2.2.0.25truefalse42209 - Disclosure - EMPLOYEE STOCK BENEFIT PLANS (Input Variables Used in Calculation of Fair Value of Market Share Units)(Details)truefalsefalse1falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareByAntidilutiveSecuritiesAxis} : Market Share Units [Member] 1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010 USD ($) / shares USD ($) $Duration_1_1_2010_To_12_31_20102262http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseMarket Share Units [Member]us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareByAntidilutiveSecuritiesAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_MarketShareUnitsMemberus-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareByAntidilutiveSecuritiesAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit15Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0Unit1< UnitType>Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2false0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRateus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalse< /IsCalendarTitle>falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truetruefalse0.2480.248falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureThe estimated measure of the percentage amount by which a share price is expected to fluctuate during a period. Volatility also may be defined as a probability-weighted measure of the dispersion of returns about the mean. The volatility of a share price is the standard deviation of the continuously compounded rates of return on the share over a specified period. That is the same as the standard deviation of the differences in the natural logarithms of the stock prices plus dividends, if any, over the period.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 123R -Paragraph A240 -Subparagraph e(2)(b) falsefalse3false0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRateus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truetruefalse0.0190.019falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureThe risk-free interest rate assumption that is used in valuing an option on its own shares.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 123R -Paragraph A240 -Subparagraph e(2)(d) falsefalse4false0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRateus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truetruefalse0.0580.058falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureThe estimated dividend rate (a percentage of the share price) to be paid (expected dividends) to holders of the underlying shares over the option's term.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 123R -Paragraph A240 -Subparagraph e(2)(c) falsefalse13EMPLOYEE STOCK BENEFIT PLANS (Input Variables Used in Calculation of Fair Value of Market Share Units)(Details) (Market Share Units [Member])UnKnownUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruetrue