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No authoritative reference available. false 11 2 biib_ProductRevenueReservesClassifiedAsReductionOfCurrentLiabilities biib false credit instant Product revenue reserves classified as a reduction of current liabilities. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false true false false 100600000 100600000 false false false 4 false true false false 59800000 59800000 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Product revenue reserves classified as a reduction of current liabilities. No authoritative reference available. true 12 2 biib_ProductRevenueReserves biib false credit instant Product revenue reserves. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false true false false 135300000 135300000 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Product revenue reserves. No authoritative reference available. true 13 2 biib_RevenueRecognitionTextualsAbstract biib false na duration Revenue Recognition Textuals Abstract. false false false false false true false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string Revenue Recognition Textuals Abstract. false 14 2 us-gaap_DeferredRevenueAdditions us-gaap true credit duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false true false false 125000000 125000000 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Amount of deferred revenue recognized for transactions arising during the current reporting period. Deferred revenue is a liability as of the balance sheet date related to a revenue producing activity for which revenue has not yet been recognized. Generally, an Entity records deferred revenue when it receives consideration from a customer before achieving certain criteria that must be met for revenue to be recognized in conformity with GAAP. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 13 -Section A false 15 2 biib_MinimumMedicaidRebateAfterIncreaseInPercentage biib false na duration New minimum Medicaid rate after implementation of new Healthcare Reform. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 0.231 0.231 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false us-types:percentItemType pure New minimum Medicaid rate after implementation of new Healthcare Reform. No authoritative reference available. false 16 2 biib_MinimumMedicaidRebatePriorToIncreaseInPercentage biib false na duration Old minimum Medicaid rate before implementation of new Healthcare Reform. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 0.151 0.151 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false us-types:percentItemType pure Old minimum Medicaid rate before implementation of new Healthcare Reform. No authoritative reference available. false 17 2 biib_DiscountPercentageToMedicareBeneficiariesWhosePrescriptionDrugCostsBecomeSubjectToMedicarePartDCoverageGap biib false na duration Discount percentage to Medicare beneficiaries whose prescription drug costs become subject to Medicare Part D coverage gap. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 0.5 0.5 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false us-types:percentItemType pure Discount percentage to Medicare beneficiaries whose prescription drug costs become subject to Medicare Part D coverage gap. No authoritative reference available. false 18 2 biib_ExpectedAggregateIndustryFees biib false debit duration Expected aggregate Industry fees. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false true false false 28000000000 28000000000 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Expected aggregate Industry fees. No authoritative reference available. false 19 2 biib_MaximumIndustryFeesAnnual biib false debit duration Maximum industry fees annual. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false true false false 2500000000 2500000000 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Maximum industry fees annual. No authoritative reference available. false 20 2 biib_AccountsReceivableInCountriesWithDeterioratedCreditAndEconomicConditions biib false debit instant Accounts receivable in countries with deteriorated credit and economic conditions false false false false false false false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false true false false 250400000 250400000 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Accounts receivable in countries with deteriorated credit and economic conditions No authoritative reference available. false 21 0 na true na na No definition available. false true false false false false false false false false false http://biogenidec.com/role/revenuerecognitiondetails false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false false 5 USD true false false false Discounts [Member] us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi us-gaap_ReserveForCashDiscountMember us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis explicitMember USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 $ na No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 22 2 us-gaap_TimeSharingTransactionsAllowanceForUncollectibleAccountsRollForward us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false true false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period. false 23 2 biib_ProductRevenueReserves biib false credit instant Product revenue reserves. false false false false false false false false true false false periodstartlabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false true false false 13900000 13900000 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Product revenue reserves. No authoritative reference available. false 24 2 biib_CurrentProvisionsToProductRevenueReservesRelatingToSalesInCurrentYear biib false credit duration Current provisions to product revenue reserves relating to sales in current year. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false true false false 58000000 58000000 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Current provisions to product revenue reserves relating to sales in current year. No authoritative reference available. false 25 2 biib_AdjustmentsToProductRevenueReservesRelatingToSalesInPriorYears biib false credit duration Adjustments to product revenue reserves relating to sales in prior years. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false true false false -2400000 -2400000 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Adjustments to product revenue reserves relating to sales in prior years. No authoritative reference available. false 26 2 biib_AdjustmentsToProductRevenueReservesForPaymentsReturnsRelatingToSalesInCurrentYear biib false debit duration Adjustments to product revenue reserves for payments/returns relating to sales in current year. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false true false false -45900000 -45900000 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Adjustments to product revenue reserves for payments/returns relating to sales in current year. No authoritative reference available. false 27 2 biib_AdjustmentsToProductRevenueReservesForPaymentsReturnsRelatingToSalesInPriorYear biib false debit duration Adjustments to product revenue reserves for payments/returns relating to sales in prior year. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false true false false -9500000 -9500000 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Adjustments to product revenue reserves for payments/returns relating to sales in prior year. No authoritative reference available. true 28 2 biib_ProductRevenueReserves biib false credit instant Product revenue reserves. false false false false false false false false false true false periodendlabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false true false false 14100000 14100000 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Product revenue reserves. No authoritative reference available. false 29 2 biib_SummaryOfTotalProductRevenueReservesIncludedInConsolidatedBalanceSheetsAbstract biib false na duration Summary of total product revenue reserves included in consolidated balance sheets. false false false false false true false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string Summary of total product revenue reserves included in consolidated balance sheets. false 32 2 biib_ProductRevenueReserves biib false credit instant Product revenue reserves. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false true false false 14100000 14100000 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Product revenue reserves. 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No authoritative reference available. false 42 2 us-gaap_TimeSharingTransactionsAllowanceForUncollectibleAccountsRollForward us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false true false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period. false 43 2 biib_ProductRevenueReserves biib false credit instant Product revenue reserves. false false false false false false false false true false false periodstartlabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false true false false 70300000 70300000 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Product revenue reserves. No authoritative reference available. false 44 2 biib_CurrentProvisionsToProductRevenueReservesRelatingToSalesInCurrentYear biib false credit duration Current provisions to product revenue reserves relating to sales in current year. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false true false false 204700000 204700000 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Current provisions to product revenue reserves relating to sales in current year. No authoritative reference available. false 45 2 biib_AdjustmentsToProductRevenueReservesRelatingToSalesInPriorYears biib false credit duration Adjustments to product revenue reserves relating to sales in prior years. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false true false false -2200000 -2200000 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Adjustments to product revenue reserves relating to sales in prior years. No authoritative reference available. false 46 2 biib_AdjustmentsToProductRevenueReservesForPaymentsReturnsRelatingToSalesInCurrentYear biib false debit duration Adjustments to product revenue reserves for payments/returns relating to sales in current year. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false true false false -110300000 -110300000 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Adjustments to product revenue reserves for payments/returns relating to sales in current year. No authoritative reference available. false 47 2 biib_AdjustmentsToProductRevenueReservesForPaymentsReturnsRelatingToSalesInPriorYear biib false debit duration Adjustments to product revenue reserves for payments/returns relating to sales in prior year. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false true false false -60700000 -60700000 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Adjustments to product revenue reserves for payments/returns relating to sales in prior year. No authoritative reference available. true 48 2 biib_ProductRevenueReserves biib false credit instant Product revenue reserves. false false false false false false false false false true false periodendlabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false true false false 101800000 101800000 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Product revenue reserves. No authoritative reference available. false 49 2 biib_SummaryOfTotalProductRevenueReservesIncludedInConsolidatedBalanceSheetsAbstract biib false na duration Summary of total product revenue reserves included in consolidated balance sheets. false false false false false true false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string Summary of total product revenue reserves included in consolidated balance sheets. false 52 2 biib_ProductRevenueReserves biib false credit instant Product revenue reserves. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false true false false 101800000 101800000 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Product revenue reserves. No authoritative reference available. true 61 0 na true na na No definition available. false true false false false false false false false false false http://biogenidec.com/role/revenuerecognitiondetails false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false false 7 USD true false false false Returns [Member] us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi us-gaap_SalesReturnsAndAllowancesMember us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis explicitMember USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 $ na No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 62 2 us-gaap_TimeSharingTransactionsAllowanceForUncollectibleAccountsRollForward us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false true false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period. false 63 2 biib_ProductRevenueReserves biib false credit instant Product revenue reserves. false false false false false false false false true false false periodstartlabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false true false false 18900000 18900000 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Product revenue reserves. No authoritative reference available. false 64 2 biib_CurrentProvisionsToProductRevenueReservesRelatingToSalesInCurrentYear biib false credit duration Current provisions to product revenue reserves relating to sales in current year. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false true false false 12300000 12300000 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Current provisions to product revenue reserves relating to sales in current year. No authoritative reference available. false 65 2 biib_AdjustmentsToProductRevenueReservesRelatingToSalesInPriorYears biib false credit duration Adjustments to product revenue reserves relating to sales in prior years. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false true false false -1800000 -1800000 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Adjustments to product revenue reserves relating to sales in prior years. No authoritative reference available. false 66 2 biib_AdjustmentsToProductRevenueReservesForPaymentsReturnsRelatingToSalesInCurrentYear biib false debit duration Adjustments to product revenue reserves for payments/returns relating to sales in current year. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false true false false -500000 -500000 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Adjustments to product revenue reserves for payments/returns relating to sales in current year. No authoritative reference available. false 67 2 biib_AdjustmentsToProductRevenueReservesForPaymentsReturnsRelatingToSalesInPriorYear biib false debit duration Adjustments to product revenue reserves for payments/returns relating to sales in prior year. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false true false false -9500000 -9500000 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Adjustments to product revenue reserves for payments/returns relating to sales in prior year. No authoritative reference available. true 68 2 biib_ProductRevenueReserves biib false credit instant Product revenue reserves. false false false false false false false false false true false periodendlabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false true false false 19400000 19400000 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Product revenue reserves. No authoritative reference available. false 69 2 biib_SummaryOfTotalProductRevenueReservesIncludedInConsolidatedBalanceSheetsAbstract biib false na duration Summary of total product revenue reserves included in consolidated balance sheets. false false false false false true false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string Summary of total product revenue reserves included in consolidated balance sheets. false 72 2 biib_ProductRevenueReserves biib false credit instant Product revenue reserves. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 true true false false 19400000 19400000 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Product revenue reserves. No authoritative reference available. true 4 49 false NoRounding UnKnown UnKnown false true