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Debt - Revolving Credit Facilities (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
TDS Revolving credit facility
Revolving credit
Maximum borrowing capacity	$ 400,000,000
Letters of credit outstanding	1,000,000
Amount borrowed	0
Amount available for use	399,000,000
UScellular Revolving credit facility
Revolving credit
Maximum borrowing capacity	300,000,000
Letters of credit outstanding	2,000,000
Amount borrowed	0
Amount available for use	298,000,000
TDS and UScellular Revolving credit facility
Revolving credit
Unused commitment fees	$ 2,000,000	$ 2,000,000	$ 2,000,000
Consolidated interest coverage ratio	3.00
Consolidated leverage ratio	3.25
TDS and UScellular Revolving credit facility | LIBOR rate
Revolving credit
Contractual spread	1.50%
TDS and UScellular Revolving credit facility | Alternative Base Rate
Revolving credit
Contractual spread	0.50%
Subordination Agreement | UScellular | Maximum
Revolving credit
Consolidated funded indebtedness	$ 105,000,000
Refinancing indebtedness	250,000,000
Subordination Agreement | UScellular Revolving credit facility
Revolving credit
Consolidated funded indebtedness	0
Refinancing indebtedness	$ 0

X

- Definition

Consolidated Funded Indebtedness

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	tds_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

The minimum interest coverage ratio required according to the terms for borrowing under this debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	tds_
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Balance Type:	na
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X

- Definition

The maximum leverage ratio required according to the terms for borrowing under this debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	tds_
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Balance Type:	na
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X

- Definition

Refinancing Indebtedness

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	tds_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120398452&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120400017&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Amount of the fee for available but unused credit capacity under the credit facility.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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- Details

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- Details

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