2.2.0.25truefalse42301 - Disclosure - SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS AND LONG-TERM DEBT (Narrative) (Details)truefalsefalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2010 - 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$2false0bmy_EquivalentPerShareValueForPrincipal
AmountOutstandingSeniorNotesbmyfalsenadurationThe equivalent per share amount to be paid upon conversion of certain convertible debt.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse1616falsetruefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00<
FootnoteIndexer />falsefalsefalsefalsefalseEPSus-types:perShareItemTypedecimalThe equivalent per share amount to be paid upon conversion of certain convertible debt.No authoritative reference available.falsetrue3false0bmy_NotionalAmountOfDebtRepurchasedbmyfalsedebitdurationThe notional amount of debt repurchased during the period.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse750000000750000000falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse117000000117000000falsetruefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse254000000254000000falset
ruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe notional amount of debt repurchased during the period.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse4false0bmy_NotionalAmountOfInterestRateSwapsbmyfalsedebitdurationThe notional amount of debt repurchased during the period.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse319000000319000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse5300000053000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse241000000241000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe notional amount of debt repurchased during the period.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse5false0us-gaap_InterestPaidNetus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse178000000178000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse206000000206000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse303000000303000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount of cash paid during the current period for interest
owed on money borrowed, net of interest capitalized.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 95
-Paragraph 29
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 95
-Paragraph 27
-Subparagraph e
falsefalse6false0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmountus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse47490000004749000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse56220000005622000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe stated principal amount of the debt instrument at time of issuance, which may vary from the carrying amount because of unamortized premium or discount.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
-Number 21
-Paragraph 16, 20
falsefalse7false0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValueus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse58610000005861000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse62580000006258000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryEstimated fair value of the debt instrument at the balance-sheet date.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 107
-Paragraph 10
falsefalse8false0us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacityus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse20000000002000000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryMaximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 129
-Paragraph 2, 4
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 19, 22
-Article 5
falsefalse9false0bmy_LineOfCreditFacilityTermbmyfalsenadurationThis element reflects the term, in years, of the credit facility.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse55falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:positiveIntegerItemTypepositiveintegerThis element reflects the term, in years, of the credit facility.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse10false0bmy_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantRatiobmyfalsenadurationThis element reflects the line of credit facility financial covenant ratio that the consolidated net debt to consolidated...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truetruefalse0.50.5falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureThis element reflects the line of credit facility financial covenant ratio that the consolidated net debt to consolidated capital cannot exceed a certain percentage.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse11false0bmy_FinancialGuaranteesbmyfalsedebitdurationThe amount of financial guarantees provided by the Company in the form of stand-by letters of credit and performance bonds.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse178000000178000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount of financial guarantees provided by the Company in the form of stand-by letters of credit and performance bonds.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse12false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.bms.com/taxonomy/role/disclosureshorttermborrowingsandlongtermdebtnarrativedetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis} : Convertible Senior Notes Due May 15, 2011 [Member]
12/31/2010
USD ($)
$As_Of_12_31_201027http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseConvertible Senior Notes Due May 15, 2011 [Member]us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_ConvertibleSeniorNotesDueMayFifteenTwoThousandElevenMemberus-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisexplicitMemberUnit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl
.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse13false0bmy_ConvertibleSeniorNotesCashToBePaidUponConversionbmyfalsecreditinstantThe amount of cash payable upon conversion of a certain amount of debt principal outstanding prior to maturityfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse11671167false
falsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount of cash payable upon conversion of a certain amount of debt principal outstanding prior to maturityNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse14false0bmy_ConvertibleSeniorNotesPrincipalRepaidUponConversionbmyfalsecreditinstantThe amo
unt of debt principal relieved upon conversion to cash prior to maturity.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse10001000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount of debt principal relieved upon conversion to cash prior to maturity.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse15false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.bms.com/taxonomy/role/disclosureshorttermborrowingsandlongtermdebtnarrativedetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis} : Floating Rate Convertible Senior Debentures Due 2023 [Member]
1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
Duration_1_1_2010_To_12_31_201092http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseFloating Rate Convertible Senior Debentures Due 2023 [Member]us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_FloatingRateConvertibleSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandTwentyThreeMemberus-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisexplicitMemberUnit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse16false0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionPriceus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse40.4240.42falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe price per share of the conversion feature embedded in the debt instrument.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)
