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Business segment data - Revenues by segment (Detail) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
Sep. 30, 2016
Sep. 30, 2017
Sep. 30, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Revenues $ 60,525 $ 58,843 $ 183,230 $ 165,260
Operating Businesses [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Revenues 59,612 55,418 181,521 160,091
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Interest, dividend and other investment income 1,248 1,043 3,664 3,428
Revenues 14,597 12,407 51,133 36,715
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | GEICO [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Premiums earned 7,543 6,474 21,632 18,771
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | General Re [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Premiums earned 1,630 1,389 4,599 4,168
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Premiums earned 2,324 1,872 15,951 5,767
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Premiums earned 1,852 1,629 5,287 4,581
Operating Businesses [Member] | BNSF [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Revenues 5,314 5,167 15,749 14,519
Operating Businesses [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Revenues 5,370 5,198 14,250 13,615
Operating Businesses [Member] | Manufacturing Businesses [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Revenues 12,819 12,082 37,654 34,837
Operating Businesses [Member] | McLane Company [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Revenues 12,798 12,271 37,480 36,121
Operating Businesses [Member] | Service and Retailing Businesses [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Revenues 6,527 6,331 19,170 18,607
Operating Businesses [Member] | Finance and Financial Products Reportable Segment [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Revenues 2,187 1,962 6,085 5,677
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Investment and derivative gains/losses 965 3,608 1,965 5,311
Eliminations and Other [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Revenues $ (52) $ (183) $ (256) $ (142)