per share amounts (Details) - shares shares in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Effect of dilutive securities
Basic total weighted average number of Common Shares outstanding	1,346	1,275
Effect of dilutive securities - Restricted share units	5	3
Diluted total weighted average number of Common Shares outstanding	1,351	1,278
TELUS Corporation share options \| Share option awards
Effect of dilutive securities
Outstanding share awards excluded in the calculation of diluted net income per Common Share	1	1
Restricted stock units RSU [member]
Effect of dilutive securities
Outstanding share awards excluded in the calculation of diluted net income per Common Share	0	0

The number of dilutive potential ordinary shares that relate to the assumed exercise of the entity's share options.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Name IAS
-Number 33
-IssueDate 2021-01-01
-Paragraph 70
-Subparagraph b
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=33&code=ifrs-tx-2021-en-r&anchor=para_70_b&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2021-03-24

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_DilutiveEffectOfShareOptionsOnNumberOfOrdinaryShares
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of ordinary shares outstanding at the beginning of the period, adjusted by the number of ordinary shares bought back or issued during the period multiplied by a time-weighting factor.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IAS
-Number 33
-IssueDate 2021-01-01
-Paragraph 70
-Subparagraph b
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=33&code=ifrs-tx-2021-en-r&anchor=para_70_b&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2021-03-24

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_WeightedAverageShares
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of dilutive restricted share units that relate to the assumed exercise of the entity's share options.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	tu_DilutiveEffectOfOtherThanShareOptionsOnNumberOfOrdinaryShares
Namespace Prefix:	tu_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The effect of dilutive securities on the earnings per share computations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	tu_EffectOfDilutiveSecuritiesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	tu_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

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 calculation 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.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	tu_IfrsAntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount
Namespace Prefix:	tu_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_TypesOfSharebasedPaymentArrangementsAxis=tu_TelusShareOptionsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	tu_IfrsAntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareByAntidilutiveSecuritiesAxis=tu_IfrsEmployeeStockOptionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_TypesOfSharebasedPaymentArrangementsAxis=tu_IfrsRestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: