Business segment data - Revenues (Detail) - USD ($)
$ in Millions |
3 Months Ended |
12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2018 |
Sep. 30, 2018 |
Jun. 30, 2018 |
Mar. 31, 2018 |
Dec. 31, 2017 |
Sep. 30, 2017 |
Jun. 30, 2017 |
Mar. 31, 2017 |
Dec. 31, 2018 |
Dec. 31, 2017 |
Dec. 31, 2016 |
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
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| Revenues |
$ 63,714
|
$ 63,450
|
$ 62,200
|
$ 58,473
|
$ 58,800
|
$ 59,507
|
$ 57,256
|
$ 64,370
|
$ 247,837
|
$ 239,933
|
$ 215,114
|
| BNSF [Member] |
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| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
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| Revenues |
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23,703
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| Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] |
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| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
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| Revenues |
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19,970
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| Manufacturing Businesses [Member] |
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| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
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| Revenues |
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61,770
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| McLane Company [Member] |
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| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
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| Revenues |
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49,987
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|
| Service and Retailing Businesses [Member] |
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| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
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| Revenues |
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28,849
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| Operating Businesses [Member] |
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| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
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| Revenues |
|
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|
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|
247,587
|
240,342
|
215,432
|
| Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] |
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| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
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| Premiums earned |
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57,418
|
60,597
|
45,881
|
| Interest, dividend and other investment income |
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5,518
|
4,865
|
4,522
|
| Revenues |
|
|
|
|
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|
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|
62,936
|
65,462
|
50,403
|
| Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | GEICO [Member] |
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| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
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| Premiums earned |
|
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33,363
|
29,441
|
25,483
|
| Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group [Member] |
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| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
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| Premiums earned |
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15,944
|
24,013
|
14,141
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| Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group [Member] |
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| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
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| Premiums earned |
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8,111
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7,143
|
6,257
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| Operating Businesses [Member] | BNSF [Member] |
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| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
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| Revenues |
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23,855
|
21,387
|
19,829
|
| Operating Businesses [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] |
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| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
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| Revenues |
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19,987
|
18,854
|
17,764
|
| Operating Businesses [Member] | Manufacturing Businesses [Member] |
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| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
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| Revenues |
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61,883
|
57,645
|
52,969
|
| Operating Businesses [Member] | McLane Company [Member] |
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| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
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| Revenues |
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49,987
|
49,775
|
48,075
|
| Operating Businesses [Member] | Service and Retailing Businesses [Member] |
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| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
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| Revenues |
|
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|
28,939
|
27,219
|
26,392
|
| Corporate, Eliminations and Other [Member] |
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| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
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| Revenues |
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$ 250
|
$ (409)
|
$ (318)
|