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Restructuring Charges (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended 144 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2025
Employee Separations        
Restructuring charge and reserve        
Restructuring reserve $ 37us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
$ 8us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
   
Restructuring charges 45us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
47us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
34us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
 
Facility Closings        
Restructuring charge and reserve        
Restructuring reserve 20us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_ContractTerminationMember
31us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_ContractTerminationMember
   
Benefit (loss) recognized as a result of lease modification 1us-gaap_GainLossOnContractTermination
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_ContractTerminationMember
7us-gaap_GainLossOnContractTermination
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_ContractTerminationMember
(2)us-gaap_GainLossOnContractTermination
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_ContractTerminationMember
 
Network Related Expenses [Member] | Employee Separations        
Restructuring charge and reserve        
Restructuring charges 11us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= lvlt_NetworkRelatedExpensesMember
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
12us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= lvlt_NetworkRelatedExpensesMember
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
8us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= lvlt_NetworkRelatedExpensesMember
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
 
General and Administrative Expense [Member] | Employee Separations        
Restructuring charge and reserve        
Restructuring charges $ 34us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpenseMember
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
$ 35us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpenseMember
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
$ 26us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpenseMember
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
 
Subsequent Event [Member]        
Restructuring charge and reserve        
Restructuring and Related Activities, Description       2025