2.2.0.25falsefalse0603 - Disclosure - Income taxes (Details)truefalseIn Millions, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2011 - 3/31/2011
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$Jan-01-2011_Mar-31-2011http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000318154duration2011-01-01T00:00:002011-03-31T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDEPSDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$3true0amgn_IncomeTaxesTextualsAbstractamgnfalsenadurationIncome Taxes.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringIncome Taxes.falsefalse4false0amgn_AdjustedEffectiveTaxRateExcludingPrTaxamgnfalsenadurationThe effective tax rate for the period excluding the impact of the tax credits associated with the new Puerto Rico excise tax.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truetruefalse0.1880.188falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureThe effective tax rate for the period excluding the impact of the tax credits associated with the new Puerto Rico excise tax.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse5false0us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositionsus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse7200000072falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe gross amount of increases in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from tax positions that have been or will be taken in the tax return for the current period, excluding amounts pertaining to examined tax returns.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)
-Number 48
-Paragraph 21
-Subparagraph a(2)
falsefalse6false0us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthoritiesus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse201000000201falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe gross amount of decreases in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from settlements with taxing authorities.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)
-Number 48
-Paragraph 21
-Subparagraph a(3)
falsefalse14Income taxes (Details) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruetrue