2.2.0.25falsefalse0609 - Disclosure - Stockholders' equity (Details)truefalseIn Millionsfalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2011 - 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$2falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2010 - 3/31/2010
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$ThreeMonthsEnded_31Mar2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000318154duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-03-31T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDEPSDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$3true0amgn_StockRepurchaseProgramAbstractamgnfalsenadurationStock repurchase program.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringStock repurchase program.falsefalse4false0amgn_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodUnderStockRepurchaseProgramValueamgnfalsedebitdurationStock repurchased during the period under a stock repurchase program, in dollars.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse00falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse16840000001684falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryStock repurchased during the period under a stock repurchase program, in dollars.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse5false0amgn_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodUnderStockRepurchaseProgramSharesamgnfalsenadurationStock repurchased during the period under a stock repurchase program, in shares.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse2910000029.1falsefalsefalsefalsefalseSharesxbrli:sharesItemTypesharesStock repurchased during the period under a stock repurchase program, in shares.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse23Stockholders' equity (Details) (USD $)MillionsHundredThousandsUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue