Number of stock options and awards acquired as a part of the business combination.

No definition available.

Name:	abt_BusinessAcquisitionStockOptionsAndAwardsAcquiredNumber
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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

For awards that vest over five years, the maximum portion of the award that vests in any one year.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	abt_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the number of years in which one third portion of stock awards vesting beyond five years vests upon Abbott reaching minimum return on equity target.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of shares of common stock received for each vested restricted stock unit.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	abt_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate number of common shares reserved for future issuance.

+ 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 210.5-02.29)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Period over which grantee's right to exercise award under share-based payment arrangement is no longer contingent on satisfaction of service or performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Includes, but is not limited to, combination of market, performance or service condition.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116856206&loc=d3e5070-113901

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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of grants made during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(2)(iii)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116856206&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Per share or unit weighted-average fair value of nonvested award under share-based payment arrangement. Excludes share and unit options.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(2)(i)-(ii)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116856206&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- 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

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Net number of non-option equity instruments granted to participants.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(1)(iv)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116856206&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

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

- Definition

Number of shares authorized for issuance under share-based payment arrangement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116856206&loc=d3e5070-113901

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Gross number of share options (or share units) granted during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Weighted average price at which grantees can acquire the shares reserved for issuance under the stock option plan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(1)(i)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116856206&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Period from grant date that an equity-based award expires, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116856206&loc=d3e5070-113901

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Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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Period Type:

- Details

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Incentive Stock Programs - General (Details) - $ / shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Apr. 30, 2017
Stock options
Incentive Stock Programs
Stock options granted during the period (in shares)	4,579,283
Award vesting period	3 years
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 48.78	$ 42.21
Stock options \| Maximum
Incentive Stock Programs
Maximum term of option	10 years
Stock options \| St Jude Medical
Incentive Stock Programs
Number of awards converted as part of acquisition (in shares)	7,364,571
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 30.50
Restricted stock awards
Incentive Stock Programs
Award vesting period	3 years
Portion of awards vesting in any one year for awards that vest over 5 years (as a percent)	33.00%
For awards with a term of five years, number of years in which no more than one-third of the award vests	1 year
Restricted stock units
Incentive Stock Programs
Award vesting period	3 years
Number of shares of common stock received for each vested restricted stock unit (in shares)	1
Restricted stock units \| St Jude Medical
Incentive Stock Programs
Number of awards converted as part of acquisition (in shares)	2,324,500
Awards and units outstanding, weighted-average grant-date fair value (in dollars per share)	$ 37.69
2017 Incentive Stock Program
Incentive Stock Programs
Incentive stock programs, shares authorized for issuance			170,000,000
Incentive stock programs, shares reserved for future issuance	127,000,000
2017 Incentive Stock Program \| Stock options
Incentive Stock Programs
Stock options granted during the period (in shares)	4,579,283
2017 Incentive Stock Program \| Restricted stock awards
Incentive Stock Programs
Grants in period, restricted stock (in shares)	736,100
2017 Incentive Stock Program \| Restricted stock units
Incentive Stock Programs
Awards and units granted during period (in shares)	6,628,009