negated1truefalsefalse-5000000-5falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-27000000-27falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse4200000042falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryNet of tax effect of the reclassification adjustment for accumulated gains and losses from derivative instrument designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges included in accumulated comprehensive income that was realized 
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falsefalseDerivatives qualifying as cash flow hedges reclassified to net earnings, net of taxes of $5 in 2010, $5 in 2009 and $(23) in 200811false0bmy_OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentOnDerivativesDueToDivestituresbmyfalsedebitdurationNet of tax effect of the reclassification adjustment for accumulated gains and losses from derivative instruments designated...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00  falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse20000002falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryNet of tax effect of the reclassification adjustment for accumulated gains and losses from
 derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges included in accumulated comprehensive income/loss that was realized in net income during the period related to business divestitures.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseDerivatives reclassified to net earnings due to business divestitures, net of taxes of ($1) in 200912false0us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansNetUnamortizedGainLossArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTaxus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegated1truefalsefalse-88000000-88falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-115
000000-115falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-1387000000-1387falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe accumulated change in the value of either the projected benefit obligation or the plans assets resulting from experience different from that assumed or from a change in an actuarial assumption that has not been recognized in net periodic benefit cost pursuant to FAS 87 and 106, after tax.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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falsefalsePension and postretirement benefits, net of taxes of $66 in 2010, $41 in 2009 and $697 in 200813false0us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationOfDefinedBenefitPlansNetGainLossRecognizedInNetPeriodicBenefitCostNetOfTaxus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse<
/IsReverseSign>1truefalsefalse8300000083falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse109000000109falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse102000000102falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe adjustment out of other comprehensive income for actuarial gains (losses) recognized as a component of net periodic benefit cost during the period, after taxReference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentat
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falsefalsePension and postretirement benefits reclassified to net earnings, net of taxes of $(44) in 2010, $(49) in 2009 and $(50) in 200814false0us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecreaseus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse106000000106falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryNet changes to accumulated comprehensive income during the period related to benefit plans, after tax.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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falsefalsePension and postretirement benefits reclassified to net earnings due to business divestitures, net of taxes of $(62) in 200915false0us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecreaseus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefals
e1truefalsefalse4400000044falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse3500000035falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-106000000-106falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryGross appreciation or the gross loss in value of the total unsold securities at the end of an accounting period, after tax.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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falsefalseAvailable for sale securities, net of taxes of $(3) in 2010, $(4) in 2009 and $0 in 200816false0us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentForWriteDownOfSecuritiesIncludedInNetIncomeNetOfTaxus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegated1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse60000006falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse181000000181falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryReclassification adjustment for unrealized gains or losses realized upon the write-down of securities, after tax.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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falsefalseAvailable for sale securities reclassified to net earnings, net of taxes of $(3) in 2009 and $(6) in 200817false0us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecreaseus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1truefalsefalse170000000170falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse178000000178falsefalsefalsefals
efalse3truefalsefalse-1258000000-1258falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, for the period.  Includes deferred gains (losses) on qualifying hedges, unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, minimum pension liability, and cumulative translation a
djustment.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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 -Name Regulation S-X (SX)
 -Number 210
 -Section 04
 -Article 3

truefalseTotal Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss)18false0us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1truefalsefalse46830000004683falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse1204000000012040falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse49850000004985falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe change in equity [net assets] of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources which are attributable to the economic entity, including both controlling (parent) and noncontrolling interests. It includes all changes in equity during
 a period except those resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners, including any and all transactions which are directly or indirectly attributable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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truefalseComprehensive Income19false0us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalselabel1truefalsefalse14110000001411falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse12600000001260falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse996000000996falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe change in equity [net assets] of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources which are attributable to noncontrolling interests, if any. It includes all changes in equity during a period except those resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners, which are
 directly or indirectly attributable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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uefalsefalse32720000003272falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse1078000000010780falsefalsefalsefalsefalse
3truefalsefalse39890000003989falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe change in equity [net assets] of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources which are attributable to the reporting entity. It includes all changes in equity during a period except those resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners, but ex
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Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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truefalseComprehensive Income Attributable to Bristol-Myers Squibb Company21true0us-gaap_RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficitAbstractus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1false
falsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalseRETAINED EARNINGS22false0us-gaap_RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficitus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruefalsefalseperiodstartlabel1truefalsefalse3076000000030760falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse2254900000022549falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse1976200000019762falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe cumulative amount of the reporting entity's undistributed earnings or deficit.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
 -Publisher AICPA
 -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
 -Number 12
 -Paragraph 10

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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falsefalseRetained Earnings at January 123false0us-gaap_NetIncomeLossus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalselabel1truefalsefalse31020000003102falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse1061200000010612falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse52470000005247falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe portion of consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent. If the entity does not present consolidated financial statements, the amount of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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 -Name Regulation S-X (SX)
 -Number 210
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Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
 -Publisher FASB
 -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
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Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
 -Publisher FASB
 -Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
 -Number 87-21

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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 -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
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falsefalseNet Earnings Attributable to Bristol-Myers Squibb Company24false0us-gaap_DividendsCommonStockCashus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegated1truefalsefalse-2226000000-2226falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-2401000000-2401falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-2460000000-2460falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCommon stock cash dividend declared by an entity during the period. This element includes paid and unpaid dividends declared during the period.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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falsefalseRetained Earnings at December 31323CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME AND RETAINED EARNINGS (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue