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USD ($)
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USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
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USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
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1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
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12/31/2009
USD ($)
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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
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1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
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1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
USD ($)
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1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008
USD ($)
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-Number 26
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-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 22
-Article 5
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1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
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12/31/2009
USD ($)
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-Publisher SEC
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1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
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12/31/2009
USD ($)
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-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
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1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
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1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
USD ($)
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-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
-Number 26
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-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
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-Paragraph 22
-Article 5
falsefalse39false0bmy_DebtInstrumentDueDatebmyfalsenadurationDebt Instrument Due Datefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00<font class="_mt">2026</font>falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:dateStringItemTypenormalizedstringDebt Instrument Due DateNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse40false0na<
/ElementPrefix>truenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.bms.com/taxonomy/role/disclosureshorttermborrowingsandlongtermdebtscheduleofdebtrepurchasedandnotionalamountofinterestrateswapdetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse15falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis} : 7.15% Debentures Due 2023 [Member]
1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
Duration_1_1_2010_To_12_31_2010229http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalse7.15% Debentures Due 2023 [Member]us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_SevenPointOneFivePercentDebenturesDueTwoThousandTwentyThreeMemberus-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisexplicitMemberUnit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/20
03/instancepurexbrli0Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170$16falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis} : 7.15% Debentures Due 2023 [Member]
1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
USD ($)
$Duration_1_1_2009_To_12_31_2009224http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00falsefalse7.15% Debentures Due 2023 [Member]us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_SevenPointOneFivePercentDebenturesDueTwoThousandTwentyThreeMemberus-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisexplicitMemberUnit1Standardhttp://
www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$17falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis} : 7.15% Debentures Due 2023 [Member]
1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008
USD ($)
$Duration_1_1_2008_To_12_31_2008435352http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272duration2008-01-01T00:00:002008-12-31T00:00:00falsefalse7.15% Debentures Due 2023 [Member]us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_SevenPointOneFivePercentDebenturesDueTwoThousandTwentyThreeMemberus-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisexplicitMemberUnit1Standardhttp
://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse41false0us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmountus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse3500000035falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse1100000011falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryGross amount of debt extinguished.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse42false0bmy_ExtinguishmentOfDebtRepurchasePricebmyfalsedebitd
urationThis element represents the payment made to extinguish outstanding debt.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse4400000044falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse1100000011falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the payment made to extinguish outstanding debt.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse43false0us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebtus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-900000
0-9falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount represents the difference between the fair value of the payments made and the carrying amount of the debt at the time of its extinguishment.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
-Number 26
-Paragraph 20, 21
falsefalse44false0bmy_SwapTerminationProceedsbmyfalsedebitdurationThis element represents the proceeds received or paid upon termination of the interest rate swap.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel
1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse20000002falsefalsefalsefalsefalse
3truefalsefalse20000002falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the proceeds received or paid upon termination of the interest rate swap.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse45false0bmy_OtherIncludingBasisAdjustmentForPreviouslyTerminatedSwapsbmyfalsedebitdurationThis element represents all other gain/loss associated with debt repurchases including the portion of the basis adjustment...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse40000004falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents all other gain/loss associated with debt repurchases including the portion of the basis adjustment for previously terminated swaps recognized in earnings.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse46false0bmy_ExtinguishmentOfDebtTotalEarningsImpactbmyfalsedebitdurationThis element represents the total gain/loss recognized in earnings related to debt extinguishment, including the gain/loss on...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-3000000-3falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse20000002falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the total gain/loss recognized in earnings related to debt extinguishment, including the gain/loss on extinguishment, interest rate swap termination proceeds, and other gain/loss.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse47false0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentageus-gaaptruenainstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truetruefalse0.07150.0715<
NonNumericTextHeader />falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truetruefalse0.07150.0715falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truetruefalse0.07150.0715falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureInterest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 22
-Article 5
falsefalse48false0bmy_DebtInstrumentDueDatebmyfalsenadurationDebt Instrument Due Datefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00<font class="_mt">2023</font>falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:dateStringItemTypenormalizedstringDebt Instrument Due DateNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse49false0na<
