Property, Plant and Equipment (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended					12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended				3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012 Land	Dec. 31, 2011 Land	Dec. 31, 2012 Fiber, conduit and other outside plant	Dec. 31, 2011 Fiber, conduit and other outside plant	Dec. 31, 2012 Fiber, conduit and other outside plant Minimum	Dec. 31, 2012 Fiber, conduit and other outside plant Maximum	Dec. 31, 2012 Central office and other network electronics	Dec. 31, 2011 Central office and other network electronics	Dec. 31, 2012 Central office and other network electronics Minimum	Dec. 31, 2012 Central office and other network electronics Maximum	Dec. 31, 2012 Support assets	Dec. 31, 2011 Support assets	Dec. 31, 2012 Support assets Minimum	Dec. 31, 2012 Support assets Maximum	Dec. 31, 2012 Construction in progress	Dec. 31, 2011 Construction in progress	Mar. 31, 2011 Predecessor	Dec. 31, 2010 Predecessor	Mar. 31, 2012 Retrospective adjustment Fiber, conduit and other outside plant	Mar. 31, 2012 Retrospective adjustment Central office and other network electronics	Mar. 31, 2012 Retrospective adjustment Support assets	Mar. 31, 2012 Retrospective adjustment Construction in progress	Dec. 31, 2012 Change in estimates of remaining useful lives Adjustments Telecommunications equipment assets	Dec. 31, 2012 Change in estimates of capitalized labor Adjustments Minimum	Dec. 31, 2012 Change in estimates of capitalized labor Adjustments Maximum
Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment	$ 11,765						$ 10,679	$ 11,765	$ 373	$ 384	$ 3,900	$ 3,671			$ 4,159	$ 3,460			$ 2,819	$ 2,844			$ 514	$ 320			$ (8)	$ (47)	$ (25)	$ (55)
Accumulated depreciation	(2,638)						(1,218)	(2,638)
Net property, plant and equipment	9,127						9,461	9,127
Amount of labor capitalized as an asset																																40	55
Operating expenses							7,784	10,078																	2,267	9,729						(40)	(55)
Depreciable Lives													15 years	45 years			3 years	10 years			5 years	30 years
Depreciation expense							1,209	1,522																	475	1,979					(93)
Increase in net income as a result of changes in estimates of economic lives of tangible assets	$ 111	$ 83	$ 37	$ 77	$ 32	$ (13)	$ 19	$ 308																	$ 211	$ (55)					$ 57	$ 25	$ 34

The cumulative amount of depreciation, depletion and amortization (related to property, plant and equipment, but not including land) that has been recognized in the income statement.

+ References+ Details

- Definition

The amount of expense recognized in the current period that reflects the allocation of the cost of tangible assets over the assets' useful lives. Includes production and non-production related depreciation.

+ References+ Details

- Definition

The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 19

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 260

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6371337&loc=d3e3550-109257

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 225

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.22)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Other Comprehensive Income

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6519514

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 130

-Paragraph 10, 15

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 20

-Article 9

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Net Income

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6518256

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)

-Number 87-21

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 28, 29, 30

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 225

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.19)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913

Reference 13: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 220

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 6

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=20435746&loc=d3e565-108580

Reference 14: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)

-Number 51

-Paragraph A7

-Appendix A

Reference 15: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)

-Number 51

-Paragraph 38

-Subparagraph a

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 16: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)

-Number 51

-Paragraph 38

-Subparagraph d

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

- Definition

Gross amount of long-lived physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment.

+ References+ Details

- Definition

Amount, net of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization, of long-lived physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment.

+ References+ Details

QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC 10-K