v2.4.1.9
Collaborations (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 10 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2014
Sep. 30, 2014
Jun. 30, 2014
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Sep. 30, 2013
Jun. 30, 2013
Mar. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Aug. 31, 2012
Oct. 31, 2013
Nov. 30, 2011
Jun. 30, 2011
Dec. 31, 2009
Dec. 31, 2011
Mar. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2012
Jun. 30, 2001
Oct. 31, 2011
Collaboration and other revenue                   $ 788.4us-gaap_OtherSalesRevenueNet $ 707.5us-gaap_OtherSalesRevenueNet $ 633.0us-gaap_OtherSalesRevenueNet                    
Total Revenue   5,121.3us-gaap_Revenues 4,875.6us-gaap_Revenues 4,935.6us-gaap_Revenues 4,683.1us-gaap_Revenues 5,808.8us-gaap_Revenues 5,772.6us-gaap_Revenues 5,929.7us-gaap_Revenues 5,602.0us-gaap_Revenues 19,615.6us-gaap_Revenues 23,113.1us-gaap_Revenues 22,603.4us-gaap_Revenues                    
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)                   368.3us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense 63.9us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense (41.0)us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense                    
Research and Development Expense                   4,733.6us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense 5,531.3us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense 5,278.1us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense                    
Proceeds from prepayment of revenue-sharing obligation                   0us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfIntangibleAssets 0us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfIntangibleAssets 1,212.1us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfIntangibleAssets                    
Other-net, (income) expense   137.2us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense 93.5us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense 53.8us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense 56.0us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense 9.1us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense (31.3)us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense 11.9us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense 529.2us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense 340.5us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense 518.9us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense 674.0us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense                    
Marketing, selling, and administrative                   6,620.8us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense 7,125.6us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense 7,513.5us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense                    
Acquired in-process research and development 57.1lly_AcquiredInProcessResearchAndDevelopment 105.2lly_AcquiredInProcessResearchAndDevelopment 95.0lly_AcquiredInProcessResearchAndDevelopment 0lly_AcquiredInProcessResearchAndDevelopment 0lly_AcquiredInProcessResearchAndDevelopment 57.1lly_AcquiredInProcessResearchAndDevelopment 0lly_AcquiredInProcessResearchAndDevelopment 0lly_AcquiredInProcessResearchAndDevelopment 0lly_AcquiredInProcessResearchAndDevelopment 200.2lly_AcquiredInProcessResearchAndDevelopment 57.1lly_AcquiredInProcessResearchAndDevelopment 0lly_AcquiredInProcessResearchAndDevelopment                    
Amortization of Intangible Assets                   535.9us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets 555.0us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets 563.0us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets                    
Erbitux [Member]                                            
Sales Revenue, Goods, Net                   46.1us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_ErbituxMember
58.5us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_ErbituxMember
76.4us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_ErbituxMember
                   
Collaboration and other revenue                   327.2us-gaap_OtherSalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_ErbituxMember
315.2us-gaap_OtherSalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_ErbituxMember
320.6us-gaap_OtherSalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_ErbituxMember
                   
Total Revenue                   373.3us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_ErbituxMember
373.7us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_ErbituxMember
397.0us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_ErbituxMember
                   
Effient [Member]                                            
Sales Revenue, Goods, Net                   522.2us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_EffientMember
508.7us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_EffientMember
457.2us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_EffientMember
                   
Amylin [Member]                                            
Proceeds from prepayment of revenue-sharing obligation                         1,210.0us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfIntangibleAssets
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_AmylinMember
                 
Exenatide [Member]                                            
Sales Revenue, Goods, Net                     133.1us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_ExenatideMember
207.8us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_ExenatideMember
                   
Collaboration and other revenue                     0us-gaap_OtherSalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_ExenatideMember
70.1us-gaap_OtherSalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_ExenatideMember
                   
Total Revenue                     133.1us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_ExenatideMember
277.9us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_ExenatideMember
                   
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)                     495.4us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_ExenatideMember
787.8us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_ExenatideMember
                   
Boerhringer Ingelheim (BI) [Member]                                            
Collaboration and other revenue                   328.8us-gaap_OtherSalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_BoerhringerIngelheimBiMember
249.2us-gaap_OtherSalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_BoerhringerIngelheimBiMember
88.6us-gaap_OtherSalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_BoerhringerIngelheimBiMember
                   
BI compounds [Member]                                            
Other-net, (income) expense   92.0us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_BiCompoundsMember
                                       
LLY compounds [Member]                                            
Acquired in-process research and development   55.2lly_AcquiredInProcessResearchAndDevelopment
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_LlyCompoundsMember
                                       
Tanezumab [Member]                                            
Acquired in-process research and development                           200.0lly_AcquiredInProcessResearchAndDevelopment
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_TanezumabMember
               
United States [Member]                                            
Total Revenue                   9,134.1us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_US
12,889.7us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_US
12,313.1us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_US
                   
Secured Note [Member] | Amylin [Member]                                            
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage                             9.50%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_AmylinMember
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= lly_SecuredNoteMember
             
Revenue Share [Member] | Amylin [Member]                                            
Collaborative Arrangement, Rights and Obligations, Terms                         1,260.0lly_CollaborativeArrangementRightsAndObligationsTerms
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_AmylinMember
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= lly_RevenueShareMember
  1,200.0lly_CollaborativeArrangementRightsAndObligationsTerms
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_AmylinMember
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= lly_RevenueShareMember
             
Revenue Share [Member] | United States [Member] | Amylin [Member]                                            
Collaborative Arrangement, Rights and Obligations Percent                             65.00%lly_CollaborativeArrangementRightsAndObligationsPercent
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_AmylinMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_US
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= lly_RevenueShareMember
             
Revenue Share [Member] | Outside the United States [Member] | Amylin [Member]                                            
Collaborative Arrangement, Rights and Obligations Percent                             35.00%lly_CollaborativeArrangementRightsAndObligationsPercent
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_AmylinMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= lly_OutsideUnitedStatesMember
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= lly_RevenueShareMember
             
Milestone Payments [Member] | Solanezumab [Member]                                            
Collaborative Arrangement, Rights and Obligations, Terms                               (70.0)lly_CollaborativeArrangementRightsAndObligationsTerms
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_SolanezumabMember
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= lly_MilestonePaymentsMember
           
Milestone Payments, Sales-based [Member] | Baricitinib [Member]                                            
Collaborative Arrangement, Rights and Obligations, Terms                                 (150.0)lly_CollaborativeArrangementRightsAndObligationsTerms
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_BaricitinibMember
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= lly_MilestonePaymentsSalesBasedMember
         
Milestone Payments, Sales-based [Member] | Tanezumab [Member]                                            
Collaborative Arrangement, Rights and Obligations, Terms                           (1,230.0)lly_CollaborativeArrangementRightsAndObligationsTerms
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_TanezumabMember
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= lly_MilestonePaymentsSalesBasedMember
               
Milestone Payments, Development and Regulatory [Member] | Trajenta (BI) [Member]                                            
Collaborative Arrangement, Rights and Obligations, Terms                                   (478.7)lly_CollaborativeArrangementRightsAndObligationsTerms
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_TrajentaBIMember
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= lly_MilestonePaymentsDevelopmentAndRegulatoryMember
       
Milestone Payments, Development and Regulatory [Member] | Amylin [Member]                                            
Collaborative Arrangement, Rights and Obligations, Terms                             150.0lly_CollaborativeArrangementRightsAndObligationsTerms
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_AmylinMember
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= lly_MilestonePaymentsDevelopmentAndRegulatoryMember
             
Milestone Payments, Development and Regulatory [Member] | Jardiance [Member]                                            
Collaborative Arrangement, Rights and Obligations, Terms                   (300.5)lly_CollaborativeArrangementRightsAndObligationsTerms
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_JardianceMember
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= lly_MilestonePaymentsDevelopmentAndRegulatoryMember
(97.2)lly_CollaborativeArrangementRightsAndObligationsTerms
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_JardianceMember
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= lly_MilestonePaymentsDevelopmentAndRegulatoryMember
                     