-Number APB14-1
-Paragraph 32
-Subparagraph b
falsefalse17false0bmy_DebtInstrumentConvertibleAmountOfDebtPrincipalbmyfalsecreditinstantThe amount of debt principal to be converted to a certain number of shares upon conversion of the debt to equity.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse10001000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount of debt principal to be converted to a certain number of shares upon conversion of the debt to equity.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse18false0bmy_DebtInstrumentConvertibleNumberOfEquityInstrumentsMaximumbmyfalsenadurationThe maximum number of equity instruments that the holder of the debt instrument would receive if the debt was converted to...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse38.759738.7597falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:decimalItemTypedecimalThe maximum number of equity instruments that the holder of the debt instrument would receive if the debt was converted to equity.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse19false0bmy_DebtInstrumentConvertibleNumberOfEquityInstrumentbmyfalsenadurationThe number of equity instruments that the holder of the debt instrument would receive if the debt was converted to equity.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse24.7429224.74292falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:decimalItemTypedecimalThe number of equity instruments that the holder of the debt instrument would receive if the debt was converted to equity.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse20false0bmy_DebtIns
trumentInterestRateCalculationDeductionbmyfalsenadurationThe percentage to be subtracted from the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) to calculate quarterly interestfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalselabel1truetruefalse0.0050.005falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureThe percentage to be subtracted from the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) to calculate quarterly interestNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse21false0natruenana
No definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.bms.com/taxonomy/role/disclosureshorttermborrowingsandlongtermdebtnarrativedetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse6falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis} : Long-Term Debt Due In 2013
12/31/2010
USD ($)
$As_Of_12_31_20102222http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseLong-Term Debt Due In 2013us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_LongTermDebtDueInTwoThousandThirteenMemberus-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisexplicitMemberUnit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse22false0us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearThreeus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse597000000597000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount of long-term debt maturing in year three following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements, which may include maturities of long-term debt, sinking fund requirements, and other securities redeemable at fixed of determinable prices and dates.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 47
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph b
falsefalse23false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.bms.com/taxonomy/role/disclosureshorttermborrowingsandlongtermdebtnarrativedetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse7falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis} : Long-Term Debt Due After 2013
12/31/2010
USD ($)
$As_Of_12_31_201021http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseLong-Term Debt Due After 2013us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_LongTermDebtDueLaterThanTwoThousandThirteenMemberus-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisexplicitMemberUnit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse24false0us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalAfterYearFiveus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse41520000004152000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount of long-term debt maturities after year five following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements, which may include maturities of long-term debt, sinking fund requirements, and other securities redeemable at fixed of determinable prices and dates.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 47
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph b
falsefalse25false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.bms.com/taxonomy/role/disclosureshorttermborrowingsandlongtermdebtnarrativedetails1fals
efalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse8falsefalseUSDtruefalse{dei_LegalEntityAxis} : Mead Johnson [Member]
1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
$Duration_1_1_2010_To_12_31_201053http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseMead Johnson [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_MeadJohnsonMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUnit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$9falsefalseUSDtruefalse{dei_LegalEntityAxis} : Mead Johnson [Member]
12/31/2009
USD ($)
$As_Of_12_31_200913http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseMead Johnson [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_MeadJohnsonMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUnit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42
170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse26false0bmy_RelatedPartyLineOfCreditFacilityExpirationDatebmyfalsenadurationReflects when the related party credit facility terminates, which may be
presented in a variety of ways (year, month and...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse33falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:positiveIntegerItemTypepositiveintegerReflects when the related party credit facility terminates, which may be presented in a variety of ways (year, month and year, day, month and year, quarter).No authoritative reference available.falsefalse27false0bmy_RelatedPartyLineOfCreditFacilityAmountOutstandingbmyfalsedebitinstantAmount borrowed under a related party credit facility as of the balance-sheet date.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2<
IsNumeric>truefalsefalse200000000200000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount borrowed under a related party credit facility as of the balance-sheet date.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse28false0bmy_RelatedPartyNotesIssuedbmyfalsecreditinstantThe amount of debt issued by a related party to satisfy intercompany debt prior to the split-off date.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse15000000001500000000falsetruefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetary<
/SimpleDataType>The amount of debt issued by a related party to satisfy intercompany debt prior to the split-off date.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse327SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS AND LONG-TERM DEBT (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)NoRoundingUnKnownNoRoundingUnKnowntruetrue
