Deferred tax assets credit loss carryforwards and NOL carryforwards domestic

No definition available.

Name:	mrk_DeferredtaxassetscreditlosscarryforwardsandNOLcarryforwardsdomestic
Namespace Prefix:	mrk_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Transition Tax Credit for Accumulated Foreign Earnings, Assets, Other, Noncurrent

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mrk_TaxCutsAndJobsActTransitionTaxCreditForAccumulatedForeignEarningsAssetsOtherNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	mrk_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Transition Tax for Accumulated Foreign Earnings, Payment

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mrk_TaxCutsAndJobsActTransitionTaxForAccumulatedForeignEarningsPayment
Namespace Prefix:	mrk_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Including Accrued Interest, Reduction Resulting from Lapse of Applicable Statute of Limitations

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mrk_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncludingAccruedInterestReductionResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations
Namespace Prefix:	mrk_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible foreign operating loss carryforwards.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482685/740-10-50-6

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of tax benefit from exercise of option under share-based payment arrangement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2A
-Subparagraph (a)
-SubTopic 10
-Topic 718
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480429/718-10-50-2A

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromExerciseOfStockOptions
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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_IncomeTaxContingencyLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Estimated amount of loss resulting from an adverse tax position.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (e)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482685/740-10-50-15

+ Details

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

- Definition

The portion of the valuation allowance pertaining to the deferred tax asset representing potential future taxable deductions from net operating loss carryforwards for which it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not be realized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482685/740-10-50-2

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of asset related to consideration paid in advance for income and other taxes that provide economic benefits within a future period of one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (g)(4)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147483467/210-10-45-1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 340
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147483032/340-10-45-1

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 340
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 05
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (d)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482955/340-10-05-5

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of unrecognized tax benefits.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 217
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482663/740-10-55-217

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 15A
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482685/740-10-50-15A

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 10B
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482525/740-10-45-10B

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount accrued for interest on an underpayment of income taxes and penalties related to a tax position claimed or expected to be claimed in the tax return.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of expense for interest on an underpayment of income taxes and penalties related to a tax position claimed or expected to be claimed in the tax return.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityNameAxis=us-gaap_InternalRevenueServiceIRSMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	mrk_IncomeTaxEstimationEstimationExpenseTypeAxis=mrk_PenaltiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_TaxPeriodAxis=mrk_TaxYear2019And2020Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis=us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis=us-gaap_DomesticCountryMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Taxes on Income - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2025	Dec. 31, 2025	Dec. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act payment		$ 1,200
Transition tax asset, credit, noncurrent		702
Deferred tax assets on NOL carryforwards relating to foreign jurisdictions		384
Deferred tax assets relating to various U.S. tax credit carryforwards and NOL carryforwards		813
Prepaid taxes		5,700	$ 3,900
Tax benefits relating to stock option exercises		7	26	$ 12
Unrecognized tax benefits		2,530	2,261	2,384	$ 1,835
Favorable net impact to income tax provision if unrecognized tax benefits were recognized		2,500
Interest and penalties associated with uncertain tax positions, expense (benefit)		106	51	$ 131
Liabilities for accrued interest and penalties		546	437
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Income tax examination, estimate of possible loss	$ 1,300
Penalties \| Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Income tax examination, estimate of possible loss	$ 260
Tax Year 2019 and 2020
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Reduction in reserves resulting from lapse of statute of limitations			$ 519
Foreign Jurisdiction
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Valuation allowance on foreign NOL carryforwards		248
Federal
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Valuation allowance on foreign NOL carryforwards		$ 576