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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
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of customers | 4,800,000 usm_NumberOfCustomers |  |  |  |  |
Agent liability | $ 95,300,000 usm_AccruedAgentCommissionCurrent |  | $ 121,300,000 usm_AccruedAgentCommissionCurrent |  |  |
Amounts recorded gross in revenues that are billed to customers and remitted to governmental authorities | 97,000,000 usm_AmountsCollectedAndRemittedToGovernmentalAuthorities |  | 114,700,000 usm_AmountsCollectedAndRemittedToGovernmentalAuthorities |  | 135,700,000 usm_AmountsCollectedAndRemittedToGovernmentalAuthorities |
Advertising costs | 204,900,000 us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense |  | 199,900,000 us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense |  | 227,000,000 us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense |
Accumulated amortization of deferred charges | 34,200,000 us-gaap_AccumulatedAmortizationDeferredFinanceCosts |  | 26,000,000 us-gaap_AccumulatedAmortizationDeferredFinanceCosts |  |  |
Federal Communications Commission deposit | 60,000,000 usm_FccLicenseAuctionDepositPayment |  |  |  |  |
Long-term |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounts receivable |  |  |  |  |  |
Unbilled allowance for credit losses | 6,065,000 us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLosses / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = usm_NoncurrentAssetsMember |  |  |  |  |
TDS |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements |  |  |  |  |  |
TDS ownership of U.S. Cellular | 84.00%us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent / us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis = us-gaap_AffiliatedEntityMember |  |  |  |  |
Income taxes receivable | 74,300,000 us-gaap_IncomeTaxesReceivable / us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis = us-gaap_AffiliatedEntityMember |  |  |  |  |
Income taxes (payable) |  |  | (34,800,000)us-gaap_AccruedIncomeTaxesCurrent / us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis = us-gaap_AffiliatedEntityMember |  |  |
401(k) |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements |  |  |  |  |  |
Defined contribution cost | 14,900,000 us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized / usm_DefinedContributionPlansDisclosuresDefinedContributionPlansAxis = us-gaap_TrustForBenefitOfEmployeesMember |  | 15,400,000 us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized / usm_DefinedContributionPlansDisclosuresDefinedContributionPlansAxis = us-gaap_TrustForBenefitOfEmployeesMember |  | 17,100,000 us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized / usm_DefinedContributionPlansDisclosuresDefinedContributionPlansAxis = us-gaap_TrustForBenefitOfEmployeesMember |
Pension |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements |  |  |  |  |  |
Defined contribution cost | 10,600,000 us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized / usm_DefinedContributionPlansDisclosuresDefinedContributionPlansAxis = us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember |  | 10,400,000 us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized / usm_DefinedContributionPlansDisclosuresDefinedContributionPlansAxis = us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember |  | 12,400,000 us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized / usm_DefinedContributionPlansDisclosuresDefinedContributionPlansAxis = us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember |
Allowance for doubtful accounts |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounts receivable |  |  |  |  |  |
Allowance for doubtful accounts, beginning balance | 60,238,000 us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember | [1] | 26,902,000 us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember | [1] | 23,537,000 us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember |
Additions, net of recoveries | 101,282,000 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember |  | 98,864,000 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember |  | 67,372,000 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember |
Deductions | (116,942,000)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember |  | (65,528,000)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember |  | (64,007,000)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember |
Allowance for doubtful accounts, ending balance | 44,578,000 us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember | [1] | 60,238,000 us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember | [1] | 26,902,000 us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember | [1]
Loyalty Rewards Program |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements |  |  |  |  |  |
Deferred revenue | 94,600,000 us-gaap_DeferredRevenue / us-gaap_DeferredRevenueArrangementTypeAxis = usm_RewardProgramMember |  | 116,200,000 us-gaap_DeferredRevenue / us-gaap_DeferredRevenueArrangementTypeAxis = usm_RewardProgramMember |  |  |
Loyalty Rewards Program | Special issuance |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements |  |  |  |  |  |
Deferred revenue |  |  | $ 43,500,000 us-gaap_DeferredRevenue / us-gaap_DeferredRevenueArrangementTypeAxis = usm_RewardProgramMember / usm_SignificantEventAxis = usm_SpecialIssuanceMember |  |  |
[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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