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Employee Benefit Benefits and Stock-Based Compensation - Outperform Stock Options (Details) (Outperform Stock Options, USD $)
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2014
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period, Intrinsic Value $ 18.7us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue $ 1.5us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue $ 0.8us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue    
Unamortized compensation expense 7us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized        
Weighted average period over which unamortized compensation cost will be recognized (in years) 1 year 3 months 4 days        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions and Methodology          
Expected Dividend Yield Rate   2.24%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRate 2.05%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRate    
Expected Life (in years)   3 years 3 years    
Expected Correlation Factor   0.44lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsCorrelationFactor 0.32lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsCorrelationFactor    
Theoretical Value   101.00%lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsTheoreticalValue 110.00%lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsTheoreticalValue    
Estimated Forfeiture Rate   15.00%lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsEstimatedForfeitureRate 20.00%lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsEstimatedForfeitureRate    
Fair value of OSO units awarded   17lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodTotalGrantDateFairValue 29lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodTotalGrantDateFairValue    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding          
Options outstanding, beginning (in shares) 2,148,865us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber 2,066,419us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber 1,288,712us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber    
Options granted (in shares) 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod 748,481us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod 1,195,452us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Forfeitures in Period (52,901)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriod (271,883)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriod (72,335)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriod    
Options expired (in shares) (106,844)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExpirationsInPeriod (286,924)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExpirationsInPeriod (278,111)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExpirationsInPeriod    
Options exercised (in shares) (771,251)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised (107,228)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised (67,299)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised    
Options outstanding, ending (in shares) 1,217,869us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber 2,148,865us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber 2,066,419us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber 1,288,712us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Additional Disclosures          
Options, Beginning, Initial Strike Price Per Unit, Minimum (in dollars per share) $ 14.1lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingInitialExercisePriceMinimum $ 14.10lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingInitialExercisePriceMinimum $ 10.50lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingInitialExercisePriceMinimum    
Options, Beginning, Initial Strike Price Per Unit, Maximum (in dollars per share) $ 36.60lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingInitialExercisePriceMaximum $ 36.60lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingInitialExercisePriceMaximum $ 36.60lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingInitialExercisePriceMaximum    
Options, Beginning, Weighted Average Initial Strike Price (in dollars per share) $ 23.99us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice $ 23.40us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice $ 20.51us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice    
Options, Beginning, Aggregate Intrinsic Value $ 31.6us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue $ 6.6us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue $ 1.8us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue   $ 88.0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue
Options, Beginning, Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years) 10 months 24 days 1 year 5 months 15 days 1 year 8 months 23 days 1 year 6 months 11 days  
Options granted, Initial Strike Price Per Unit, Minimum (in dollars per share) $ 0lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodInitialExercisePriceMinimum $ 20.29lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodInitialExercisePriceMinimum $ 16.99lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodInitialExercisePriceMinimum    
Options granted, Initial Strike Price Per Unit, Maximum (in dollars per share) $ 0lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodInitialExercisePriceMaximum $ 26.69lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodInitialExercisePriceMaximum $ 27.53lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodInitialExercisePriceMaximum    
Options granted, Weighted Average Initial Strike Price (in dollars per share) $ 0.00us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue $ 22.64us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue $ 24.65us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue    
Options forfeited, Initial Strike Price Per Unit, Minimum (in dollars per share) $ 16.99lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodInitialExercisePriceMinimum $ 14.10lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodInitialExercisePriceMinimum $ 12lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodInitialExercisePriceMinimum    
Options forfeited, Initial Strike Price Per Unit, Maximum (in dollars per share) $ 27.53lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodInitialExercisePriceMaximum $ 36.60lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodInitialExercisePriceMaximum $ 36.60lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodInitialExercisePriceMaximum    
Options forfeited, Weighted Average Initial Strike Price (in dollars per share) $ 22.99us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice $ 22.33us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice $ 21.80us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice    
Options expired, Initial Strke Price Per Unit, Minimum (in dollars per share) $ 36.6lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExpirationsInPeriodInitialExercisePriceMinimum $ 16.35lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExpirationsInPeriodInitialExercisePriceMinimum $ 15lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExpirationsInPeriodInitialExercisePriceMinimum    
Options expired, Initial Strke Price Per Unit, Maximum (in dollars per share) $ 36.6lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExpirationsInPeriodInitialExercisePriceMaximum $ 24.30lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExpirationsInPeriodInitialExercisePriceMaximum $ 22.65lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExpirationsInPeriodInitialExercisePriceMaximum    
