Revenue from contracts with customers disaggregated by reportable segment and source of revenue (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	$ 207,771	$ 191,252	$ 166,733
Other revenues	94,318	84,951	78,846
Total revenues	302,089	276,203	245,579
Industrial and Commercial Products [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	24,765	22,343	20,964
Building Products [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	22,762	19,604	15,943
Consumer Products [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	19,912	18,540	14,757
Grocery and Convenience Store Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	32,599	31,245	30,795
Food and Beverage Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	19,388	17,332	15,368
Auto Sales [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	10,486	9,966	8,258
Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	20,126	18,895	14,922
Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	37,416	35,063	30,660
Electricity and Natural Gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	20,317	18,264	15,066
Manufacturing Businesses [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	71,634	64,811	55,380
Other revenues	4,016	3,766	3,598
Total revenues	75,650	68,577	58,978
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Industrial and Commercial Products [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	24,566	22,184	20,772
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Building Products [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	22,762	19,604	15,943
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Consumer Products [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	19,912	18,540	14,757
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	3,195	2,997	2,452
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	1,199	1,486	1,456
McLane [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	53,090	49,328	46,747
Other revenues	119	122	93
Total revenues	53,209	49,450	46,840
McLane [Member] | Grocery and Convenience Store Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	32,599	31,245	30,795
McLane [Member] | Food and Beverage Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	19,388	17,332	15,368
McLane [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	1,103	751	584
Service and Retailing [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	32,055	30,146	24,252
Other revenues	6,154	4,601	3,859
Total revenues	38,209	34,747	28,111
Service and Retailing [Member] | Industrial and Commercial Products [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	199	159	192
Service and Retailing [Member] | Auto Sales [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	10,486	9,966	8,258
Service and Retailing [Member] | Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	16,931	15,898	12,470
Service and Retailing [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,439	4,123	3,332
BNSF [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	25,742	23,120	20,693
Other revenues	60	57	57
Total revenues	25,802	23,177	20,750
BNSF [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	25,742	23,120	20,693
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	25,250	23,847	19,661
Other revenues	1,097	1,205	1,422
Total revenues	26,347	25,052	21,083
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,933	5,583	4,595
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] | Electricity and Natural Gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	20,317	18,264	15,066
Insurance, Corporate and Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Other revenues	82,872	75,200	69,817
Total revenues	$ 82,872	$ 75,200	$ 69,817