Revenues and Contract Costs - Revenue by Category (Details) $ in Billions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) segment	Dec. 31, 2017
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Fixed-term service contract term		24 months
Number of reportable segments \| segment		2
Revenues from leasing arrangements, captive reinsurance arrangements and interest on equipment financed	$ 1.1	$ 3.4
Percentage of retail postpaid connections with fixed-term service plans	15.00%	15.00%	19.00%
Contract assets impairment charge		$ (0.1)
Amortization of deferred contract costs	$ 0.5	1.4
Media Business
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	1.8	5.6
Telematics Business Branded Verizon Connect
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	$ 0.2	$ 0.7
Wireless
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Percentage of month-to-month contracts of total service contracts	85.00%	85.00%
Wireline
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Percentage of month-to-month contracts of total service contracts	56.00%	56.00%

Amount of amortization expense for asset recognized from cost incurred to obtain or fulfill contract with customer.

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Amount of credit loss recognized for write-down of right to consideration in exchange for good or service transferred to customer when right is conditioned on something other than passage of time.

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