Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Oct. 27, 2016
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Trading Symbol	BRKA
Entity Registrant Name	BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC.
Entity Central Index Key	0001067983
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Class A [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		784,669
Class B [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,289,055,322