Equity and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income - Changes in Components of Total equity (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$ 69,272
Net income attributable to Verizon	5,245	$ 4,156
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(38)	(120)
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	909	(2,210)
Unrealized loss on marketable securities	(5)	(1)
Defined benefit pension and postretirement plans	(155)	(169)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	$ 711
Shareholder plans (in shares)	1,900
Total comprehensive income (loss)	$ 6,089	1,787
Ending Balance	$ 72,683	$ 61,653
Dividends declared per common share (USD per share)	$ 0.6275	$ 0.6150
Accounting standards update		us-gaap:AccountingStandardsUpdate201602Member
Common Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$ 429	$ 429
Beginning balance (in shares)	4,291,434	4,291,434
Ending Balance (in shares)	4,291,434	4,291,434
Ending Balance	$ 429	$ 429
Additional Paid In Capital
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	13,404	13,419
Other	4	(117)
Ending Balance	13,408	13,302
Retained Earnings
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	60,464	53,147
Net income attributable to Verizon	5,245	4,156
Dividends declared	(2,602)	(2,546)
Ending Balance	63,107	54,557
Retained Earnings | Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	0	(200)
Retained Earnings | Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	60,464	52,947
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(71)	998
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(38)	(120)
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	909	(2,210)
Unrealized loss on marketable securities	(5)	(1)
Defined benefit pension and postretirement plans	(155)	(169)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	711	(2,500)
Ending Balance	640	(1,502)
Treasury Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$ (6,719)	$ (6,820)
Beginning balance (in shares)	153,304	155,606
Employee plans (in shares)	1,935	2,164
Employee plans	$ 85	$ 95
Shareholder plans (in shares)	3	4
Shareholder plans	$ 0	$ 0
Ending Balance (in shares)	151,366	153,438
Ending Balance	$ (6,634)	$ (6,725)
Deferred Compensation-ESOPs and Other
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	335	222
Restricted stock equity grant	99	15
Amortization	(152)	(88)
Ending Balance	282	149
Noncontrolling Interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	1,430	1,440
Total comprehensive income (loss)	133	131
Distributions and other	(112)	(128)
Ending Balance	$ 1,451	$ 1,443