1.0.0.3 true Consolidated Statement of Equity (Unaudited) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data in Thousands false 1 $ false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 false 2 $ false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 false 3 $ false false Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 2 Beginning Balance 2 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false true false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 true true 11131000000 11131 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 4 Common stock dividends, $0.80 per share 2 us-gaap_CashDividends us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false true -271000000 -271 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 5 Restricted stock and stock options expense 2 bni_RestrictedStockAndStockOptionsExpense bni false debit duration monetary The compensation expense recognized during the period pertaining to the share-based compensation plan. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false true 16000000 16 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false The compensation expense recognized during the period pertaining to the share-based compensation plan. No authoritative reference available. false 6 Restricted stock activity and related tax expense of $3 2 bni_RestrictedStockActivityAndRelatedTaxBenefitsExpense bni false credit duration monetary Value of stock related to restricted stock activity and associated tax benefit (expense) during the period as a result of the... false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false true -1000000 -1 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false Value of stock related to restricted stock activity and associated tax benefit (expense) during the period as a result of the share-based compensation plan. No authoritative reference available. false 8 Exercise of stock options and related tax benefit of $6 2 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false true 18000000 18 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 10 Purchase of BNSF common stock 2 us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false true -12000000 -12 [1] false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 12 Comprehensive income: 2 us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 13 Net income 2 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 404000000 404 false false 2 false true 697000000 697 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 14 Change in unrecognized prior service credit and actuarial losses, net of tax expense of $4 2 bni_ChangeInUnrecognizedPriorServiceCreditAndActuarialLossesNetOfTax bni false na duration monetary The adjustment out of other comprehensive income for prior service costs and actuarial losses recognized as a component of... false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false true 6000000 6 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false The adjustment out of other comprehensive income for prior service costs and actuarial losses recognized as a component of net period benefit cost during the period, after tax. No authoritative reference available. false 15 Fuel/interest hedge mark-to-market and other items, net of tax expense of $147 2 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false true 240000000 240 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 16 Recognized loss on derivative instruments-discontinued hedges, net of tax benefit of $16 2 bni_RecognizedLossOnDerivativeInstrumentsDiscontinuedHedgesNetOfTax bni false debit duration monetary Net of tax effect of discontinuance of hedge accounting on certain derivative instruments included in accumulated... false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false true 27000000 27 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false Net of tax effect of discontinuance of hedge accounting on certain derivative instruments included in accumulated comprehensive income that was recognized in net income during the period. No authoritative reference available. false 17 Total comprehensive income 2 us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false true 970000000 970 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 18 Ending Balance 2 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false true false 1 false true 11851000000 11851 false false 2 false true 11851000000 11851 false false 3 false true 11131000000 11131 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 20 Common Stock and Paid-in Capital 0 na true na na na No definition available. false true false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 21 Beginning Balance 2 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false true false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false true 7636000000 7636 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 22 Beginning Balance, Shares 2 us-gaap_SharesIssued us-gaap true na instant shares No definition available. false false false false false false true false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false true 541346000 541346 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 24 Restricted stock and stock options expense 2 bni_RestrictedStockAndStockOptionsExpense bni false debit duration monetary The compensation expense recognized during the period pertaining to the share-based compensation plan. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false true 16000000 16 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false The compensation expense recognized during the period pertaining to the share-based compensation plan. No authoritative reference available. false 25 Restricted stock activity and related tax expense of $3 2 bni_RestrictedStockActivityAndRelatedTaxBenefitsExpense bni false credit duration monetary Value of stock related to restricted stock activity and associated tax benefit (expense) during the period as a result of the... false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false true -1000000 -1 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false Value of stock related to restricted stock activity and associated tax benefit (expense) during the period as a result of the share-based compensation plan. No authoritative reference available. false 26 Restricted stock activity and related tax expense of $3, shares 2 bni_RestrictedStockActivityAndRelatedTaxBenefitExpenseShares bni false na duration shares Number of shares related to restricted stock activity and associated tax benefit (expense) during the period as a result of... false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false true 493000 493 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false Number of shares related to restricted stock activity and associated tax benefit (expense) during the period as a result of the share-based compensation plan. No authoritative reference available. false 27 Exercise of stock options and related tax benefit of $6 2 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false true 30000000 30 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 28 Exercise of stock options and related tax benefit of $6, shares 2 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised us-gaap true na duration shares No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false