v3.25.2
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, 2025
Jun. 30, 2024
Jun. 30, 2025
Jun. 30, 2024
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers $ 61,406 $ 63,519 $ 120,763 $ 124,810
Other revenues 31,109 30,134 61,477 58,712
Total revenues 92,515 93,653 182,240 183,522
Industrial and Commercial [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 7,747 7,514 15,173 14,776
Building [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 5,123 5,233 9,711 9,907
Consumer [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 4,361 4,588 8,621 8,781
Grocery and Convenience Store Distribution [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 7,516 7,500 14,958 15,102
Food and Beverage Distribution [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 4,663 4,478 9,036 8,914
Auto Sales [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 2,911 2,714 5,612 5,266
Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 14,733 17,461 29,332 34,441
Service [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 9,327 9,054 17,949 17,517
Electricity and Natural Gas [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 5,025 4,977 10,371 10,106
Manufacturing Businesses [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 18,567 18,525 35,928 35,798
Other revenues 1,373 1,282 2,764 2,520
Total revenues 19,940 19,807 38,692 38,318
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Industrial and Commercial [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 7,702 7,459 15,055 14,669
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Building [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 5,123 5,233 9,711 9,907
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Consumer [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 4,361 4,588 8,621 8,781
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 952 843 1,829 1,662
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Service [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 429 402 712 779
McLane [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 12,387 12,223 24,395 24,482
Other revenues 12 48 20 89
Total revenues 12,399 12,271 24,415 24,571
McLane [Member] | Grocery and Convenience Store Distribution [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 7,516 7,500 14,958 15,102
McLane [Member] | Food and Beverage Distribution [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 4,663 4,478 9,036 8,914
McLane [Member] | Service [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 208 245 401 466
Service and Retailing [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 8,488 7,947 16,470 15,696
Other revenues 2,183 1,975 4,313 3,898
Total revenues 10,671 9,922 20,783 19,594
Service and Retailing [Member] | Industrial and Commercial [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 45 55 118 107
Service and Retailing [Member] | Auto Sales [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 2,911 2,714 5,612 5,266
Service and Retailing [Member] | Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 3,785 3,741 7,354 7,509
Service and Retailing [Member] | Service [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 1,747 1,437 3,386 2,814
BNSF [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 5,700 5,698 11,353 11,316
Other revenues 46 89 92 108
Total revenues 5,746 5,787 11,445 11,424
BNSF [Member] | Service [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 5,700 5,698 11,353 11,316
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 6,200 6,181 12,337 12,116
Other revenues 205 299 412 629
Total revenues 6,405 6,480 12,749 12,745
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] | Service [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 1,175 1,204 1,966 2,010
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] | Electricity and Natural Gas [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 5,025 4,977 10,371 10,106
Pilot [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 10,064 12,945 20,280 25,402
Other revenues 31 39 237 76
Total revenues 10,095 12,984 20,517 25,478
Pilot [Member] | Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 9,996 12,877 20,149 25,270
Pilot [Member] | Service [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 68 68 131 132
Insurance, Corporate and Other [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Other revenues 27,259 26,402 53,639 51,392
Total revenues $ 27,259 $ 26,402 $ 53,639 $ 51,392