v3.26.1
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, 2026
Jun. 30, 2025
Jun. 30, 2026
Jun. 30, 2025
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers $ 70,115 $ 61,406 $ 133,252 $ 120,763
Other revenues 31,693 31,109 62,231 61,477
Total revenues 101,808 92,515 195,483 182,240
Industrial and Commercial [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 9,820 7,747 19,043 15,173
Building [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 5,255 5,123 9,923 9,711
Consumer [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 4,333 4,361 8,384 8,621
Grocery and Convenience Store Distribution [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 6,704 7,516 13,494 14,958
Food and Beverage Distribution [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 4,902 4,663 9,600 9,036
Auto Sales [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 2,897 2,911 5,488 5,612
Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 20,262 14,733 36,524 29,332
Service [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 10,644 9,327 19,826 17,949
Electricity and Natural Gas [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 5,298 5,025 10,970 10,371
Manufacturing Businesses [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 21,036 18,567 40,247 35,928
Other revenues 1,484 1,373 2,915 2,764
Total revenues 22,520 19,940 43,162 38,692
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Industrial and Commercial [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 9,774 7,702 18,946 15,055
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Building [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 5,255 5,123 9,923 9,711
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Consumer [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 4,333 4,361 8,384 8,621
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 1,105 952 2,083 1,829
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Service [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 569 429 911 712
McLane [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 11,881 12,387 23,609 24,395
Other revenues 7 12 38 20
Total revenues 11,888 12,399 23,647 24,415
McLane [Member] | Grocery and Convenience Store Distribution [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 6,704 7,516 13,494 14,958
McLane [Member] | Food and Beverage Distribution [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 4,902 4,663 9,600 9,036
McLane [Member] | Service [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 275 208 515 401
Service and Retailing [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 9,307 8,488 17,912 16,470
Other revenues 2,551 2,183 4,907 4,313
Total revenues 11,858 10,671 22,819 20,783
Service and Retailing [Member] | Industrial and Commercial [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 46 45 97 118
Service and Retailing [Member] | Auto Sales [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 2,897 2,911 5,488 5,612
Service and Retailing [Member] | Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 4,349 3,785 8,489 7,354
Service and Retailing [Member] | Service [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 2,015 1,747 3,838 3,386
BNSF [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 6,531 5,700 12,452 11,353
Other revenues 46 46 90 92
Total revenues 6,577 5,746 12,542 11,445
BNSF [Member] | Service [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 6,531 5,700 12,452 11,353
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 6,482 6,200 12,945 12,337
Other revenues 248 205 443 412
Total revenues 6,730 6,405 13,388 12,749
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] | Service [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 1,184 1,175 1,975 1,966
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] | Electricity and Natural Gas [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 5,298 5,025 10,970 10,371
Pilot [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 14,878 10,064 26,087 20,280
Other revenues 47 31 67 237
Total revenues 14,925 10,095 26,154 20,517
Pilot [Member] | Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 14,808 9,996 25,952 20,149
Pilot [Member] | Service [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue from contracts with customers 70 68 135 131
Insurance, Corporate and Other [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Other revenues 27,310 27,259 53,771 53,639
Total revenues $ 27,310 $ 27,259 $ 53,771 $ 53,639