Earnings Per Share - Computation (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Earnings per share
Net income attributable to TDS common shareholders used in basic earnings per share	$ 117	$ 226	$ 121
Noncontrolling interest adjustment	(1)	(3)	(1)
Net income attributable to TDS common shareholders used in diluted earnings per share	$ 116	$ 223	$ 120
Weighted average number of shares used in basic earnings per share (in shares)	115	114	114
Effects of dilutive securities (in shares)	1	1	2
Weighted average number of shares used in diluted earnings per share (in shares)	116	115	116
Basic earnings per share attributable to TDS common shareholders	$ 1.03	$ 1.97	$ 1.06
Diluted earnings per share attributable to TDS common shareholders	$ 1.00	$ 1.93	$ 1.03
Common Shares
Earnings per share
Weighted average number of shares used in basic earnings per share (in shares)	108	107	107
Series A Common Shares
Earnings per share
Weighted average number of shares used in basic earnings per share (in shares)	7	7	7