2.2.0.25truefalse06114 - Disclosure - Derivative instruments (Details Textuals)truefalsefalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2011 - 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$3falsefalseUSDfalsefalse12/31/2010
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$BalanceAsOf_31Dec2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000318154instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDEPSDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2true0amgn_DerivativeInstrumentsTextualsAbstractamgnfalsenadurationDerivative instruments.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringDerivative instruments.falsefalse3false0us-gaap_MaximumLengthOfTimeHedgedInForeignCurrencyCashFlowHedgeus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00Approximately 3 yearsfalsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringMaximum length of time over which the entity is hedging its exposure to the variability in future cash flows for forecasted transactions, excluding those forecasted transactions related to the payment of variable interest on existing financial instruments.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 133
-Paragraph 45
-Subparagraph b(3)
falsefalse4false0us-gaap_GainLossOnCashFlowHedgeIneffectivenessNetus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse-1000000-1000000falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse10000001000000falsetruefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe net gain or loss recognized in earnings during the reporting period representing the amount of the cash flow hedges' ineffectiveness.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)
falsefalse5false0us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfInterestRateFairValueHedgeDerivativesus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse36000000003600000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse36000000003600000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAggregate notional amount of all interest rate derivatives designated as hedging instruments in fair value hedges. Notional amount refers to the monetary amount specified in the interest rate derivative contract.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse6false0us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInFairValueOfHedgedItemInInterestRateFairValueHedgeus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegated1truefalsefalse4700000047000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-17000000-17000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount of unrealized gain (loss) included in earnings for the period related to the fair value of the hedged item in an interest rate fair value hedge, which was offset by the gain (loss) on the hedging instrument to the extent that the fair value hedge is determined to be effective.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 133
-Paragraph 45
-Subparagraph a(1)
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3/31/2011
USD ($)
$BalanceAsOf_31Mar2011_Forward_Contracts_Member_2http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000318154instant2011-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseForeign currency forward contracts [Member]us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByDerivativeInstrumentRiskAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_ForwardContractsMemberus-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByDerivativeInstrumentRiskAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$5falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByDerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis} : Foreign currency forward contracts [Member]
12/31/2010
USD ($)
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3/31/2011
USD ($)
$BalanceAsOf_31Mar2011_Option_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000318154instant2011-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseForeign currency option contracts [Member]us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByDerivativeInstrumentRiskAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_OptionMemberus-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByDerivativeInstrumentRiskAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$7falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByDerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis} : Foreign currency option contracts [Member]
12/31/2010
USD ($)
$BalanceAsOf_31Dec2010_Option_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000318154instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseForeign currency option contracts [Member]us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByDerivativeInstrumentRiskAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_OptionMemberus-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByDerivativeInstrumentRiskAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse15true0amgn_DerivativeInstrumentsTextualsAbstractamgnfalsenadurationDerivative instruments.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringDerivative instruments.falsefalse16false0us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfForeignCurrencyCashFlowHedgeDerivativesus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse300000000300000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse398000000398000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAggregate notional amount of all foreign currency derivatives designated as hedging instruments in cash flow hedges. Notional amount refers to the number of currency units specified in the foreign currency derivative contract.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse17false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://amgen.com/role/derivativeinstrumentsdetailstextuals1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse8falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByDerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis} : Foreign currency forward and option contracts [Member]
3/31/2011
USD ($)
$BalanceAsOf_31Mar2011_Foreign_Currency_Forward_And_Option_Contracts_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000318154instant2011-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseForeign currency forward and option contracts [Member]us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByDerivativeInstrumentRiskAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiamgn_ForeignCurrencyForwardAndOptionContractsMemberus-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByDerivativeInstrumentRiskAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse18true0amgn_DerivativeInstrumentsTextualsAbstractamgnfalsenadurationDerivative instruments.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringDerivative instruments.falsefalse19false0us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyCashFlowHedgeGainLossToBeReclassifiedDuringNext12Monthsus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse-104000000-104000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe estimated net amount of unrealized gains (losses) on foreign currency cash flow hedges at the reporting date expected to be reclassified to earnings within the next 12 months.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 133
-Paragraph 45
-Subparagraph b(2)
falsefalse20false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://amgen.com/role/derivativeinstrumentsdetailstextuals1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse9falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByDerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis} : Forward interest rate contracts [Member]
3/31/2011
USD ($)
$BalanceAsOf_31Mar2011_Other_Contract_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000318154instant2011-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseForward interest rate contracts [Member]us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByDerivativeInstrumentRiskAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_OtherContractMemberus-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByDerivativeInstrumentRiskAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse21true0amgn_DerivativeInstrumentsTextualsAbstractamgnfalsenadurationDerivative instruments.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringDerivative instruments.falsefalse22false0us-gaap_InterestRateCashFlowHedgeGainLossToBeReclassifiedDuringNext12MonthsNetus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse-1000000-1000000falsetruefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe estimated net amount of unrealized gains (losses) on interest rate cash flow hedges as of the balance sheet date expected to be reclassified to earnings within the next twelve months.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 133
-Paragraph 45
-Subparagraph b(2)
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