v3.10.0.1

Debt and Capital Lease Obligations (Footnotes) (Details) € in Millions, $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2018 EUR (€) association group | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) association group | Dec. 31, 2018 GBP (£) association group | Feb. 28, 2018 USD ($) | Feb. 28, 2018 GBP (£) | Dec. 31, 2017 EUR (€) | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 GBP (£)
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Weighted average interest rate | 4.56% | 4.56% | 4.56% |  |  |  |  |
Outstanding principal amount |  | $ 29,315.3 |  |  |  |  | $ 32,178.0 |
Unused borrowing capacity |  | 2,503.8 | £ 0 |  |  |  |  |
Carrying value |  | 29,183.9 |  |  |  |  | 32,006.2 |
Estimated fair value |  | 248.6 |  |  |  |  | 926.6 |
Capital lease obligations |  | $ 621.3 |  |  |  |  | 638.3 |
Term of lease repayments | 15 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of borrowing groups | group | 3 | 3 | 3 |  |  |  |  |
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated fair value |  | $ 248.6 |  |  |  |  | 304.9 |
Long-term Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated fair value |  | $ 28,500.0 |  |  |  |  | 32,700.0 |
Aggregate Variable and Fixed Rate Indebtedness |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Weighted average interest rate | 4.31% | 4.31% | 4.31% |  |  |  |  |
VM Financing Facilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Outstanding principal amount |  | $ 53.4 | £ 41,900,000 |  |  |  | 55.6 | £ 43,600,000
VM Revolving Credit Facility |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unused borrowing capacity |  | 860.3 | 675,000,000.0 |  |  |  |  |
VM Revolving Facility A |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Facility amount |  |  |  | $ 63.7 | £ 50,000,000.0 |  |  |
VM Revolving Facility B |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Facility amount |  | 796.6 | £ 625,000,000.0 |  |  |  |  |
Telenet Facility AG |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unused borrowing capacity | € 400.0 | 458.1 |  |  |  |  |  |
Telenet Overdraft Facility |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unused borrowing capacity | 25.0 | 28.6 |  |  |  |  |  |
Telenet Revolving Facility |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unused borrowing capacity | € 20.0 | $ 22.9 |  |  |  |  |  |
Vendor financing |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Weighted average interest rate | 4.18% | 4.18% | 4.18% |  |  |  |  |
Outstanding principal amount |  | $ 3,620.3 |  |  |  |  | 3,593.1 |
Unused borrowing capacity |  | 0.0 |  |  |  |  |  |
General term of vendor financing arrangements for amounts due | 1 year |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Virgin Media Collateralized Debt | Secured Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Carrying value |  | 225.9 |  |  |  |  | 160.9 |
Telenet Capital Lease PICs Network |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Capital lease obligations | € 390.6 | $ 447.3 |  |  |  | € 361.8 | $ 414.3 |
Number of associations of municipalities in belgium | association | 4 | 4 | 4 |  |  |  |  |
Senior and Senior Secured Notes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Mandatory redemption price expressed as percentage of principal amount on senior notes in event that certain assets sold or specific control changed | 101.00% | 101.00% | 101.00% |  |  |  |  |
Redemption term | 12 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Redemption price, percentage of principal amount limitation | 10.00% | 10.00% | 10.00% |  |  |  |  |
Redemption price | 103.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |
SPE Notes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage of SPEs by third parties | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |  |  |  |  |

X
- Definition Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage of Principal Amount Limitation + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lbtya_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPricePercentageofPrincipalAmountLimitation
Namespace Prefix: | lbtya_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Debt Instrument, Redemption Term + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lbtya_DebtInstrumentRedemptionTerm
Namespace Prefix: | lbtya_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition General Term of Vendor Financing Arrangements for Amounts Due + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lbtya_GeneralTermOfVendorFinancingArrangementsForAmountsDue
Namespace Prefix: | lbtya_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Mandatory redemption price expressed as percentage of principal amount on senior notes in event that certain assets sold or specific control changed + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lbtya_MandatoryRedemptionPriceExpressedAsPercentageOfPrincipalAmountOnSeniorNotesInEventThatCertainAssetsSoldOrSpecificControlChanged
Namespace Prefix: | lbtya_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Number of Associations of Municipalities in Belgium + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lbtya_NumberOfAssociationsOfMunicipalitiesInBelgium
Namespace Prefix: | lbtya_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Number of Borrowing Groups + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lbtya_NumberofBorrowingGroups
Namespace Prefix: | lbtya_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Ownership Percentage of Special Purpose Financing Entity + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lbtya_OwnershipPercentageofSpecialPurposeFinancingEntity
Namespace Prefix: | lbtya_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Term of Lease Repayments + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lbtya_TermofLeaseRepayments
Namespace Prefix: | lbtya_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount equal to the present value (the principal) at the beginning of the lease term of minimum lease payments during the lease term (excluding that portion of the payments representing executory costs such as insurance, maintenance, and taxes to be paid by the lessor, together with any profit thereon) net of payments or other amounts applied to the principal through the balance sheet date. + 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=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 840 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84164817&loc=d3e45280-112737 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(a)(16)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligations
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount, before unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 470 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (b)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109500613&loc=SL6031897-161870 Reference 2: 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=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 3: 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=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 4: 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=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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

X
- Definition Percentage price of original principal amount of debt at which debt can be redeemed by the issuer. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 470 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph e -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=75038535&loc=d3e64711-112823 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPricePercentage
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of unused borrowing capacity under the long-term financing arrangement that is available to the entity as of the balance sheet date. + 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(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnusedBorrowingCapacityAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Weighted average interest rate of debt outstanding. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

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=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 470 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (b)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109500613&loc=SL6031897-161870 Reference 2: 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(a)(16)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 3: 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=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 4: 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=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongTermDebt
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The fair value amount of long-term debt whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_LongTermDebtMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=lbtya_AggregateVariableAndFixedRateIndebtednessMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=lbtya_VMFinancingFacilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=lbtya_VMRevolvingCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=lbtya_VMRevolvingFacilityAMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=lbtya_VMRevolvingFacilityBMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=lbtya_TelenetFacilityAGMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=lbtya_TelenetOverdraftFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=lbtya_TelenetRevolvingFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=lbtya_VendorFinancingMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=lbtya_VirginMediaCollateralizedDebtMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=lbtya_TelenetCapitalLeasePicsNetworkMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=lbtya_SeniorandSeniorSecuredNotesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=lbtya_SPENotesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |