2.2.0.25falsefalse41401 - Disclosure - INVENTORIES (Details)truefalseIn Millionsfalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse12/31/2010 USD ($) USD ($) / shares $As_Of_12_31_2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit12Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit15Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDfalsefalse12/31/2009 USD ($) USD ($) / shares $As_Of_12_31_2009http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit15Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit12Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2true0bmy_InventoriesAbstractbmyfalsenadurationINVENTORIES [Abstract]falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringINVENTORIES [Abstract]falsefalse3false0us-gaap_InventoryFinishedGoodsus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse397000000397falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse580000000580falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCarrying amount as of the balance sheet date of merchandise or goods held by the company that are readily available for sale.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph a -Article 5 falsefalse4false0us-gaap_InventoryWorkInProcessus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse608000000608falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse630000000630falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCarrying amount as of the balance sheet date of merchandise or goods which are partially completed, are generally comprised of raw materials, labor and factory overhead costs, and which require further materials, labor and overhead to be converted into finished goods, and which generally require the use of estimates to determine percentage complete and pricing.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph a -Article 5 falsefalse5false0us-gaap_InventoryRawMaterialsAndSuppliesus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse199000000199falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse203000000203falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAggregated amount of unprocessed materials to be used in manufacturing or production process and supplies that will be consumed.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph a -Article 5 falsefalse6false0us-gaap_InventoryNetus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1truefalsefalse12040000001204falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse14130000001413falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetary< ElementDataType>xbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCarrying amount (lower of cost or market) as of the balance sheet date of inventories less all valuation and other allowances. Excludes noncurrent inventory balances (expected to remain on hand past one year or one operating cycle, if longer).No authoritative reference available.truefalse7false0us-gaap_InventoryNoncurrentus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalse falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse297000000297falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse249000000249falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryInventories not expected to be converted to cash, sold or exchanged within the normal operating cycle.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 43 -Chapter 3 -Section A -Paragraph 4, 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph d -Article 5 falsefalse8false0bmy_InventorySubjectToFdaApprovalbmyfalsedebitinstantInventory Subject To FDA Approvalfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel 1truefalsefalse4400000044falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryInventory Subject To FDA ApprovalNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse9false0bmy_CapitalizedCostsRelatedToProductionOfProductsForProgramsInPhaseIiiDevelopmentSubjectToFinalUsFoodAndDrugAdministrationApprovalbmyfalsedebitinstantCapitalized costs related to production of products for programs in phase III development subject to final US food and drug...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse5900000059falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse4900000049falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCapitalized costs related to production of products for programs in phase III development subject to final US food and drug administration approval included in inventory.No authoritative reference available.falsefals e28INVENTORIES (Details) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue