2.2.0.25falsefalse41501 - Disclosure - PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (Narrative) (Details)truefalseIn Millionsfalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$Duration_1_1_2010_To_12_31_2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0Unit12Divide<
MeasureSchema>http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit15Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$Duration_1_1_2009_To_12_31_2009http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit15Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit12Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$3falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$Duration_1_1_2008_To_12_31_20083http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272duration2008-01-01T00:00:002008-12-31T00:00:00Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit15Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0Unit12Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2true0us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentAbstrac
tus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalse3false0us-gaap_Depreciationus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse473000000473falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse469000000469falsetruefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse562000000562falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount of expense recognized in the
current period that reflects the allocation of the cost of tangible assets over the assets' useful lives. Includes production and non-production related depreciation.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 95
-Paragraph 28
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
-Number 12
-Paragraph 5
falsefalse4false0bmy_DepreciationDiscontinuedOperationsbmyfalsedebitdurationThe amount of expense recognized in the current period in discontinued operations that reflects the allocation of the cost of...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse5100000051falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse5000000050falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount of expense recognized in the current period in discontinued operations that reflects the allocation of the cost of tangible assets over the assets' useful lives.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse5false0us-gaap_InterestCostsCapitalizedus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse80000008falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse1300000013falsetruefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefa
lse2300000023falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount of interest that was capitalized during the period.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 34
-Paragraph 21
-Subparagraph b
falsefalse34PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue
