Name:	ibm_CapitalLeasesUnguaranteedResidualValuesOfLeasedProperty
Namespace Prefix:	ibm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_LeasesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Present value of lease payments not yet received by lessor and amount expected to be derived from underlying asset, following end of lease term guaranteed by lessee or other third party unrelated to lessor, from sales-type and direct financing leases.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124258985&loc=SL77919391-209981

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124258985&loc=SL77919379-209981

Name:	us-gaap_SalesTypeAndDirectFinancingLeasesLeaseReceivable
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_SalesTypeAndDirectFinancingLeasesLeaseReceivableFiscalYearMaturityAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount of undiscounted cash flows to be received by lessor for sales-type and direct financing leases.

Name:	us-gaap_SalesTypeAndDirectFinancingLeasesLeaseReceivablePaymentsToBeReceived
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of undiscounted cash flows to be received by lessor for sales-type and direct financing leases in fifth fiscal year following current fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach).

Name:	us-gaap_SalesTypeAndDirectFinancingLeasesLeaseReceivablePaymentsToBeReceivedFiveYears
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of undiscounted cash flows to be received by lessor for sales-type and direct financing leases in fourth fiscal year following current fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach).

Name:	us-gaap_SalesTypeAndDirectFinancingLeasesLeaseReceivablePaymentsToBeReceivedFourYears
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of undiscounted cash flows to be received by lessor for sales-type and direct financing leases in next fiscal year following current fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach).

Name:	us-gaap_SalesTypeAndDirectFinancingLeasesLeaseReceivablePaymentsToBeReceivedNextTwelveMonths
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of undiscounted cash flows to be received by lessor for sales-type and direct financing leases after fifth fiscal year following current fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach).

Name:	us-gaap_SalesTypeAndDirectFinancingLeasesLeaseReceivablePaymentsToBeReceivedThereafter
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of undiscounted cash flows to be received by lessor for sales-type and direct financing leases in third fiscal year following current fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach).

Name:	us-gaap_SalesTypeAndDirectFinancingLeasesLeaseReceivablePaymentsToBeReceivedThreeYears
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of undiscounted cash flows to be received by lessor for sales-type and direct financing leases in second fiscal year following current fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach).

Name:	us-gaap_SalesTypeAndDirectFinancingLeasesLeaseReceivablePaymentsToBeReceivedTwoYears
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of undiscounted lease receivable in excess of discounted receivable for sales-type and direct financing leases.