v3.10.0.1

Dispositions and the VodafoneZiggo JV Transaction (VodafoneZiggo JV Transaction Narrative) (Details) € in Millions, $ in Millions |  | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | ---
Jan. 04, 2017 EUR (€) | Jan. 04, 2017 USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2017 EUR (€) | Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2016 EUR (€) | Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain on the VodafoneZiggo JV Transaction (note 6) |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0.0 | $ 4.5 | $ 520.8
Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations | VodafoneZiggo Holding |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from divestiture of business | € 2,200.0 | $ 2,400.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from various debt financing arrangements |  |  |  |  | € 2,800.0 | $ 2,900.0 |  |  |
Gain on the VodafoneZiggo JV Transaction (note 6) |  |  |  | $ 4.5 |  |  |  | 520.8 |
Cumulative foreign currency translation loss |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 714.5 |
Earnings (loss) before income taxes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (276.4) |
Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations | VodafoneZiggo Holding | Vodafone |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from divestiture of business | € 802.9 | $ 840.8 | € 3.9 | $ 4.5 |  |  |  | $ 260.4 |
VodafoneZiggo JV |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage | 50.00% | 50.00% |  |  |  |  | 50.00% | 50.00% |
Co-venturer ownership percentage |  |  |  |  |  |  | 50.00% |  |

X
- Definition Equity Method Investment, Co-Venturer Ownership Percentage + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lbtya_EquityMethodInvestmentCoVenturerOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | lbtya_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of foreign currency translation gain (loss) in the disposal group, including discontinued operation, recognized in the statement of income as a result of the sale or complete or substantially complete liquidation of an investment in a foreign entity. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 830 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 20 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109240241&loc=d3e32211-110900 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationForeignCurrencyTranslationGainsLosses
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount before tax of gain (loss) recognized on the sale or disposal of a disposal group. Excludes discontinued operations. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109226348&loc=d3e2443-110228 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109226691&loc=d3e2941-110230 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposal
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114001798&loc=d3e33918-111571 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount before tax of income (loss) from an individually significant component disposed of or held-for-sale attributable to parent. Excludes discontinued operations. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3A -Subparagraph (a)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109226691&loc=SL51724579-110230 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeLossFromIndividuallySignificantComponentDisposedOfOrHeldForSaleExcludingDiscontinuedOperationsAttributableToParentBeforeIncomeTax
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The cash inflow associated with the amount received from the sale of a portion of the company's business, for example a segment, division, branch or other business, during the period. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 12 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3179-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The cash inflow during the period from additional borrowings in aggregate debt. Includes proceeds from short-term and long-term debt. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 14 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3255-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfDebt
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationAxis=us-gaap_DisposalGroupDisposedOfBySaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=lbtya_VodafoneZiggoHoldingMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_CounterpartyNameAxis=lbtya_VodafoneMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=lbtya_VodafoneZiggoJVMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |