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Income Taxes - Reconciliation of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, 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
Income Tax Reconciliation [Line Items]                      
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, at Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate, Percent                 35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate 35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate 35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Amount [Abstract]                      
Computed tax benefit at statutory rate                 $ 83us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate $ (25)us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate $ (131)us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
Effects of earnings in jurisdictions outside of U.S.                 (13)us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential (12)us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential (25)us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential
Change in valuation allowance                 (197)us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance 27us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance 145us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
Permanent Items                 44lvlt_PermanentItemsIncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpensePermanetItems 44lvlt_PermanentItemsIncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpensePermanetItems 48lvlt_PermanentItemsIncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpensePermanetItems
Indefinite-lived assets                 (2)lvlt_IncomeTaxReconciliationIndefiniteLivedAssets 3lvlt_IncomeTaxReconciliationIndefiniteLivedAssets 3lvlt_IncomeTaxReconciliationIndefiniteLivedAssets
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Tax Contingency, Amount                 3us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxContingencies 9us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxContingencies (3)us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxContingencies
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Change in Enacted Tax Rate, Amount                 (7)us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInEnactedTaxRate (7)us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInEnactedTaxRate (4)us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInEnactedTaxRate
Other, net                 5us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments 3us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments 1us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments
Income Tax (Expense) Benefit $ (103)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit $ 8us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit $ 12us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit $ 7us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit $ (1)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit $ 14us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit $ 11us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit $ 14us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit $ (76)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit $ 38us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit $ 48us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit