<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<FilingSummary xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
  <Version>2.4.1.9</Version>
  <ProcessingTime />
  <ReportFormat>Html</ReportFormat>
  <ContextCount>106</ContextCount>
  <ElementCount>191</ElementCount>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <FootnotesReported>true</FootnotesReported>
  <SegmentCount>37</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <UnitCount>5</UnitCount>
  <MyReports>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R1.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000010 - Document - Document And Entity Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.uscellular.com/role/DocumentDocumentAndEntityInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Document And Entity Information</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R2.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000100 - Statement - Consolidated Statement Of Operations</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.uscellular.com/role/StatementConsolidatedStatementOfOperations</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statement Of Operations</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R3.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000110 - Statement - Consolidated Statement Of Operations Parenthetical</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.uscellular.com/role/StatementConsolidatedStatementOfOperationsParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statement Of Operations Parenthetical</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R4.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000200 - Statement - Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.uscellular.com/role/StatementConsolidatedStatementOfCashFlows</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>true</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R5.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000300 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheet</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.uscellular.com/role/StatementConsolidatedBalanceSheet</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheet</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R6.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000310 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheet Parenthetical</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.uscellular.com/role/StatementConsolidatedBalanceSheetParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheet Parenthetical</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R7.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000400 - Statement - Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.uscellular.com/role/StatementConsolidatedStatementOfChangesInEquity</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R8.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000500 - Disclosure - Basis of Presentation</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.uscellular.com/role/DisclosureBasisOfPresentation</Role>
      <ShortName>Basis of Presentation</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R9.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000650 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.uscellular.com/role/FairValueMeasurements</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Measurements</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R10.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000675 - Disclosure - Equipment Installment Plans</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.uscellular.com/role/EquipmentInstallmentPlans</Role>
      <ShortName>Equipment Installment Plans</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R11.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000700 - Disclosure - Income Taxes</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.uscellular.com/role/IncomeTaxes</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R12.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000750 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.uscellular.com/role/EarningsPerShare</Role>
      <ShortName>Earnings Per Share</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R13.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000800 - Disclosure - Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.uscellular.com/role/AcquisitionsDivestituresAndExchanges</Role>
      <ShortName>Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R14.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000850 - Disclosure - Intangible Assets</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.uscellular.com/role/DisclosureIntangibleAssets</Role>
      <ShortName>Intangible Assets</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R15.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000900 - Disclosure - Investments in Unconsolidated Entities</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.uscellular.com/role/InvestmentsInUnconsolidatedEntities</Role>
      <ShortName>Investments in Unconsolidated Entities</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R16.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>001200 - Disclosure - Variable Interest Entities</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.uscellular.com/role/VariableInterestEntities</Role>
      <ShortName>Variable Interest Entities</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R17.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>001300 - Disclosure - Common Share Repurchases</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.uscellular.com/role/CommonShareRepurchases</Role>
      <ShortName>Common Share Repurchases</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R18.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>031000 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements (Table)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.uscellular.com/role/DisclosureFairValueMeasurementsTable</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Measurements (Table)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R19.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>032000 - Disclosure - Equipment Installment Plans (Table)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.uscellular.com/role/DisclosureEquipmentInstallmentPlansTable</Role>
      <ShortName>Equipment Installment Plans (Table)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R20.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>034500 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.uscellular.com/role/DisclosureEarningsPerShareTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Earnings Per Share (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R21.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>036500 - Disclosure - Intangible Assets (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.uscellular.com/role/DisclosureIntangibleAssetsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Intangible Assets (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R22.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>037000 - Disclosure - Investment in Unconsolidated Entities (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.uscellular.com/role/DisclosureInvestmentInUnconsolidatedEntitiesTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Investment in Unconsolidated Entities (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R23.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>038800 - Disclosure - Variable Interest Entities VIEs (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.uscellular.com/role/VariableInterestEntitiesVIEsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Variable Interest Entities VIEs (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R24.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>038900 - Disclosure - Common Share Repurchases (Table)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.uscellular.com/role/CommonShareRepurchasesTable</Role>
      <ShortName>Common Share Repurchases (Table)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R25.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>045000 - Disclosure - Basis of Presentation (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.uscellular.com/role/BasisOfPresentationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Basis of Presentation (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R26.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>065000 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.uscellular.com/role/DisclosureFairValueMeasurementsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Measurements (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R27.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>066000 - Disclosure - Equipment Installment Plans (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.uscellular.com/role/DisclosureEquipmentInstallmentPlansDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Equipment Installment Plans (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R28.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>075050 - Disclosure - Income Taxes, Balances (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.uscellular.com/role/IncomeTaxesBalancesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes, Balances (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R29.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>085000 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.uscellular.com/role/DisclosureEarningsPerShareDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Earnings Per Share (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R30.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>090000 - Disclosure - Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges, acquisitions (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.uscellular.com/role/DisclosureAcquisitionsDivestituresAndExchangesAcquisitionsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges, acquisitions (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R31.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>090100 - Disclosure - Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges, divestitures (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.uscellular.com/role/DisclosureAcquisitionsDivestituresAndExchangesDivestituresDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges, divestitures (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R32.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>090200 - Disclosure - Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges, exchanges (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.uscellular.com/role/DisclosureAcquisitionsDivestituresAndExchangesExchangesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges, exchanges (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R33.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>095000 - Disclosure - Intangible Assets (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.uscellular.com/role/DisclosureIntangibleAssetsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Intangible Assets (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R34.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>100000 - Disclosure - Investments in Unconsolidated Entities (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.uscellular.com/role/DisclosureInvestmentsInUnconsolidatedEntitiesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Investments in Unconsolidated Entities (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R35.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>131000 - Disclosure - Variable Interest Entities VIEs (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.uscellular.com/role/DisclosureVariableInterestEntitiesVIEsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Variable Interest Entities VIEs (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R36.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>140000 - Disclosure - Common Share Repurchases (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.uscellular.com/role/CommonShareRepurchasesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Common Share Repurchases (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <LongName>All Reports</LongName>
      <ReportType>Book</ReportType>
      <ShortName>All Reports</ShortName>
    </Report>
  </MyReports>
  <Logs>
    <Log type="Info">Element us-gaap_AssetsOfDisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationCurrent had a mix of decimals attribute values: -5 -3.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Element us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfBusiness had a mix of decimals attribute values: -5 -3.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Element us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments had a mix of decimals attribute values: -5 -3.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Element us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesCurrent had a mix of decimals attribute values: -5 -3.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Element us-gaap_ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses had a mix of decimals attribute values: -5 -3.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Element usm_GainLossOnLicenseSalesAndExchanges had a mix of decimals attribute values: -5 -3.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Monetary' elements on report '066000 - Disclosure - Equipment Installment Plans (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Monetary' elements on report '090100 - Disclosure - Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges, divestitures (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Monetary' elements on report '090200 - Disclosure - Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges, exchanges (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Monetary' elements on report '131000 - Disclosure - Variable Interest Entities VIEs (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Shares' elements on report '140000 - Disclosure - Common Share Repurchases (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 000100 - Statement - Consolidated Statement Of Operations</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 000110 - Statement - Consolidated Statement Of Operations Parenthetical</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 000200 - Statement - Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 000300 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheet</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Mar. 31, 2014'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Dec. 31, 2013'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 000310 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheet Parenthetical</Log>
  </Logs>
  <InputFiles>
    <File>usm-20150331.xml</File>
    <File>usm-20150331.xsd</File>
    <File>usm-20150331_cal.xml</File>
    <File>usm-20150331_def.xml</File>
    <File>usm-20150331_lab.xml</File>
    <File>usm-20150331_pre.xml</File>
  </InputFiles>
  <SupplementalFiles />
  <BaseTaxonomies />
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>
