Debt - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Billions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds from long-term borrowings	$ 18.7	$ 10.8
Repayments of debt and capital lease obligations	23.9	14.6
Asset-Backed Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds from long-term borrowings	8.6	4.8
Repayments of debt	$ 6.3	$ 3.6

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow from a debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118932676&loc=d3e3255-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow during the period from the repayment of aggregate short-term and long-term debt. Excludes payment of capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118932676&loc=d3e3291-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RepaymentsOfDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of cash outflow for short-term and long-term debt and lease obligation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RepaymentsOfDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=vz_AssetBackedDebtMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: