2.2.0.25truefalse06111 - Disclosure - Derivative instruments (Details 1)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 ($) / shares
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 133
-Paragraph 45
-Subparagraph b(1)
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1/1/2011 - 3/31/2011
USD ($)
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1/1/2010 - 3/31/2010
USD ($)
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 133
-Paragraph 45
-Subparagraph b(1)
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1/1/2011 - 3/31/2011
USD ($)
$ThreeMonthsEnded_31Mar2011_Foreign_Exchange_Contract_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000318154duration2011-01-01T00:00:002011-03-31T00:00:00falsefalseForeign currency contracts [Member]us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByDerivativeInstrumentRiskAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMemberus-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByDerivativeInstrumentRiskAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$6falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByDerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis} : Foreign currency contracts [Member]
1/1/2010 - 3/31/2010
USD ($)
$ThreeMonthsEnded_31Mar2010_Foreign_Exchange_Contract_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000318154duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-03-31T00:00:00falsefalseForeign currency contracts [Member]us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByDerivativeInstrumentRiskAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMemberus-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByDerivativeInstrumentRiskAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse8true0amgn_StatementsOfIncomeAndEffectivePortionOfGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeIntoIncomeForOurCashFlowHedgeContractsAbstractamgnfalsenadurationStatements of income and effective portion of gain/(loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringStatements of income and effective portion of gain/(loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into income for our cash flow hedge contracts.falsefalse9false0us-gaap_CashFlowHedgeGainLossReclassifiedToRevenueNetus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse-8000000-8falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-6000000-6falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount of net gains (losses) on a cash flow hedge reclassified to revenues from accumulated other comprehensive income.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 133
-Paragraph 45
-Subparagraph b(1)
falsefalse28Derivative instruments (Details 1) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue