Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Earnings per share
Net income attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	$ 17	$ 64	$ 53	$ 243
Weighted average number of shares used in basic earnings per share	85	84	85	84
Effects of dilutive securities		1		1
Weighted average number of shares used in diluted earnings per share	85	85	85	85
Basic earnings per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	$ 0.20	$ 0.75	$ 0.63	$ 2.89
Diluted earnings per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	$ 0.20	$ 0.75	$ 0.63	$ 2.86
Earnings per share, Other disclosures
Antidilutive securities	3	3	3	3

Securities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) or earnings per unit (EPU) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS or EPU because to do so would increase EPS or EPU amounts or decrease loss per share or unit amounts for the period presented.

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The amount of net income (loss) for the period per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period.

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The amount of net income (loss) for the period available to each share of common stock or common unit outstanding during the reporting period and to each share or unit that would have been outstanding assuming the issuance of common shares or units for all dilutive potential common shares or units outstanding during the reporting period.

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Additional shares included in the calculation of diluted EPS as a result of the potentially dilutive effect of share based payment arrangements using the treasury stock method.

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The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent.

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The average number of shares or units issued and outstanding that are used in calculating diluted EPS or earnings per unit (EPU), determined based on the timing of issuance of shares or units in the period.

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Number of [basic] shares or units, after adjustment for contingently issuable shares or units and other shares or units not deemed outstanding, determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that common shares or units have been outstanding to the total time in that period.

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