This element represents the capital lease term, in years.

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_CapitalLeaseTermYears
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

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

- Definition

Present value of minimum lease payments for capital leases net of executory costs, including amounts paid by the lessee to the lessor for insurance, maintenance and taxes.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/otherTransitionRef
-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

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsPresentValueOfNetMinimumPayments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of rent expense incurred for leased assets, including but not limited to, furniture and equipment, that is not directly or indirectly associated with the manufacture, sale or creation of a product or product line.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of accumulated depreciation, by major property class, recorded on property subject to or available for lease as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/otherTransitionRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 840
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84164653&loc=d3e41551-112718

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/otherTransitionRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 840
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77907726&loc=d3e41460-112716

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertySubjectToOrAvailableForOperatingLeaseAccumulatedDepreciation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	mmm_CapitalLeasedAssetTypeAxis=us-gaap_BuildingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	mmm_CapitalLeasedAssetTypeAxis=mmm_InAggregateCapitalLeaseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Leases - Disclosures related to periods prior to adoption of new lease standard (Details) £ in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2003 GBP (£)
Capital and Operating Leases
Rental expense under operating leases	$ 393	$ 343
Accumulated depreciation for capital leases	54
Capital lease asset and obligation	92
Building in United Kingdom
Capital and Operating Leases
Capital lease asset and obligation	43		£ 34
Capital lease term (in years)			22 years
Capital lease obligations in aggregate
Capital and Operating Leases
Capital lease asset and obligation	$ 13	$ 13
Capital lease term (in years)	15 years