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		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jan. 01, 2020	Jan. 01, 2019
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance			$ 62,835
Net income attributable to Verizon	$ 4,700	$ 3,944	8,856	$ 8,976
Foreign currency translation adjustments	77	(67)	(43)	(43)
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	314	(537)	(1,896)	(550)
Unrealized gain on marketable securities	6	4	5	8
Defined benefit pension and postretirement plans	(169)	(169)	(338)	(338)
Other comprehensive income (loss)			$ (2,272)
Shareholder plans (in shares)			2,200
Total comprehensive income	5,067	3,305	$ 6,854	8,311
Ending Balance	$ 64,113	$ 57,947	$ 64,113	$ 57,947
Dividends declared per common share (USD per share)	$ 0.6150	$ 0.6025	$ 1.2300	$ 1.2050
Common Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$ 429	$ 429	$ 429	$ 429
Beginning balance (in shares)	4,291,434	4,291,434	4,291,434	4,291,434
Ending Balance (in shares)	4,291,434	4,291,434	4,291,434	4,291,434
Ending Balance	$ 429	$ 429	$ 429	$ 429
Additional Paid In Capital
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	13,302	13,418	13,419	13,437
Other	(21)	1	(138)	(18)
Ending Balance	13,281	13,419	13,281	13,419
Retained Earnings
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	54,557	46,493	53,147	43,542
Opening balance sheet adjustment					$ (200)	$ 410
Adjusted Beginning Balance					52,947	43,952
Other	33	0	33	0
Net income attributable to Verizon	4,700	3,944	8,856	8,976
Dividends declared	(2,544)	(2,492)	(5,090)	(4,983)
Ending Balance	56,746	47,945	56,746	47,945
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(1,502)	2,216	998	2,370
Foreign currency translation adjustments	77	(67)	(43)	(43)
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	314	(537)	(1,896)	(550)
Unrealized gain on marketable securities	6	4	5	8
Defined benefit pension and postretirement plans	(169)	(169)	(338)	(338)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	228	(769)	(2,272)	(923)
Ending Balance	(1,274)	1,447	(1,274)	1,447
Treasury Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$ (6,725)	$ (6,825)	$ (6,820)	$ (6,986)
Beginning balance (in shares)	153,438	155,727	155,606	159,400
Employee plans (in shares)	58	58	2,222	3,726
Employee plans	$ 3	$ 2	$ 98	$ 163
Shareholder plans (in shares)			4	5
Shareholder plans			$ 0	$ 0
Ending Balance (in shares)	153,380	155,669	153,380	155,669
Ending Balance	$ (6,722)	$ (6,823)	$ (6,722)	$ (6,823)
Deferred Compensation-ESOPs and Other
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	149	125	222	353
Restricted stock equity grant	157	44	172	79
Amortization	(69)	(4)	(157)	(267)
Ending Balance	237	165	237	165
Noncontrolling Interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	1,443	1,604	1,440	1,565
Opening balance sheet adjustment					0	1
Adjusted Beginning Balance					$ 1,440	$ 1,566
Total comprehensive income	139	130	270	258
Distributions and other	(166)	(369)	(294)	(459)
Ending Balance	$ 1,416	$ 1,365	$ 1,416	$ 1,365