2.2.0.25truefalse40207 - Disclosure - ALLIANCES AND COLLABORATIONS (AstraZeneca) (Details)truefalseIn Millionsfalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse10/1/2010 - 12/31/2010 USD ($) USD ($) / shares $Duration_10_1_2010_To_12_31_2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272duration2010-10-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit12Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDfalsefalse7/1/2010 - 9/30/2010 USD ($) USD ($) / shares $Duration_7_1_2010_To_9_30_2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272duration2010-07-01T00:00:002010-09-30T00:00:00Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit12Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$3falsefalseUSDfalsefalse4/1/2010 - 6/30/2010 USD ($) USD ($) / shares $Duration_4_1_2010_To_6_30_2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272duration2010-04-01T00:00:002010-06-30T00:00:00Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit12Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$4falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2010 - 3/31/2010 USD ($) / shares USD ($) $Duration_1_1_2010_To_3_31_2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-03-31T00:00:00Unit12Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$5falsefalseUSDfalsefalse10/1/2009 - 12/31/2009 USD ($) USD ($) / shares $Duration_10_1_2009_To_12_31_2009http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272duration2009-10-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit12Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$6falsefalseUSDfalsefalse7/1/2009 - 9/30/2009 USD ($) USD ($) / shares $Duration_7_1_2009_To_9_30_2009http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272duration2009-07-01T00:00:002009-09-30T00:00:00Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit12Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$7falsefalseUSDfalsefalse4/1/2009 - 6/30/2009 USD ($) USD ($) / shares $Duration_4_1_2009_To_6_30_2009http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272duration2009-04-01T00:00:002009-06-30T00:00:00Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit12Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$8falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2009 - 3/31/2009 USD ($) USD ($) / shares $Duration_1_1_2009_To_3_31_2009http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-03-31T00:00:00Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit12Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$9falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010 USD ($) 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$10falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009 USD ($) 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$11falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008 USD ($) 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$2false0us-gaap_SalesRevenueNetus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.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:monetaryItemTypemonetaryTotal revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 1 -Article 5 falsefalse3false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.bms.com/taxonomy/role/disclosurealliancesandcollaborationsastrazenecadetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse9falsefalse false00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse11falsefalsefal se00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse12falsefalseUSDtruefalse{invest_InvestmentAxis} : Milestone Payments [Member] {us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis} : AstraZeneca [Member] {dei_LegalEntityAxis} : Saxagliptin [Member] 1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010 USD ($) $Duration_1_1_2010_To_12_31_201022127http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseMilestone Payments [Member]invest_InvestmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_MilestonePaymentsMemberinvest_InvestmentAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseAstraZeneca [Member]us-gaap_BusinessAcquisition Axisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_AstrazenecaMemberus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseSaxagliptin [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_SaxagliptinMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUnit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USD USD$13falsefalseUSDtruefalse{invest_InvestmentAxis} : Milestone Payments [Member] {us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis} : AstraZeneca [Member] {dei_LegalEntityAxis} : Saxagliptin [Member] 1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009 USD ($) $Duration_1_1_2009_To_12_31_200922112http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseMilestone Payments [Member]invest_InvestmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_MilestonePaymentsMemberinvest_InvestmentAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseAstraZeneca [Member]us-gaap_BusinessAcquisition Axisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_AstrazenecaMemberus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseSaxagliptin [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_SaxagliptinMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUnit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USD USD$14falsefalseUSDtruefalse{invest_InvestmentAxis} : Milestone Payments [Member] {us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis} : AstraZeneca [Member] {dei_LegalEntityAxis} : Saxagliptin [Member] 1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008 USD ($) $Duration_1_1_2008_To_12_31_20083241http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272duration2008-01-01T00:00:002008-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseMilestone Payments [Member]invest_InvestmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_MilestonePaymentsMemberinvest_InvestmentAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseAstraZeneca [Member]us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionA xisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_AstrazenecaMemberus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseSaxagliptin [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_SaxagliptinMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUnit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USD< OriginalCurrencyCode>USD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse4false0us-gaap_SalesRevenueNetus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.< IsReportTitle>falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse6f alsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse8false< /IsNumeric>falsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse9truefalsefalse158000000158falsefalsefalsefalsefalse10t ruefalsefalse2400000024falsefalsefalsefalsefalse11falsefalsefalse00&nbsp;falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryTotal revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 1 -Article 5 falsefalse5false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.bms.com/taxonomy/role/disclosurealliancesandcollaborationsastrazenecadetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse9falsefalse false00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse11falsefalsefal se00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse15falsefalseUSDtruefalse{invest_InvestmentAxis} : Milestone Payments [Member] {us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis} : AstraZeneca [Member] {dei_LegalEntityAxis} : Saxagliptin and Dapagliflozin [Member] 1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010 USD ($) $Duration_1_1_2010_To_12_31_20102216http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseMilestone Payments [Member]invest_InvestmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_MilestonePaymentsMemberinvest_InvestmentAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseAstraZeneca [Member]us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionA xisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_AstrazenecaMemberus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseSaxagliptin and Dapagliflozin [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_SaxagliptinAndDapagliflozinMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUnit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$16falsefalseUSDtruefalse{invest_InvestmentAxis} : Milestone Payments [Member] {us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis} : AstraZeneca [Member] {dei_LegalEntityAxis} : Saxagliptin and Dapagliflozin [Member] 1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009 USD ($) $Duration_1_1_2009_To_12_31_200911http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseMilestone Payments [Member]invest_InvestmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_MilestonePaymentsMemberinvest_InvestmentAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseAstraZeneca [Member]us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxi sxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_AstrazenecaMemberus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseSaxagliptin and Dapagliflozin [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_SaxagliptinAndDapagliflozinMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUnit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170< CurrencyCode>USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse6false0bmy_DeferredIncomeLicensingAndMilestonePaymentsbmyfalsecreditdurationDeferred income is a liability related to a revenue or other income producing activity for which revenue or other income has...