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Variable Interest Entities (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Sep. 30, 2015
Sep. 30, 2014
Sep. 30, 2015
Sep. 30, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Assets              
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 865,425 $ 573,067 $ 865,425 $ 573,067 $ 471,901 $ 830,014
Other current assets   30,425   30,425   29,766  
Licenses   1,844,197   1,844,197   1,453,574  
Property, plant and equipment, net   3,706,687   3,706,687   3,846,125  
Other assets and deferred charges   236,803   236,803   334,554  
Liabilities              
Current liabilities   1,082,570   1,082,570   1,063,256  
Variable Interest Entities, Other Disclosures              
Total winning bid   338,300   338,300      
Accounting Changes and Error Corrections              
Net income (loss)   62,395 (121,199) 264,696 (126,631)    
Net income (loss) attributable to TDS shareholders   51,083 (116,030) $ 219,869 (119,814)    
Adjustment              
Accounting Changes and Error Corrections              
Immaterial Error Correction       TDS recorded out-of-period adjustments during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 due to errors related to equipment installment plan transactions that were attributable to 2014.  TDS has determined that these adjustments were not material to the prior quarterly or annual periods, and also were not material to the current period or anticipated full year 2015 results.  These equipment installment plan adjustments had the impact of reducing Equipment and product sales revenues by $6.2 million and Income before income taxes by $5.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. These adjustments were made in the first six months of 2015.      
U.S. Cellular              
Accounting Changes and Error Corrections              
Net income (loss)   65,021 $ (23,771) $ 249,921 $ (24,818)    
Variable Interest Entities              
Assets              
Cash and cash equivalents   1,681   1,681   2,588  
Other current assets   175   175   278  
Licenses   648,661 [1]   648,661 [1]   312,977  
Property, plant and equipment, net   8,635   8,635   10,671  
Other assets and deferred charges   324   324   60,059  
Total assets   659,476   659,476   386,573  
Liabilities              
Current liabilities   1   1   110  
Deferred liabilities and credits   494   494   622  
Total liabilities   $ 495   495   732  
Variable Interest Entities, Other Disclosures              
Capital contributions, loans or advances       $ 280,600      
Advantage Spectrum L.P. | U.S. Cellular              
Variable Interest Entities, Other Disclosures              
Federal Communications Commission deposit           $ 60,000  
Licenses won   124   124      
Total winning bid   $ 338,300   $ 338,300      
Designated entity auction discount   25.00%   25.00%      
Other auction charges   $ 2,300   $ 2,300      
King Street Wireless L.P.              
Variable Interest Entities, Other Disclosures              
Cash distributions paid $ 60,000            
King Street Wireless, L.P. distribution paid to U.S. Cellular 54,000            
King Street Wireless, L.P. distribution paid to King Street Wireless, Inc. $ 6,000            
King Street Wireless L.P. | Adjustment              
Accounting Changes and Error Corrections              
Immaterial Error Correction       During the three and nine-months ended September 30, 2015, TDS recorded out-of-period adjustments attributable to the third quarter of 2013 through the second quarter of 2015 related to an agreement with King Street Wireless.  TDS has determined that these adjustments were not material to the prior quarterly or annual periods, and also were not material to the current period or anticipated full year 2015 results.  As a result of these out-of-period adjustments, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, Net income decreased by $3.2 million and $2.8 million, and Net income attributable to TDS shareholders decreased by $3.8 million and $3.3 million, respectively.      
Net income (loss)   3,200   $ 2,800      
Net income (loss) attributable to TDS shareholders   $ 3,800   $ 3,300      
[1] At September 30, 2015, includes payments totaling $338.3 million made by Advantage Spectrum to the FCC as described below.