Milestone Payments, Development and Regulatory [Member] | LLY compounds [Member]                                            
Collaborative Arrangement, Rights and Obligations, Terms                   (62.5)lly_CollaborativeArrangementRightsAndObligationsTerms
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_LlyCompoundsMember
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= lly_MilestonePaymentsDevelopmentAndRegulatoryMember
50.0lly_CollaborativeArrangementRightsAndObligationsTerms
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_LlyCompoundsMember
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= lly_MilestonePaymentsDevelopmentAndRegulatoryMember
              (187.5)lly_CollaborativeArrangementRightsAndObligationsTerms
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_LlyCompoundsMember
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= lly_MilestonePaymentsDevelopmentAndRegulatoryMember
     
Milestone Payments, Development and Regulatory [Member] | Baricitinib [Member]                                            
Collaborative Arrangement, Rights and Obligations, Terms                                 (415.0)lly_CollaborativeArrangementRightsAndObligationsTerms
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_BaricitinibMember
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= lly_MilestonePaymentsDevelopmentAndRegulatoryMember
    (50.0)lly_CollaborativeArrangementRightsAndObligationsTerms
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_BaricitinibMember
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= lly_MilestonePaymentsDevelopmentAndRegulatoryMember
   
Milestone Payments, Development and Regulatory [Member] | Tanezumab [Member]                                            
Collaborative Arrangement, Rights and Obligations, Terms                           (350.0)lly_CollaborativeArrangementRightsAndObligationsTerms
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_TanezumabMember
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= lly_MilestonePaymentsDevelopmentAndRegulatoryMember
               
Profit And Development And Marketing Share [Member] | Effient [Member]                                            
Collaborative Arrangement, Rights and Obligations Percent                                         50.00%lly_CollaborativeArrangementRightsAndObligationsPercent
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_EffientMember
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= lly_ProfitAndDevelopmentAndMarketingShareMember
 
Upfront Payment [Member] | Amylin [Member]                                            
Collaborative Arrangement, Rights and Obligations, Terms                             250.0lly_CollaborativeArrangementRightsAndObligationsTerms
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_AmylinMember
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= lly_UpfrontPaymentMember
             
Sales Reported [Member] | Amylin [Member]                                            
Collaborative Arrangement, Rights and Obligations Percent                             15.00%lly_CollaborativeArrangementRightsAndObligationsPercent
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_AmylinMember
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= lly_SalesReportedMember
             
Sales Reported [Member] | Outside the United States [Member] | Exenatide [Member]                                            
Collaborative Arrangement, Rights and Obligations Percent                                           100.00%lly_CollaborativeArrangementRightsAndObligationsPercent
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_ExenatideMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= lly_OutsideUnitedStatesMember
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= lly_SalesReportedMember
Research And Development Exp [Member] | Baricitinib [Member]                                            
Collaborative Arrangement, Rights and Obligations Percent                                 30.00%lly_CollaborativeArrangementRightsAndObligationsPercent
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_BaricitinibMember
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= lly_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpMember
         
Royalty Payments Received [Member] | Solanezumab [Member]                                            
Collaborative Arrangement, Rights and Obligations, Term of Arrangement                               10 years            
Royalty Payments Received [Member] | Baricitinib [Member]                                            
Collaborative Arrangement, Rights and Obligations Percent                                 20.00%lly_CollaborativeArrangementRightsAndObligationsPercent
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= lly_BaricitinibMember
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= us-gaap_RoyaltyAgreementTermsMember
         
Collaborative Arrangement [Member]                                            
Marketing, selling, and administrative                   $ 211.2us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= us-gaap_CollaborativeArrangementMember
$ 203.7us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= us-gaap_CollaborativeArrangementMember
$ 188.5us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense
/ us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis
= us-gaap_CollaborativeArrangementMember