Revenue from contracts with customers disaggregated by reportable segment and source of revenue (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	$ 52,933	$ 48,110	$ 102,359	$ 92,733
Other revenues	23,247	21,004	44,631	40,980
Total revenues	76,180	69,114	146,990	133,713
Industrial and Commercial Products [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	6,190	5,635	12,171	11,048
Building Products [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,970	5,114	11,389	9,513
Consumer Products [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,509	4,604	10,602	8,767
Grocery and Convenience Store Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	7,979	7,729	15,685	15,171
Food and Beverage Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,002	4,356	9,564	8,360
Auto Sales [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	2,675	2,750	5,202	5,062
Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,083	4,762	9,980	9,121
Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	9,785	8,962	18,312	16,781
Electricity and Natural Gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,740	4,198	9,454	8,910
Manufacturing Businesses [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	18,741	16,428	36,171	31,385
Other revenues	995	947	1,950	1,870
Total revenues	19,736	17,375	38,121	33,255
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Industrial and Commercial Products [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	6,142	5,586	12,074	10,949
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Building Products [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,970	5,114	11,389	9,513
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Consumer Products [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,509	4,604	10,602	8,767
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	818	754	1,540	1,457
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	302	370	566	699
McLane [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	13,229	12,268	25,711	23,865
Other revenues	33	27	65	52
Total revenues	13,262	12,295	25,776	23,917
McLane [Member] | Grocery and Convenience Store Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	7,979	7,729	15,685	15,171
McLane [Member] | Food and Beverage Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,002	4,356	9,564	8,360
McLane [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	248	183	462	334
Service and Retailing [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	8,066	7,860	15,823	14,812
Other revenues	1,527	1,094	2,861	2,085
Total revenues	9,593	8,954	18,684	16,897
Service and Retailing [Member] | Industrial and Commercial Products [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	48	49	97	99
Service and Retailing [Member] | Auto Sales [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	2,675	2,750	5,202	5,062
Service and Retailing [Member] | Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,265	4,008	8,440	7,664
Service and Retailing [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	1,078	1,053	2,084	1,987
BNSF [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	6,596	5,763	12,527	11,128
Other revenues	16	15	29	28
Total revenues	6,612	5,778	12,556	11,156
BNSF [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	6,596	5,763	12,527	11,128
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	6,301	5,791	12,127	11,543
Other revenues	212	294	364	466
Total revenues	6,513	6,085	12,491	12,009
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	1,561	1,593	2,673	2,633
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] | Electricity and Natural Gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,740	4,198	9,454	8,910
Insurance, Corporate and Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Other revenues	20,464	18,627	39,362	36,479
Total revenues	$ 20,464	$ 18,627	$ 39,362	$ 36,479