The amount of capital commitments for which the entity has entered into a contract. [Refer: Capital commitments]

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Name IAS
-Number 1
-IssueDate 2019-01-01
-Paragraph 112
-Subparagraph c
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=1&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_112_c&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2019-03-27

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_ContractualCapitalCommitments
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

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

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_DisclosureOfJointVenturesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of construction financing under a credit agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	tu_AmountOfConstructionFinancing
Namespace Prefix:	tu_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of undrawn credit facilities provided by the entity to a joint venture investment

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	tu_JointVentureUndrawnCreditFacilitiesProvidedByEntity
Namespace Prefix:	tu_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total long-term borrowings, including the current and non-current portion.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	tu_LongTermBorrowingsCurrentAndNonCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	tu_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The percentage of construction financing provided.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	tu_PercentageOfConstructionFinancingProvided
Namespace Prefix:	tu_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of expected costs relating to real estate joint venture projects.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	tu_RealEstateJointVentureExpectedSpending
Namespace Prefix:	tu_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_UnconsolidatedStructuredEntitiesAxis=ifrs-full_UnconsolidatedStructuredEntitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_BorrowingsByNameAxis=tu_TelusCorporationConstructionCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_BorrowingsByNameAxis=tu_ConstructionCreditFacilityOtherMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_UnconsolidatedStructuredEntitiesAxis=tu_TELUSSkyRealEstateJointVentureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_CounterpartiesAxis=tu_ThreeCanadianFinancialInstitutionsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

real estate joint ventures and investment in associate - Commitments and contingent liabilities (Details) - CAD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019
real estate joint venture
Advances	$ 18,518	$ 18,474	$ 16,579
Real estate joint ventures
real estate joint venture
Construction financing amount	342	342
Real estate joint ventures \| TELUS Corporation Construction Credit Facility
real estate joint venture
Construction financing amount	114	114
Undrawn		10
Advances	114	104
Real estate joint ventures \| Construction Credit Facility - Other
real estate joint venture
Construction financing amount	228	228
TELUS Sky real estate joint venture
real estate joint venture
Real estate joint venture approximate total capital spending	475	450
Contractual capital commitments	$ 23	$ 37
Percentage of financing provided	33.333%
Construction financing amount	$ 342
TELUS Sky real estate joint venture \| Three Canadian financial institutions
real estate joint venture
Percentage of financing provided	66.667%