Loss Contingency, Asserted Claim

No definition available.

Name:	lvlt_LossContingencyAssertedClaim
Namespace Prefix:	lvlt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Release Loss Contingency Accrual

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lvlt_ReleaseofLossContingencyAccrual
Namespace Prefix:	lvlt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate carrying amount of the estimated litigation liability for known or estimated probable loss from litigation, which may include attorneys' fees and other litigation costs.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.25)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationReserve
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) in loss contingency liability.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValuePeriodIncreaseDecrease
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of cash outflow reducing loss contingency liability.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualPayments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The difference between the maximum amount of estimated loss and the amount recorded as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 05
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6395354&loc=d3e12631-108344

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyRangeOfPossibleLossPortionNotAccrued
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	lvlt_LitigationByCaseAxis=lvlt_PeruvianTaxLitigationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis=us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	lvlt_LitigationByCaseAxis=lvlt_EmployeeSeveranceAndContractorTerminationDisputesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	lvlt_LitigationByCaseAxis=lvlt_BrazilianTaxClaimsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	lvlt_ReserveReleaseAxis=lvlt_BrazilianTaxReserveReleaseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=lvlt_PeruvianTaxLitigationBeforeInterestMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=lvlt_PeruvianTaxLitigationIncomeTaxwitholding2001And2002Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=lvlt_PeruvianTaxLitigationVatFor2001And2002Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=lvlt_PeruvianTaxLitigationDisallowanceOfVatIn2005Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=lvlt_PeruvianTaxLitigationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Commitments, Contingencies and Other Items - Lawsuits (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2016
Loss Contingencies
Estimated Litigation Liability	$ 97		$ 97
Peruvian Tax Litigation [Member] \| Pending Litigation
Loss Contingencies
Release of Loss Contingency Accrual	11		15
Employee Severance and Contractor Termination Disputes \| Pending Litigation
Loss Contingencies
Loss Contingency, Asserted Claim	29		29
Maximum \| Brazilian Tax Claims [Member] \| Pending Litigation
Loss Contingencies
Loss Contingency, Range of Possible Loss, Portion Not Accrued	48		48
Brazilian Tax Reserve Release [Member] \| Brazilian Tax Claims [Member] \| Pending Litigation
Loss Contingencies
Loss Contingency Accrual, Period Increase (Decrease)		$ 3	6
Loss Contingency Accrual, Payments		$ 5
Peruvian Tax Litigation, Before Interest [Member] \| Pending Litigation
Loss Contingencies
Loss Contingency, Asserted Claim	26		26
Peruvian Tax Litigation, Income Taxwitholding 2001 and 2002 [Member] \| Pending Litigation
Loss Contingencies
Loss Contingency, Asserted Claim	3		3
Peruvian Tax Litigation, Vat for 2001 and 2002 [Member] \| Pending Litigation
Loss Contingencies
Loss Contingency, Asserted Claim	7		7
Peruvian Tax Litigation, Disallowance of VAT in 2005 [Member] \| Pending Litigation
Loss Contingencies
Loss Contingency, Asserted Claim	16		16
Peruvian Tax Litigation [Member] \| Pending Litigation
Loss Contingencies
Loss Contingency, Asserted Claim	$ 18		$ 18