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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Details) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014 number | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Basis of Presentation |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of wireless customers | 4,800,000 tds_NumberOfWirelessCustomers |  |  |  |  |
Wireline and Cable connections | 1,200,000 tds_WirelineCustomerConnections |  |  |  |  |
Amounts recorded gross in revenues that are billed to customers and remitted to governmental authorities | $ 113,500,000 tds_AmountsCollectedAndRemittedToGovernmentalAuthorities |  | $ 131,000,000 tds_AmountsCollectedAndRemittedToGovernmentalAuthorities |  | $ 152,400,000 tds_AmountsCollectedAndRemittedToGovernmentalAuthorities |
Advertising costs | 228,500,000 us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense |  | 212,800,000 us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense |  | 240,900,000 us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense |
Accumulated amortization of deferred charges | 58,100,000 us-gaap_AccumulatedAmortizationDeferredFinanceCosts |  | 41,400,000 us-gaap_AccumulatedAmortizationDeferredFinanceCosts |  |  |
Federal Communications Commission deposit | 60,000,000 tds_FccLicenseAuctionDepositPayment |  |  |  |  |
Long-term |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounts receivable |  |  |  |  |  |
Unbilled allowance for credit losses | 6,065,000 us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLosses / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = tds_NoncurrentAssetsMember |  |  |  |  |
Allowance for doubtful accounts |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounts receivable |  |  |  |  |  |
Allowance for doubtful accounts, beginning balance | 65,604,000 us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember | [1] | 33,415,000 us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember | [1] | 31,071,000 us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember |
Additions, net of recoveries | 107,861,000 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember |  | 105,629,000 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember |  | 74,695,000 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember |
Deductions | (124,828,000)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember |  | (73,440,000)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember |  | (72,351,000)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember |
Allowance for doubtful accounts, ending balance | 48,637,000 us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember | [1] | 65,604,000 us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember | [1] | 33,415,000 us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember | [1]
U.S. Cellular |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis of Presentation |  |  |  |  |  |
TDS ownership of U.S. Cellular | 84.00%us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_USCellularSegmentMember |  |  |  |  |
Agent liability | 95,300,000 tds_AccruedAgentCommissionCurrent / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_USCellularSegmentMember |  | 121,300,000 tds_AccruedAgentCommissionCurrent / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_USCellularSegmentMember |  |  |
U.S. Cellular | Loyalty Rewards Program |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis of Presentation |  |  |  |  |  |
Deferred revenue | 94,600,000 us-gaap_DeferredRevenue / us-gaap_DeferredRevenueArrangementTypeAxis = tds_RewardProgramMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_USCellularSegmentMember |  | 116,200,000 us-gaap_DeferredRevenue / us-gaap_DeferredRevenueArrangementTypeAxis = tds_RewardProgramMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_USCellularSegmentMember |  |  |
U.S. Cellular | Loyalty Rewards Program | Special issuance |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis of Presentation |  |  |  |  |  |
Deferred revenue |  |  | $ 43,500,000 us-gaap_DeferredRevenue / us-gaap_DeferredRevenueArrangementTypeAxis = tds_RewardProgramMember / tds_SignificantEventAxis = tds_SpecialIssuanceMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = tds_USCellularSegmentMember |  |  |
[1] | In 2014, this balance includes a $6.1 million allowance related to the long-term portion of unbilled equipment installment receivables.

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- Definition Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and payable for sales commissions due to agents. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer). + References No definition available. + Details
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