Leases - Amounts and Location of Operating Lease ROU Assets And Lease Liabilities (Details) $ in Millions |
Dec. 31, 2019
USD ($)
|
|---|---|
| Assets and Liabilities, Lessee | |
| Operating Lease - ROU Asset | $ 934 |
| Operating Lease, Assets (Balance Sheet Location) | abt:DeferredIncomeTaxesandOtherAssets |
| Operating Lease Liability - Current | $ 205 |
| Operating Lease, Current Liabilities (Balance Sheet Location) | us-gaap:OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent |
| Operating Lease Liability - Non-Current | $ 755 |
| Operating Lease, Non-current Liabilities (Balance Sheet Location) | abt:Post-EmploymentObligationsOtherLong-TermLiabilities |
| Present value of lease liabilities | $ 960 |
| Operating Lease, Liabilities (Balance Sheet Location) | us-gaap:OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent abt:Post-EmploymentObligationsOtherLong-TermLiabilities |