Options expired, Weighted Average Initial Strike Price (in dollars per share) $ 36.60us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExpirationsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice $ 21.48us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExpirationsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice $ 18.45us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExpirationsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice    
Options exercised, Initial Strike Price Per Unit, Minimum (in dollars per share) $ 14.7lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExcercisesInPeriodInitialExercisePriceMinimum $ 14.10lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExcercisesInPeriodInitialExercisePriceMinimum $ 10.50lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExcercisesInPeriodInitialExercisePriceMinimum    
Options exercised, Initial Strike Price Per Unit, Maximum (in dollars per share) $ 27.53lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExcercisesInPeriodInitialExercisePriceMaximum $ 14.10lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExcercisesInPeriodInitialExercisePriceMaximum $ 13.80lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExcercisesInPeriodInitialExercisePriceMaximum    
Options exercised, Weighted Average Initial Strike Price (in dollars per share) $ 24.26us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice $ 14.10us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice $ 12.48us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice    
Options, Ending, Initial Strike Price Per Unit, Minimum (in dollars per share) $ 16.99lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingInitialExercisePriceMinimum $ 14.1lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingInitialExercisePriceMinimum $ 14.10lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingInitialExercisePriceMinimum $ 10.50lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingInitialExercisePriceMinimum  
Options, Ending, Initial Strike Price Per Unit, Maximum (in dollars per share) $ 27.53lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingInitialExercisePriceMaximum $ 36.60lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingInitialExercisePriceMaximum $ 36.60lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingInitialExercisePriceMaximum $ 36.60lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingInitialExercisePriceMaximum  
Options, Ending, Weighted Average Initial Strike Price (in dollars per share) $ 22.76us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice $ 23.99us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice $ 23.40us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice $ 20.51us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice  
Options, Ending, Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years) 10 months 24 days 1 year 5 months 15 days 1 year 8 months 23 days 1 year 6 months 11 days  
On or After April 1, 2007          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Life of Award 3        
Percent vested after three years 100.00%lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardPercentVestedAfterThreeYears
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
/ lvlt_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardByDateAxis
= lvlt_OnOrAfterApril12007Member		        
S and P 500 Index          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions and Methodology          
Expected volatility rate   19.00%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
/ lvlt_FairValueAssumptionsByMeasureAxis
= lvlt_SAndP500IndexMember		 23.00%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
/ lvlt_FairValueAssumptionsByMeasureAxis
= lvlt_SAndP500IndexMember		    
Level 3 Communications, Inc.          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions and Methodology          
Expected volatility rate   39.00%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
/ lvlt_FairValueAssumptionsByMeasureAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember		 39.00%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
/ lvlt_FairValueAssumptionsByMeasureAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember		    
Performance Range 1          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Performance Qualifier to Index, Maximum 0.00%lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardPerformanceQualifierToIndexMaximum
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
/ lvlt_PerformanceMeasurementAxis
= lvlt_PerformanceRange1Member		       0.00%lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardPerformanceQualifierToIndexMaximum
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
/ lvlt_PerformanceMeasurementAxis
= lvlt_PerformanceRange1Member
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Success Multiplier of Pre Multiplier Gain 0.00lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardSuccessMultiplierOfPreMultiplierGain
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
/ lvlt_PerformanceMeasurementAxis
= lvlt_PerformanceRange1Member		       0.00lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardSuccessMultiplierOfPreMultiplierGain
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
/ lvlt_PerformanceMeasurementAxis
= lvlt_PerformanceRange1Member
Performance Range 2          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Performance Qualifier to Index, Minimum 0.00%lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardPerformanceQualifierToIndexMinimum
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
/ lvlt_PerformanceMeasurementAxis
= lvlt_PerformanceRange2Member		       0.00%lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardPerformanceQualifierToIndexMinimum
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
/ lvlt_PerformanceMeasurementAxis
= lvlt_PerformanceRange2Member
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Performance Qualifier to Index, Maximum 11.00%lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardPerformanceQualifierToIndexMaximum
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
/ lvlt_PerformanceMeasurementAxis
= lvlt_PerformanceRange2Member		       11.00%lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardPerformanceQualifierToIndexMaximum
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
/ lvlt_PerformanceMeasurementAxis
= lvlt_PerformanceRange2Member
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Success Multiplier of Pre Multiplier Gain 0.36lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardSuccessMultiplierOfPreMultiplierGain
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
/ lvlt_PerformanceMeasurementAxis
= lvlt_PerformanceRange2Member		       0.36lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardSuccessMultiplierOfPreMultiplierGain
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
/ lvlt_PerformanceMeasurementAxis
= lvlt_PerformanceRange2Member
Performance Range 3          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Performance Qualifier to Index, Minimum 11.00%lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardPerformanceQualifierToIndexMinimum
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
/ lvlt_PerformanceMeasurementAxis
= lvlt_PerformanceRange3Member		       11.00%lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardPerformanceQualifierToIndexMinimum
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
/ lvlt_PerformanceMeasurementAxis
= lvlt_PerformanceRange3Member
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Success Multiplier of Pre Multiplier Gain 4.00lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardSuccessMultiplierOfPreMultiplierGain
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
/ lvlt_PerformanceMeasurementAxis
= lvlt_PerformanceRange3Member		       4.00lvlt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardSuccessMultiplierOfPreMultiplierGain
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
/ lvlt_PerformanceMeasurementAxis
= lvlt_PerformanceRange3Member