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Employee Benefit Benefits and Stock-Based Compensation - Non-cash compensation expensed and capitalized (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Stock-based compensation expense      
Stock- based compensation expense $ 74us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense $ 152us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense $ 136us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
Capitalized Noncash Compensation (1)us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsCapitalizedAmount (1)us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsCapitalizedAmount (1)us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsCapitalizedAmount
Non-cash compensation expense 73us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation 151us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation 135us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award Accelerated Compensation Cost 4us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAcceleratedCompensationCost 5us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAcceleratedCompensationCost 9us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAcceleratedCompensationCost
Outperform Stock Options      
Stock-based compensation expense      
Stock- based compensation expense 8us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
21us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
14us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Restricted Stock Units and Shares      
Stock-based compensation expense      
Stock- based compensation expense 34us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= lvlt_RestrictedStockUnitsAndSharesMember
38us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= lvlt_RestrictedStockUnitsAndSharesMember
40us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= lvlt_RestrictedStockUnitsAndSharesMember
401(k) Match Expense      
Stock-based compensation expense      
Stock- based compensation expense 23us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
24us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
23us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Restricted Stock Unit Bonus Grant      
Stock-based compensation expense      
Stock- based compensation expense (5)us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= lvlt_RestrictedStockUnitBonusGrantMember
59us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= lvlt_RestrictedStockUnitBonusGrantMember
46us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= lvlt_RestrictedStockUnitBonusGrantMember
Management Incentive and Retention Plan      
Stock-based compensation expense      
Stock- based compensation expense $ 0us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= lvlt_ManagementIncentiveAndRetentionPlanMember
$ 10us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= lvlt_ManagementIncentiveAndRetentionPlanMember
$ 13us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= lvlt_ManagementIncentiveAndRetentionPlanMember