Name:	tds_SharesPaidForTaxWithholdingAndExerciseOfStockOptionsForShareBasedCompensation
Namespace Prefix:	tds_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

For net-share settlement of share-based awards when the employer withholds shares for the exercise price and income tax withholding obligations, this element represents the value of shares the employees use to repay the employer.

No definition available.

Name:	tds_SharesPaidForTaxWithholdingAndExerciseOfStockOptionsForShareBasedCompensationValue
Namespace Prefix:	tds_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Liability for software license acquisitions with payments due after twelve months.

No definition available.

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

Liability for software license acquisitions with payments due in the next twelve months.

No definition available.

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

Disclosure of supplemental cash flow items.

No definition available.

Name:	tds_SupplementalCashFlowLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	tds_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The amount of cash paid during the current period to foreign, federal, state, and local authorities as taxes on income, net of any cash received during the current period as refunds for the overpayment of taxes.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482913/230-10-50-2

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaidNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of cash paid for interest, excluding capitalized interest, classified as operating activity. Includes, but is not limited to, payment to settle zero-coupon bond for accreted interest of debt discount and debt instrument with insignificant coupon interest rate in relation to effective interest rate of borrowing attributable to accreted interest of debt discount.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 17
-Subparagraph (d)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482740/230-10-45-17

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 25
-Subparagraph (e)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482740/230-10-45-25

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482913/230-10-50-2

Name:	us-gaap_InterestPaidNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

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

The value of an asset or business acquired in a noncash (or part noncash) acquisition. Noncash is defined as information about all investing and financing activities of an enterprise during a period that affect recognized assets or liabilities but that do not result in cash receipts or cash payments in the period. "Part noncash" refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or cash payments in the period.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482913/230-10-50-4

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482913/230-10-50-3

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482913/230-10-50-5

Name:	us-gaap_NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionValueOfAssetsAcquired1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of cash outflow to satisfy grantee's tax withholding obligation for award under share-based payment arrangement.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482740/230-10-45-15

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Name:	us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=us-gaap_OtherCurrentLiabilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=us-gaap_OtherNoncurrentLiabilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis=srt_ParentCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis=tds_USCellularSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis=us-gaap_CommonClassBMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: