Business segment data - Revenues (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 302,089	$ 276,203	$ 245,579
BNSF [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	25,802	23,177	20,750
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	26,347	25,052	21,083
Manufacturing Businesses [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	75,650	68,577	58,978
McLane [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	53,209	49,450	46,840
Service and Retailing [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	38,209	34,747	28,111
Operating Businesses [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	301,953	276,530	245,427
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Premiums earned	74,645	69,478	63,401
Interest, dividend and other investment income	7,734	5,662	5,960
Total revenues	82,379	75,140	69,361
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | GEICO [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Premiums earned	38,984	37,706	35,093
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Premiums earned	21,915	20,197	18,693
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Premiums earned	13,746	11,575	9,615
Operating Businesses [Member] | BNSF [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	25,888	23,282	20,869
Operating Businesses [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	26,393	25,096	21,100
Operating Businesses [Member] | Manufacturing Businesses [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	75,781	68,730	59,079
Operating Businesses [Member] | McLane [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	53,209	49,450	46,840
Operating Businesses [Member] | Service and Retailing [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	38,303	34,832	28,178
Corporate, Eliminations and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 136	$ (327)	$ 152