Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid In Capital	Retained Earnings	Retained Earnings Opening balance sheet adjustment (Note 1)	Retained Earnings Adjusted opening balance	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Treasury Stock	Deferred Compensation-ESOPs and Other	Noncontrolling Interests	Noncontrolling Interests Opening balance sheet adjustment (Note 1)	Noncontrolling Interests Adjusted opening balance
Balance at beginning of year (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018		4,291,434						159,400
Balance at beginning of year at Dec. 31, 2018		$ 429	$ 13,437	$ 43,542	$ 410	$ 43,952	$ 2,370	$ (6,986)	$ 353	$ 1,565	$ 1	$ 1,566
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Other			(18)
Net income attributable to Verizon	$ 19,265			19,265
Dividends declared ($2.535, $2.485, $2.435 per share)				(10,070)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	16						16
Unrealized loss on cash flow hedges	(736)						(736)
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	7						7
Defined benefit pension and postretirement plans	(659)						(659)
Net other comprehensive income (loss)	$ (1,372)						(1,372)
Employee plans (in shares)								3,790
Employee plans								$ 166
Shareowner plans (in shares)	3,800							4
Shareowner plans								$ 0
Restricted stock equity grant									140
Amortization									(271)
Total comprehensive income	$ 18,416									523
Distributions and other										(649)
Balance at end of year (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019		4,291,434						155,606
Balance at end of year at Dec. 31, 2019	62,835	$ 429	13,419	53,147	(200)	52,947	998	$ (6,820)	222	1,440	0	1,440
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Other			(15)
Net income attributable to Verizon	17,801			17,801
Dividends declared ($2.535, $2.485, $2.435 per share)				(10,284)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	180						180
Unrealized loss on cash flow hedges	(571)						(571)
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	(2)						(2)
Defined benefit pension and postretirement plans	(676)						(676)
Net other comprehensive income (loss)	$ (1,069)						(1,069)
Employee plans (in shares)								2,298
Employee plans								$ 101
Shareowner plans (in shares)	2,300							4
Shareowner plans								$ 0
Restricted stock equity grant									275
Amortization									(162)
Total comprehensive income	$ 17,279									547
Distributions and other										(557)
Balance at end of year (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020		4,291,434						153,304
Balance at end of year at Dec. 31, 2020	69,272	$ 429	13,404	60,464	$ 0	$ 60,464	(71)	$ (6,719)	335	1,430	$ 0	$ 1,430
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Other			457	(4)
Net income attributable to Verizon	22,065			22,065
Dividends declared ($2.535, $2.485, $2.435 per share)				(10,532)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(141)						(141)
Unrealized loss on cash flow hedges	(85)						(85)
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	(9)						(9)
Defined benefit pension and postretirement plans	(621)						(621)
Net other comprehensive income (loss)	$ (856)						(856)
Employee plans (in shares)								2,057
Employee plans								$ 90
Shareowner plans (in shares)	2,100							15
Shareowner plans								$ 1
Acquisitions (Note 3) (in shares)								57,597
Acquisitions (Note 3)								$ 2,524
Restricted stock equity grant									369
Amortization									(166)
Total comprehensive income	$ 21,762									553
Distributions and other										(573)
Balance at end of year (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2021		4,291,434						93,635
Balance at end of year at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 83,200	$ 429	$ 13,861	$ 71,993			$ (927)	$ (4,104)	$ 538	$ 1,410