Revenue from contracts with customers disaggregated by reportable segment and source of revenue (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	$ 41,452	$ 42,392
Other revenues	19,813	18,286
Total revenues	61,265	60,678
Industrial and Commercial Products [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	6,163	6,505
Building Products [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	3,695	3,552
Consumer Products [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	3,328	3,290
Grocery and Convenience Store Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	7,859	8,035
Food and Beverage Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	3,806	4,125
Auto Sales [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	1,909	1,937
Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	3,538	3,465
Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	7,639	7,796
Electricity and Natural Gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	3,515	3,687
Manufacturing Businesses [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	14,134	14,193
Other revenues	880	865
Total revenues	15,014	15,058
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Industrial and Commercial Products [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	6,119	6,459
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Building Products [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	3,695	3,552
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Consumer Products [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	3,328	3,290
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	605	544
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	387	348
McLane Company [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	11,797	12,180
Other revenues	24	19
Total revenues	11,821	12,199
McLane Company [Member] | Grocery and Convenience Store Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	7,859	8,035
McLane Company [Member] | Food and Beverage Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	3,806	4,125
McLane Company [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	132	20
Service and Retailing Businesses [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,847	5,894
Other revenues	1,091	1,110
Total revenues	6,938	7,004
Service and Retailing Businesses [Member] | Industrial and Commercial Products [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	44	46
Service and Retailing Businesses [Member] | Auto Sales [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	1,909	1,937
Service and Retailing Businesses [Member] | Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	2,933	2,921
Service and Retailing Businesses [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	961	990
BNSF [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,366	5,713
Other revenues	14	12
Total revenues	5,380	5,725
BNSF [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,366	5,713
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,308	4,412
Other revenues	199	260
Total revenues	4,507	4,672
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	793	725
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] | Electricity and Natural Gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	3,515	3,687
Insurance Corporate And Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Other revenues	17,605	16,020
Total revenues	$ 17,605	$ 16,020