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00false falsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse9truefalsefalse290000000290falsefalsefalsefalsefalse10truefalsefalse268000000268falsefalsefalsefalsefalse11falsefalsefalse00false falsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryDeferred income is a liability related to a revenue or other income producing activity for which revenue or other income has not yet been recognized. Deferred income is recorded when consideration from a customer is received before achieving certain criteria that must be met for revenue or other income to be recognized in conformity with GAAP.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse7false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.bms.com/taxonomy/role/disclosurealliancesandcollaborationsastrazenecadetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse17falsefalseUSDtruefalse{invest_InvestmentAxis} : Upfront Licensing and Milestone Payments [Member] {us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis} : Dapagliflozin [Member] {dei_LegalEntityAxis} : Saxagliptin [Member] 1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010 USD ($) $Duration_1_1_2010_To_12_31_201013http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseUpfront Licensing and Milestone Payments [Member]invest_InvestmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_UpfrontLicensingAndMilestonePaymentsMemberinvest_InvestmentAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseDapagliflozin [Member]us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_DapagliflozinMemberus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseSaxagliptin [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_SaxagliptinMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUnit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$18falsefalseUSDtruefalse{invest_InvestmentAxis} : Upfront Licensing and Milestone Payments [Member] {us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis} : Dapagliflozin [Member] {dei_LegalEntityAxis} : Saxagliptin [Member] 1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009 USD ($) $Duration_1_1_2009_To_12_31_20093http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseUpfront Licensing and Milestone Payments [Member]invest_InvestmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_UpfrontLicensingAndMilestonePaymentsMemberinvest_InvestmentAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseDapagliflozin [Member]us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_DapagliflozinMemberus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseSaxagliptin [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_SaxagliptinMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUnit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$19falsefalseUSDtruefalse{invest_InvestmentAxis} : Upfront Licensing and Milestone Payments [Member] {us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis} : Dapagliflozin [Member] {dei_LegalEntityAxis} : Saxagliptin [Member] 1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008 USD ($) $Duration_1_1_2008_To_12_31_200833http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272duration2008-01-01T00:00:002008-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseUpfront Licensing and Milestone Payments [Member]invest_InvestmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_UpfrontLicensingAndMilestonePaymentsMemberinvest_InvestmentAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseDapagliflozin [Member]us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_DapagliflozinMemberus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseSaxagliptin [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_SaxagliptinMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUnit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse8false0bmy_AmortizationIncomeMilestonePaymentsbmyfalsecreditdurationAmount of previously reported deferred income that was recognized as other income during the period.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefa lsefalsefalsefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse9truefalsefalse2800000028false falsefalsefalsefalse10truefalsefalse1600000016falsefalsefalsefalsefalse11truefalsefalse90000009falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount of previously reported deferred income that was recognized as other income during the period.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse9false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.bms.com/taxonomy/role/disclosurealliancesandcollaborationsastrazenecadetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse8f alsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse10false falsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse20falsefalseUSDtruefalse{invest_InvestmentAxis} : Research and Development Reimbursements [Member] {us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis} : AstraZeneca [Member] {dei_LegalEntityAxis} : Saxagliptin [Member] 1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010 USD ($) $Duration_1_1_2010_To_12_31_20108222http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseResearch and Development Reimbursements [Member]invest_InvestmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_ResearchAndDevelopmentReimbursementsMemberinvest_InvestmentAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseAstraZeneca [Member]us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_AstrazenecaMemberus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseSaxagliptin [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_SaxagliptinMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUnit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$21falsefalseUSDtruefalse{invest_InvestmentAxis} : Research and Development Reimbursements [Member] {us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis} : AstraZeneca [Member] {dei_LegalEntityAxis} : Saxagliptin [Member] 1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009 USD ($) $Duration_1_1_2009_To_12_31_20092230http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseResearch and Development Reimbursements [Member]invest_InvestmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_ResearchAndDevelopmentReimbursementsMemberinvest_InvestmentAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseAstraZeneca [Member]us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_AstrazenecaMemberus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseSaxagliptin [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_SaxagliptinMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUnit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$22falsefalseUSDtruefalse{invest_InvestmentAxis} : Research and Development Reimbursements [Member] {us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis} : AstraZeneca [Member] {dei_LegalEntityAxis} : Saxagliptin [Member] 1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008 USD ($) $Duration_1_1_2008_To_12_31_200810http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000014272duration2008-01-01T00:00:002008-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseResearch and Development Reimbursements [Member]invest_InvestmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_ResearchAndDevelopmentReimbursementsMemberinvest_InvestmentAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseAstraZeneca [Member]< ValueType>us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_AstrazenecaMemberus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseSaxagliptin [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldibmy_SaxagliptinMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUnit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170< /UPS>USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse10false0bmy_ReimbursementOfDevelopmentExpenseFromCollaborationsbmyfalsedeb itdurationThe amount of development expenses reimbursed by the collaboration partner pursuant to the terms of the agreement that are...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse9truefalsefalse1900000019falsetruefalsefalsefalse10truefalsefalse-38000000-38falsetruefalsefalsefalse11truefalsefalse-139000000-139false< /IsIndependantCurrency>truefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount of development expenses reimbursed by the collaboration partner pursuant to the terms of the agreement that are netted in research and development expense.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse119ALLIANCES AND COLLABORATIONS (AstraZeneca) (Details) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue