Long-Term Debt and Revolving Promissory Note (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended																				9 Months Ended	1 Months Ended		1 Months Ended		1 Months Ended		1 Months Ended		1 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			1 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 Qwest Communications International Inc.	Sep. 30, 2012 Qwest Communications International Inc.	Dec. 31, 2011 Qwest Communications International Inc.	Sep. 30, 2012 Qwest Corporation	Dec. 31, 2011 Qwest Corporation	Sep. 30, 2012 Senior notes Qwest Communications International Inc.	Dec. 31, 2011 Senior notes Qwest Communications International Inc.	Sep. 30, 2012 Senior notes Qwest Communications International Inc. Minimum	Sep. 30, 2012 Senior notes Qwest Communications International Inc. Maximum	Sep. 30, 2012 Senior notes Qwest Capital Funding	Dec. 31, 2011 Senior notes Qwest Capital Funding	Sep. 30, 2012 Senior notes Qwest Capital Funding Minimum	Sep. 30, 2012 Senior notes Qwest Capital Funding Maximum	Sep. 30, 2012 Senior notes Qwest Corporation	Dec. 31, 2011 Senior notes Qwest Corporation	Sep. 30, 2012 Senior notes Qwest Corporation Minimum	Sep. 30, 2012 Senior notes Qwest Corporation Maximum	Sep. 30, 2012 Capital lease and other obligations Qwest Corporation	Dec. 31, 2011 Capital lease and other obligations Qwest Corporation	Sep. 30, 2012 Capital lease and other obligations Qwest Communications Company, LLC	Dec. 31, 2011 Capital lease and other obligations Qwest Communications Company, LLC	Sep. 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	Sep. 30, 2012 7.00% Notes due 2052 Qwest Corporation	Jun. 25, 2012 7.00% Notes due 2052 Qwest Corporation	Apr. 02, 2012 7.00% Notes due 2052 Qwest Corporation	Jul. 31, 2012 7.5% Notes due 2023 Qwest Corporation	Jul. 20, 2012 7.5% Notes due 2023 Qwest Corporation	Sep. 30, 2012 Revolving promissory note	Apr. 30, 2012 Revolving promissory note Qwest Corporation CenturyLink	Oct. 26, 2012 8.00% Notes due 2015 Subsequent Events	Oct. 31, 2012 8.00% Notes due 2015 Subsequent Events
Long-term Debt
Interest Rates (as a percent)												7.125%	8.00%			6.50%	7.75%			3.639%	8.375%							7.50%		7.50%		8.375%		7.625%				7.00%	7.00%		7.50%			8.00%
Unamortized premiums, net								$ 141	$ 320	$ 89	$ 117			$ 27	$ 28
Amount outstanding	10,256		10,256	12,296						1,350	2,650			981	981			7,386	7,829			125	176	157	195																	1,985
Less current maturities	(1,407)		(1,407)	(117)	(550)	(550)
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities	8,849		8,849	12,179	889	889	2,767
Maximum borrowing capacity																										750						811		400								3,000
Period to reset interest rate																										3 months
Interest rate as of remeasurement date																										3.639%
Principal amount of notes issued																																			400								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%
Principal amount of notes for which cash tender offers are received and accepted																															575		308												550
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 gain (loss) on early retirement of debt	$ (1)	$ (1)	$ (38)		$ 12	$ 12																											$ (46)											$ 15
Weighted average interest rate (as a percent)																																										6.0917%