Equity and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Changes in Components of Total equity (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance			$ 69,272
Net income attributable to Verizon	$ 6,407	$ 4,357	17,452	$ 13,213
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(146)	124	(126)	81
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	(174)	505	(42)	(1,391)
Unrealized gain on marketable securities	0	2	(5)	7
Defined benefit pension and postretirement plans	(155)	(169)	(465)	(507)
Other comprehensive income (loss)			$ (638)
Shareholder plans (in shares)			2,000
Total comprehensive income	6,079	4,966	$ 17,243	11,820
Ending Balance	$ 78,489	$ 66,530	$ 78,489	$ 66,530
Dividends declared per common share (USD per share)	$ 0.6400	$ 0.6275	$ 1.8950	$ 1.8575
Accounting standards update				Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member]
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	13,403	13,281	13,404	13,419
Other	(1)	123	(2)	(15)
Ending Balance	13,402	13,404	13,402	13,404
Retained Earnings
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	66,310	56,746	60,464	53,147
Other	(4)	(33)	(4)	0
Net income attributable to Verizon	6,407	4,357	17,452	13,213
Dividends declared	(2,651)	(2,597)	(7,850)	(7,687)
Ending Balance	70,062	58,473	70,062	58,473
Retained Earnings | Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance			0	(200)
Retained Earnings | Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance			60,464	52,947
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(234)	(1,274)	(71)	998
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(146)	124	(126)	81
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	(174)	505	(42)	(1,391)
Unrealized gain on marketable securities	0	2	(5)	7
Defined benefit pension and postretirement plans	(155)	(169)	(465)	(507)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(475)	462	(638)	(1,810)
Ending Balance	(709)	(812)	(709)	(812)
Treasury Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$ (6,632)	$ (6,722)	$ (6,719)	$ (6,820)
Beginning balance (in shares)	151,318	153,380	153,304	155,606
Employee plans (in shares)	48	41	2,031	2,263
Employee plans	$ 2	$ 1	$ 89	$ 99
Shareholder plans (in shares)			3	4
Shareholder plans			$ 0	$ 0
Ending Balance (in shares)	151,270	153,339	151,270	153,339
Ending Balance	$ (6,630)	$ (6,721)	$ (6,630)	$ (6,721)
Deferred Compensation-ESOPs and Other
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	408	237	335	222
Restricted stock equity grant	85	62	315	234
Amortization	(3)	(3)	(160)	(160)
Ending Balance	490	296	490	296
Noncontrolling Interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	1,428	1,416	1,430	1,440
Total comprehensive income	147	147	429	417
Distributions and other	(130)	(102)	(414)	(396)
Ending Balance	$ 1,445	$ 1,461	$ 1,445	$ 1,461