true 747000 747 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 31 Comprehensive income: 2 us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 37 Ending Balance 2 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false true false 1 false true 7681000000 7681 false false 2 false true 7681000000 7681 false false 3 false true 7636000000 7636 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 38 Ending Balance, Shares 2 us-gaap_SharesIssued us-gaap true na instant shares No definition available. false false false false false false false true false 1 false true 542586000 542586 false false 2 false true 542586000 542586 false false 3 false true 541346000 541346 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 39 Treasury Stock 0 na true na na na No definition available. false true false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 40 Beginning Balance 2 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false true false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false true -8395000000 -8395 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 41 Beginning Balance, Shares 2 us-gaap_SharesIssued us-gaap true na instant shares No definition available. false false false false false false true false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false true -202165000 -202165 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 45 Restricted stock activity and related tax expense of $3, shares 2 bni_RestrictedStockActivityAndRelatedTaxBenefitExpenseShares bni false na duration shares Number of shares related to restricted stock activity and associated tax benefit (expense) during the period as a result of... false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false true 1000 1 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false Number of shares related to restricted stock activity and associated tax benefit (expense) during the period as a result of the share-based compensation plan. No authoritative reference available. false 46 Exercise of stock options and related tax benefit of $6 2 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false true -12000000 -12 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 47 Exercise of stock options and related tax benefit of $6, shares 2 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised us-gaap true na duration shares No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false true -206000 -206 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 48 Purchase of BNSF common stock 2 us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false true -12000000 -12 [1] false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 49 Purchase of BNSF common stock, shares 2 us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired us-gaap true na duration shares No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false true -197000 -197 [1] false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 50 Comprehensive income: 2 us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 56 Ending Balance 2 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false true false 1 false true -8419000000 -8419 false false 2 false true -8419000000 -8419 false false 3 false true -8395000000 -8395 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 57 Ending Balance, Shares 2 us-gaap_SharesIssued us-gaap true na instant shares No definition available. false false false false false false false true false 1 false true -202567000 -202567 false false 2 false true -202567000 -202567 false false 3 false true -202165000 -202165 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 58 Retained Earnings 0 na true na na na No definition available. false true false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 59 Beginning Balance 2 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false true false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false true 12764000000 12764 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 61 Common stock dividends, $0.80 per share 2 us-gaap_CashDividends us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false true -271000000 -271 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 69 Comprehensive income: 2 us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 70 Net income 2 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false true 697000000 697 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 75 Ending Balance 2 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false true false 1 false true 13190000000 13190 false false 2 false true 13190000000 13190 false false 3 false true 12764000000 12764 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 77 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss 0 na true na na na No definition available. false true false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 78 Beginning Balance 2 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false true false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false true -874000000 -874 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 88 Comprehensive income: 2 us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 90 Change in unrecognized prior service credit and actuarial losses, net of tax expense of $4 2 bni_ChangeInUnrecognizedPriorServiceCreditAndActuarialLossesNetOfTax bni false na duration monetary The adjustment out of other comprehensive income for prior service costs and actuarial losses recognized as a component of... false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false true 6000000 6 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false The adjustment out of other comprehensive income for prior service costs and actuarial losses recognized as a component of net period benefit cost during the period, after tax. No authoritative reference available. false 91 Fuel/interest hedge mark-to-market and other items, net of tax expense of $147 2 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false true 240000000 240 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 92 Recognized loss on derivative instruments-discontinued hedges, net of tax benefit of $16 2 bni_RecognizedLossOnDerivativeInstrumentsDiscontinuedHedgesNetOfTax bni false debit duration monetary Net of tax effect of discontinuance of hedge accounting on certain derivative instruments included in accumulated... false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false true 27000000 27 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false Net of tax effect of discontinuance of hedge accounting on certain derivative instruments included in accumulated comprehensive income that was recognized in net income during the period. No authoritative reference available. false 94 Ending Balance 2 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false true false 1 true true -601000000 -601 false false 2 true true -601000000 -601 false false 3 true true -874000000 -874 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 1 Total-to-date share repurchases through June 30, 2009, under the Company's share repurchase program, were 192 million shares at an average price of $41.53 per share, leaving 18 million shares available for repurchase out of the 210 million shares authorized. false 3 48 false Millions Thousands UnKnown false true