/ElementPrefix>truenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.bms.com/taxonomy/role/disclosureshorttermborrowingsandlongtermdebtscheduleofdebtrepurchasedandnotionalamountofinterestrateswapdetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse18falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis} : 6.88% Debentures Due 2097 [Member]
1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
Duration_1_1_2010_To_12_31_20102210http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalse6.88% Debentures Due 2097 [Member]us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_SixPointEightEightPercentDebenturesDueTwoThousandNintySevenMemberus-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisexplicitMemberUnit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2
003/instancepurexbrli0Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170$19falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis} : 6.88% Debentures Due 2097 [Member]
1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008
USD ($)
$Duration_1_1_2008_To_12_31_2008435353http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272duration2008-01-01T00:00:002008-12-31T00:00:00falsefalse6.88% Debentures Due 2097 [Member]us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_SixPointEightEightPercentDebenturesDueTwoThousandNintySevenMemberus-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisexplicitMemberUnit1Standardhttp
://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$20falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis} : 6.88% Debentures Due 2097 [Member]
12/31/2009
USD ($)
$As_Of_12_31_200949http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalse6.88% Debentures Due 2097 [Member]us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_SixPointEightEightPercentDebenturesDueTwoThousandNintySevenMemberus-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisexplicitMemberUnit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/200
3/instancepurexbrli0Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse50false0us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmountus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse1300000013falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryGross amount of debt extinguished.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse51false0bmy_ExtinguishmentOfDebtRepurchasePricebmyfalsedebitdurationT
his element represents the payment made to extinguish outstanding debt.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse<
hasSegments>falsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse1300000013falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the payment made to extinguish outstanding debt.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse52false0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentageus-gaaptruenainstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truetruefalse0.06880.0688falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truetruefalse0.06880.0688falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truetruefalse0.06880.0688falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureInterest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 22
-Article 5
falsefalse53false0bmy_DebtInstrumentDueDatebmyfalsenadurationDebt Instrument Due Datefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00<font class="_mt">2097</font>falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:dateStringItemTypenormalizedstringDebt Instrument Due DateNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse54false0na<
/ElementPrefix>truenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.bms.com/taxonomy/role/disclosureshorttermborrowingsandlongtermdebtscheduleofdebtrepurchasedandnotionalamountofinterestrateswapdetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse21falsefalsetruefalse{us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis} : 0% - 5.75% Other-maturing 2023 - 2030
1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
Duration_1_1_2009_To_12_31_200910http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00falsefalse0% - 5.75% Other-maturing 2023 - 2030us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_ZeroPercentToFivePointSevenFivePercentOtherMaturingTwoThousandTwentyThreeToTwoThousandThirtyMemberus-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisexplicitMemberUnit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse55false0bmy_DebtInstrumentDueDatebmyfalsenadurationDebt Instrument Due Datefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse002023-2030falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:dateStringItemTypenormalizedstringDebt Instrument Due DateNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse56false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.bms.com/taxonomy/role/disclosureshorttermborrowingsandlongtermdebtscheduleofdebtrepurchasedandnotionalamountofinterestrateswapdetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00<
/RoundedNumericAmount>falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse22falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis} : 5.25% Notes due 2013 [Member]
1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
Duration_1_1_2010_To_12_31_2010225http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalse5.25% Notes due 2013 [Member]us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_FivePointTwoFivePercentNotesDueTwoThousandThirteenMemberus-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisexplicitMemberUnit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170$23falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis} : 5.25% Notes due 2013 [Member]
1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008
USD ($)
$Duration_1_1_2008_To_12_31_200843535http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272duration2008-01-01T00:00:002008-12-31T00:00:00falsefalse5.25% Notes due 2013 [Member]us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_FivePointTwoFivePercentNotesDueTwoThousandThirteenMemberus-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisexplicitMemberUnit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org
/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$24falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis} : 5.25% Notes due 2013 [Member]
12/31/2009
USD ($)
$As_Of_12_31_200945http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalse5.25% Notes due 2013 [Member]us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_FivePointTwoFivePercentNotesDueTwoThousandThirteenMemberus-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisexplicitMemberUnit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse57false0us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmountus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse30000003falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryGross amount of debt extinguished.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse58false0bmy_ExtinguishmentOfDebtRepurchasePricebmyfalsedebitdurationThis element represents the
payment made to extinguish outstanding debt.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse30000003falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the payment made to extinguish outstanding debt.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse59false0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentageus-gaaptruenainstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truetruefalse0.05250.0525falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truetruefalse0.05250.0525falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truetruefalse0.05250.0525falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureInterest r
ate stated in the contractual debt agreement.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 22
-Article 5
falsefalse60false0bmy_DebtInstrumentDueDatebmyfalsenadurationDebt Instrument Due Datefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00<font class="_mt">2013</font>falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:dateStringItemTypenormalizedstringDebt Instrument Due DateNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse359SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS
AND LONG-TERM DEBT (Schedule of Debt Repurchased and Notional Amount of Interest Rate Swap) (Details) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruetrue
