Equity and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income - Changes in Components of Total equity (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019	Jan. 01, 2020	Jan. 01, 2019
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$ 62,835
Net income attributable to Verizon	4,156	$ 5,032
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(120)	24
Unrealized loss on cash flow hedges, net of tax of $792 and $5	(2,210)	(13)
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	(1)	4
Defined benefit pension and postretirement plans	(169)	(169)
Other comprehensive loss	$ (2,500)
Shareholder plans (in shares)	2,200
Total comprehensive income	$ 1,787	5,006
Ending Balance	$ 61,653	$ 57,460
Dividends declared per common share (USD per share)	$ 0.615	$ 0.6025
Common Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$ 429	$ 429
Beginning balance (in shares)	4,291,434	4,291,434
Ending Balance (in shares)	4,291,434	4,291,434
Ending Balance	$ 429	$ 429
Additional Paid In Capital
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	13,419	13,437
Other	(117)	(19)
Ending Balance	13,302	13,418
Retained Earnings
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	53,147	43,542
Opening balance sheet adjustment			$ (200)	$ 410
Adjusted Beginning Balance			52,947	43,952
Net income attributable to Verizon	4,156	5,032
Dividends declared ($0.6150, $0.6025 per share)	(2,546)	(2,491)
Ending Balance	54,557	46,493
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	998	2,370
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(120)	24
Unrealized loss on cash flow hedges, net of tax of $792 and $5	(2,210)	(13)
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	(1)	4
Defined benefit pension and postretirement plans	(169)	(169)
Other comprehensive loss	(2,500)	(154)
Ending Balance	(1,502)	2,216
Treasury Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$ (6,820)	$ (6,986)
Beginning balance (in shares)	155,606	159,400
Employee plans (in shares)	2,164	3,668
Employee plans	$ 95	$ 161
Shareholder plans (in shares)	4	5
Shareholder plans	$ 0	$ 0
Ending Balance (in shares)	153,438	155,727
Ending Balance	$ (6,725)	$ (6,825)
Deferred Compensation-ESOPs and Other
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	222	353
Restricted stock equity grant	15	35
Amortization	(88)	(263)
Ending Balance	149	125
Noncontrolling Interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	1,440	1,565
Opening balance sheet adjustment			0	1
Adjusted Beginning Balance			$ 1,440	$ 1,566
Total comprehensive income	131	128
Distributions and other	(128)	(90)
Ending Balance	$ 1,443	$ 1,604