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Significant business acquisitions - Estimated fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 01, 2014
Dec. 19, 2013
Business Acquisition [Line Items]          
Goodwill $ 60,714us-gaap_Goodwill $ 57,011us-gaap_Goodwill $ 54,523us-gaap_Goodwill    
AltaLink [Member]          
Business Acquisition [Line Items]          
Property, plant and equipment       5,610us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedPropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= brka_AltaLinkMember
 
Goodwill       1,700us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= brka_AltaLinkMember
 
Other assets, including cash and cash equivalents       294brka_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedOtherAssets
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= brka_AltaLinkMember
 
Assets acquired       7,604us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedAssets
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= brka_AltaLinkMember
 
Accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities       1,025brka_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedAccountsPayableAccruedExpensesAndOtherLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= brka_AltaLinkMember
 
Notes payable and other borrowings       3,851brka_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedDebt
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= brka_AltaLinkMember
 
Liabilities assumed       4,876us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= brka_AltaLinkMember
 
Net assets acquired       2,728us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredGoodwillAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= brka_AltaLinkMember
 
NV Energy [Member]          
Business Acquisition [Line Items]          
Property, plant and equipment         9,511us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedPropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= brka_NVEnergyMember
Goodwill         2,369us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= brka_NVEnergyMember
Other assets, including cash and cash equivalents         2,506brka_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedOtherAssets
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= brka_NVEnergyMember
Assets acquired         14,386us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedAssets
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= brka_NVEnergyMember
Accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities         3,456brka_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedAccountsPayableAccruedExpensesAndOtherLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= brka_NVEnergyMember
Notes payable and other borrowings         5,334brka_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedDebt
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= brka_NVEnergyMember
Liabilities assumed         8,790us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= brka_NVEnergyMember
Net assets acquired         $ 5,596us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredGoodwillAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= brka_NVEnergyMember