Document And Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019 shares
Entity Registrant Name	United States Cellular Corporation
Entity Central Index Key	0000821130
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2019
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Emerging Growth Company	false
Smaller Reporting Company	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Trading Symbol	USM
Common Shares
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	53,348,200
Series A Common Shares
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	33,005,900