Investments in unconsolidated businesses	3		3
Other assets	1,869		1,869
Current liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	522		522
Other current liabilities	(582)		(582)
Deferred income taxes	811		811
Other liabilities	(186)		(186)
Equity
Retained earnings	3,791		3,791
Noncontrolling interests	66		66
Service and Other
Operating Revenues
Operating Revenues	27,254	27,365	81,145	79,665
Service and Other | Balances without adoption of Topic 606
Operating Revenues
Operating Revenues	27,582		82,184
Service and Other | Adjustments | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Operating Revenues
Operating Revenues	(328)		(1,039)
Wireless equipment
Operating Revenues
Operating Revenues	5,353	4,352	15,437	12,414
Cost of services and equipment	5,489	4,965	16,195	14,808
Wireless equipment | Balances without adoption of Topic 606
Operating Revenues
Operating Revenues	4,950		14,134
Cost of services and equipment	5,449		16,087
Wireless equipment | Adjustments | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Operating Revenues
Operating Revenues	403		1,303
Cost of services and equipment	40		108
Service
Operating Revenues
Cost of services and equipment	7,842	$ 8,009	24,022	$ 22,697
Service | Balances without adoption of Topic 606
Operating Revenues
Cost of services and equipment	7,853		24,060
Service | Adjustments | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Operating Revenues
Cost of services and equipment	$ (11)		$ (38)