Long-Term Debt (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended																						6 Months Ended	1 Months Ended		1 Months Ended		1 Months Ended		1 Months Ended		1 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			1 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012 Qwest Communications International Inc.	Dec. 31, 2011 Qwest Communications International Inc.	Jun. 30, 2012 Qwest Corporation	Dec. 31, 2011 Qwest Corporation	Jun. 30, 2012 Senior notes Qwest Communications International Inc.	Dec. 31, 2011 Senior notes Qwest Communications International Inc.	Jun. 30, 2012 Senior notes Qwest Communications International Inc. Minimum	Jun. 30, 2012 Senior notes Qwest Communications International Inc. Maximum	Jun. 30, 2012 Senior notes Qwest Capital Funding	Dec. 31, 2011 Senior notes Qwest Capital Funding	Jun. 30, 2012 Senior notes Qwest Capital Funding Minimum	Jun. 30, 2012 Senior notes Qwest Capital Funding Maximum	Jun. 30, 2012 Senior notes Qwest Corporation	Dec. 31, 2011 Senior notes Qwest Corporation	Jun. 30, 2012 Senior notes Qwest Corporation Minimum	Jun. 30, 2012 Senior notes Qwest Corporation Maximum	Jun. 30, 2012 Capital lease and other obligations Qwest Corporation	Dec. 31, 2011 Capital lease and other obligations Qwest Corporation	Jun. 30, 2012 Capital lease and other obligations Qwest Communications Company, LLC	Dec. 31, 2011 Capital lease and other obligations Qwest Communications Company, LLC	Jun. 30, 2012 Floating rate notes due 2013 Qwest Corporation	May 31, 2012 7.5% Notes due 2014 Qwest Communications International Inc.	May 17, 2012 7.5% Notes due 2014 Qwest Communications International Inc.	Mar. 31, 2012 7.5% Notes due February 15, 2014 Qwest Communications International Inc.	Mar. 02, 2012 7.5% Notes due February 15, 2014 Qwest Communications International Inc.	Apr. 30, 2012 8.375% Notes due 2016 Qwest Corporation	Apr. 18, 2012 8.375% Notes due 2016 Qwest Corporation	Apr. 30, 2012 7.625% Notes due 2015 Qwest Corporation	Apr. 18, 2012 7.625% Notes due 2015 Qwest Corporation	Jun. 30, 2012 7.00% Notes due 2052 Qwest Corporation	Apr. 30, 2012 7.00% Notes due 2052 Qwest Corporation	Jun. 30, 2012 7.00% Notes due 2052 Qwest Corporation	Apr. 02, 2012 7.00% Notes due 2052 Qwest Corporation	Jun. 30, 2012 7.5% Notes due 2023	Jul. 31, 2012 7.5% Notes due 2023 Subsequent Event	Apr. 30, 2012 Revolving promissory note Qwest Corporation CenturyLink, Inc.
Long-term Debt
Interest Rates (as a percent)											7.125%	8.00%			6.50%	7.75%			6.50%	8.375%							7.50%		7.50%		8.375%		7.625%				7.00%	7.50%
Unamortized premiums, net							$ 156	$ 320	$ 94	$ 117			$ 27	$ 28
Total long-term debt	10,778		10,778	12,296					1,350	2,650			981	981			7,870	7,829			137	176	163	195
Less current maturities	(1,342)		(1,342)	(117)
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities	9,436		9,436	12,179	1,444	2,767
Principal amount																									750						811		400
Period to reset interest rate (in months)																									3 months
Interest rate as of remeasurement date																									3.718%
Principal amount of notes issued																																		400	525					583
Net proceeds from issuance of debt																																		387	508
Repayment of notes																										500		800											484
Redemption price as a percentage of principal amount of notes plus accrued and unpaid interest																										100.00%										100.00%
Principal amount of notes for which cash tender offers are received and accepted																														575		308
Percentage of principal amount of notes for which tender offer was received and accepted																														71.00%		77.00%
Amount for which cash tender offer is received and accepted																														722		369
Net loss on early retirement of debt	$ 45	$ 1	$ 37																													$ 46