2.2.0.25falsefalse30103 - Disclosure - ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Tables)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$2true0bmy_BasisOfPresentationAndNewAccountingSt andardsAbstractbmyfalsenadurationBASIS OF PRESENTATION AND NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS [Abstract]falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringBASIS OF PRESENTATION AND NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS [Abstract]falsefalse3false0bmy_ScheduleOfEstimatedUsefulLivesOfMajorDepreciableAssetsTextBlockbmyfalsenadurationSchedule Of Estimated Useful Lives Of The Major Depreciable Assets [Text Block]falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00<div> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="92%" align="center"> <tr><td width="87%"> </td> <td valign="bottom" width="3%"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#cceeff"><td valign="top"> <p style="text-indent: -1em; margin-left: 1em;"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">Buildings</font></p></td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom" align="right"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2"><font class="_mt"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">20</font></font>&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;<font class="_mt">50</font>&nbsp;years</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top"> <p style="text-indent: -1em; margin-left: 1em;"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">Machinery, equipment and fixtures</font></p></td> <td valign="bottom"><font class="_mt" size="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;</font></td> <td valign="bottom" align="right"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2"><font class="_mt"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">3</font></font>&ndash;&nbsp;<font class="_mt">20</font> years</font></td> <td valign="bottom"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></td></tr></table> </div>Buildings &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; 20&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;50&nbsp;years &nbsp;&nbsp; Machinery, equipment and fixtures &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; 3&ndash;&nbsp;20falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:textBlockItemTypestringSchedule Of Estimated Useful Lives Of The Major Depreciable Assets [Text Block]No authoritative reference available.falsefalse12ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Tables)UnKnownUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue