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No authoritative reference available. false 520 2 biib_SummaryOfFairAndCarryingValueOfDebtInstrumentsAbstract biib false na duration Summary of fair and carrying value of debt instruments. 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 5 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string Summary of fair and carrying value of debt instruments. false 523 2 us-gaap_NotesPayableFairValueDisclosure us-gaap true credit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 23600000 23.6 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 5 false true false false 31300000 31.3 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. 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No authoritative reference available. false 568 2 biib_SummaryOfFairAndCarryingValueOfDebtInstrumentsAbstract biib false na duration Summary of fair and carrying value of debt instruments. 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 5 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string Summary of fair and carrying value of debt instruments. false 571 2 us-gaap_NotesPayableFairValueDisclosure us-gaap true credit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 646800000 646.8 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 5 false true false false 589100000 589.1 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents notes payable as of the balance sheet date. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19, 20, 22 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 129 -Paragraph 2, 4 false 577 0 na true na na No definition available. false true false false false false false false false false false http://biogenidec.com/role/fairvaluemeasurementsdetails 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 5 false false false false 0 0 false false false false 52 USD true false false false Carrying Value [Member] us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxis explicitMember USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 $ false 53 USD true false false false Carrying Value [Member] us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxis explicitMember USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 $ na No definition available. 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No authoritative reference available. false 601 0 na true na na No definition available. false true false false false false false false false false false http://biogenidec.com/role/fairvaluemeasurementsdetails 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 5 false false false false 0 0 false false false false 54 USD true false false false Carrying Value [Member] us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxis explicitMember false false Dompe [Member] biib_SeniorNotesAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi biib_SalesAffiliateMember biib_SeniorNotesAxis explicitMember USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 $ false 55 USD true false false false Carrying Value [Member] us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxis explicitMember false false Dompe [Member] biib_SeniorNotesAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi biib_SalesAffiliateMember biib_SeniorNotesAxis explicitMember USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 $ na No definition available. 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