v3.19.2

revenue from contracts with customers - Accounts receivable (Details) - CAD ($) $ in Millions | Jun. 30, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018
--- | --- | ---
revenue from contracts with customers |  |
Customer accounts receivable | $ 1,285 | $ 1,263
Accrued receivables - customer | 179 | 175
Allowance for doubtful accounts | (42) | (53)
Total | 1,422 | 1,385
Accrued receivables - other | 413 | 215
Total | $ 1,835 | $ 1,600

X
- Definition The amount of current accrued income. [Refer: Accrued income] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2018-01-01 -Paragraph 112 -Subparagraph c -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_112_c&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2018-03-16 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_CurrentAccruedIncome
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The amount of current receivables from contracts with customers. [Refer: Receivables from contracts with customers] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 15 -IssueDate 2018-01-01 -Paragraph 105 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=15&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_105&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2018-03-16 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_CurrentReceivablesFromContractsWithCustomers
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The amount of current other receivables. [Refer: Other receivables] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2018-01-01 -Paragraph 78 -Subparagraph b -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_78_b&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2018-03-16 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_OtherCurrentReceivables
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The amount of current trade receivables and current other receivables. [Refer: Current trade receivables; Other current receivables] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2018-01-01 -Paragraph 54 -Subparagraph h -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_54_h&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2018-03-16 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2018-01-01 -Paragraph 78 -Subparagraph b -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_78_b&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2018-03-16 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_TradeAndOtherCurrentReceivables
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_TradeAndOtherReceivablesAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount due from contracts with customers for goods or services that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business, reduced to their estimated net realizable fair value by an allowance established by the entity of the amount it deems uncertain of collection. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | tu_CurrentReceivablesFromContractsWithCustomersNet
Namespace Prefix: | tu_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition For an unclassified balance sheet, a valuation allowance for receivables due a company that are expected to be uncollectible. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | tu_IfrsAllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable
Namespace Prefix: | tu_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant