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Asset Retirement Obligations (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Sep. 30, 2014
Jun. 30, 2014
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Sep. 30, 2013
Jun. 30, 2013
Mar. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Asset Retirement Obligation, Change in Accounting Estimate                      
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross $ (19,489)us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross       $ (17,329)us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross       $ (19,489)us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross $ (17,329)us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross  
Selling, General and Administrative and Depreciation Expense (1,683)us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses (1,367)us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses (1,369)us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses (1,345)us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses (1,383)us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses (1,417)us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses (1,425)us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses (1,422)us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses (5,764)us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses (5,647)us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses (5,801)us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses (393)us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense (266)us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense (267)us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense (255)us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense (263)us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense (292)us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense (310)us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense (297)us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense (1,181)us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense (1,162)us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense (1,201)us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense
Depreciation and Amortization (250)us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization (187)us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization (187)us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization (184)us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization (204)us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization (203)us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization (199)us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization (194)us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization (808)us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization (800)us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization (749)us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization
Network Related Expenses 345lvlt_NetworkRelatedExpenses 307lvlt_NetworkRelatedExpenses 302lvlt_NetworkRelatedExpenses 292lvlt_NetworkRelatedExpenses 298lvlt_NetworkRelatedExpenses 314lvlt_NetworkRelatedExpenses 300lvlt_NetworkRelatedExpenses 302lvlt_NetworkRelatedExpenses 1,246lvlt_NetworkRelatedExpenses 1,214lvlt_NetworkRelatedExpenses 1,249lvlt_NetworkRelatedExpenses
Asset Retirement Obligation, Roll Forward Analysis [Roll Forward]                      
Asset retirement obligation, beginning balance       56us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation       55us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation 56us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation 55us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation  
Accretion expense                 8us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationAccretionExpense 7us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationAccretionExpense  
ARO liabilities assumed in acquisition                 22lvlt_AROliabilitiesassumedinacquisition 0lvlt_AROliabilitiesassumedinacquisition  
Liabilities settled                 (7)us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesSettled (6)us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesSettled  
Effect of foreign currency rate change                 (1)us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationForeignCurrencyTranslation 0us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationForeignCurrencyTranslation  
Asset retirement obligation, ending balance 85us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation       56us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation       85us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation 56us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation 55us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation
Asset Retirement Obligation Change in Estimate                      
Asset Retirement Obligation, Change in Accounting Estimate                      
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross                     (24)us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_ChangeInAccountingEstimateByTypeAxis
= lvlt_AssetRetirementObligationChangeInEstimateMember
Selling, General and Administrative and Depreciation Expense                   (49)us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses
/ us-gaap_ChangeInAccountingEstimateByTypeAxis
= lvlt_AssetRetirementObligationChangeInEstimateMember
 
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses                     (47)us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense
/ us-gaap_ChangeInAccountingEstimateByTypeAxis
= lvlt_AssetRetirementObligationChangeInEstimateMember
Depreciation and Amortization                     (2)us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization
/ us-gaap_ChangeInAccountingEstimateByTypeAxis
= lvlt_AssetRetirementObligationChangeInEstimateMember
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted Changes in Accounting Estimates                   $ 0.23lvlt_EarningsPerShareBasicAndDilutedChangesInAccountingEstimates
/ us-gaap_ChangeInAccountingEstimateByTypeAxis
= lvlt_AssetRetirementObligationChangeInEstimateMember
 
Asset Retirement Obligation, Roll Forward Analysis [Roll Forward]                      
Asset retirement obligation, beginning balance               73us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation
/ us-gaap_ChangeInAccountingEstimateByTypeAxis
= lvlt_AssetRetirementObligationChangeInEstimateMember
  73us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation
/ us-gaap_ChangeInAccountingEstimateByTypeAxis
= lvlt_AssetRetirementObligationChangeInEstimateMember
 
Asset retirement obligation, ending balance                     73us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation
/ us-gaap_ChangeInAccountingEstimateByTypeAxis
= lvlt_AssetRetirementObligationChangeInEstimateMember
Asset Retirement Obligation, Change in Estimate Right-of-way                      
Asset Retirement Obligation, Change in Accounting Estimate                      
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted Changes in Accounting Estimates                   $ 0.10lvlt_EarningsPerShareBasicAndDilutedChangesInAccountingEstimates
/ us-gaap_ChangeInAccountingEstimateByTypeAxis
= lvlt_AssetRetirementObligationChangeInEstimateRightOfWayMember
 
Network Related Expenses                   $ 21lvlt_NetworkRelatedExpenses
/ us-gaap_ChangeInAccountingEstimateByTypeAxis
= lvlt_AssetRetirementObligationChangeInEstimateRightOfWayMember