2.2.0.7falseEarnings per Share (Details) (USD $)0612 - Disclosure - Earnings per Share (Details)truefalsefalsefalse1USDfalsefalseUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDEPSDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0$false2USDfalsefalseSharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDEPSDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0$false3USDfalsefalseUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDEPSDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0$false4USDfalsefalseSharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDEPSDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0$42biib_NumeratorAbstractbiibfalsenadurationNumerator.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabelfalse1falsefalsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringNumerator.false53us-gaap_NetIncomeLossus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabelfalse1truetruefalsefalse254115000254115000falsefalsefalse2truetruefalsefalse277663000277663000falsefalsefalse3truetruefalsefalse764995000764995000falsefalsefalse4truetruefalsefalse664495000664495000falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe portion of consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent. If the entity does not present consolidated financial statements, the amount of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 19
-Article 5
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 51
-Paragraph 38
-Subparagraph d
Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 51
-Paragraph A7
-Appendix A
Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 51
-Paragraph 38
-Subparagraph a
Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
-Paragraph 20
-Article 9
Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 130
-Paragraph 10, 15
Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 87-21
Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 95
-Paragraph 28, 29, 30
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 9
true82biib_DenominatorAbstractbiibfalsenadurationDenominator.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabelfalse1falsefalsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringDenominator.false93us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasicus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabelfalse1falsetruefalsefalse239864000239864000falsefalsefalse2falsetruefalsefalse288917000288917000falsefalsefalse3falsetruefalsefalse256586000256586000falsefalsefalse4falsetruefalsefalse288416000288416000falsefalsefalsexbrli:sharesItemTypesharesNumber of [basic] shares, after adjustment for contingently issuable shares and other shares not deemed outstanding, determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that common shares have been outstanding to the total time in that period.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 171
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 40
-Subparagraph a
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 8
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 20
false124biib_IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToTimeVestedRestrictedStockUnitsbiibfalsenadurationAggregate awards of shares and nonvested shares to be issued to an employee under a time-based compensation arrangement are...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabelfalse1falsetruefalsefalse15000001500000falsefalsefalse2falsetruefalsefalse15000001500000falsefalsefalse3falsetruefalsefalse14000001400000falsefalsefalse4falsetruefalsefalse13000001300000falsefalsefalsexbrli:sharesItemTypesharesAggregate awards of shares and nonvested shares to be issued to an employee under a time-based compensation arrangement are considered shares for purposes of computing diluted earnings per share. Such share-based awards shall be considered to be outstanding as of the grant date for purposes of computing diluted earnings per share even though their exercise may be contingent upon time vesting and employment status. Those share-based awards are included in the diluted Earnings Per Share (EPS) computation even if the employee may not receive (or be able to sell) the stock until some future date. Accordingly, all shares to be issued shall be included in computing diluted EPS if the effect is dilutive. The dilutive effect of share-based compensation arrangements shall be computed using the treasury stock method. If the equity share options or other equity instruments are outstanding for only part of a period, the shares issuable shall be weighted to reflect the portion of the period during which the equity instruments were outstanding.No authoritative reference available.false134biib_IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToMarketStockUnitsbiibfalsenadurationAggregate awards of shares and nonvested shares to be issued to an employee under a time-based compensation arrangement are...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabelfalse1falsetruefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsetruefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsetruefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsetruefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:sharesItemTypesharesAggregate awards of shares and nonvested shares to be issued to an employee under a time-based compensation arrangement are considered shares for purposes of computing diluted earnings per share. Such share-based awards shall be considered to be outstanding as of the grant date for purposes of computing diluted earnings per share even though their exercise may be contingent upon time and market conditions vesting and employment status. Those share-based awards are included in the diluted Earnings Per Share (EPS) computation even if the employee may not receive (or be able to sell) the stock until some future date. Accordingly, all shares to be issued shall be included in computing diluted EPS if the effect is dilutive. The dilutive effect of share-based compensation arrangements shall be computed using the treasury stock method. If the equity share options or other equity instruments are outstanding for only part of a period, the shares issuable shall be weighted to reflect the portion of the period during which the equity instruments were outstanding.No authoritative reference available.false144biib_IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToIncrementalPerformanceVestedRestrictedStockUnitsSettledInSharesbiibfalsenadurationAggregate awards of shares and nonvested shares to be issued to an employee under a performance-based compensation...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabelfalse1falsetruefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsetruefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsetruefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsetruefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:sharesItemTypesharesAggregate awards of shares and nonvested shares to be issued to an employee under a performance-based compensation arrangement are considered shares for purposes of computing diluted earnings per share. Such share-based awards shall be considered to be outstanding as of the grant date for purposes of computing diluted earnings per share even though their exercise may be contingent upon performance-based vesting and employment status. Those share-based awards are included in the diluted Earnings Per Share (EPS) computation even if the employee may not receive (or be able to sell) the stock until some future date. Accordingly, all shares to be issued shall be included in computing diluted EPS if the effect is dilutive. The dilutive effect of share-based compensation arrangements shall be computed using the treasury stock method. If the equity share options or other equity instruments are outstanding for only part of a period, the shares issuable shall be weighted to reflect the portion of the period during which the equity instruments were outstanding.No authoritative reference available.false154us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberDilutedSharesOutstandingAdjustmentus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabelfalse1falsetruefalsefalse24000002400000falsefalsefalse2falsetruefalsefalse21000002100000falsefalsefalse3falsetruefalsefalse23000002300000falsefalsefalse4falsetruefalsefalse20000002000000falsefalsefalsexbrli:sharesItemTypesharesThe sum of dilutive potential common shares used in the calculation of the diluted per-share computation.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 40
-Subparagraph a
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 40
-Subparagraph a
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 8
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available.false202biib_DenominatorOfAntiDilutiveSecuritiesbiibfalsenadurationDenominator Of Anti dilutive Securities.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabelfalse1falsefalsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringDenominator Of Anti dilutive Securities.false213biib_AntiDilutiveEffectOfStockOptionsbiibfalsenadurationThe amount of stock options not included in determination of diluted EPS because their effects were anti-dilutive.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabelfalse1falsetruefalsefalse45000004500000falsefalsefalse2falsetruefalsefalse84000008400000falsefalsefalse3falsetruefalsefalse49000004900000falsefalsefalse4falsetruefalsefalse74000007400000falsefalsefalsexbrli:sharesItemTypesharesThe amount of stock options not included in determination of diluted EPS because their effects were anti-dilutive.No 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available.false253biib_AntiDilutiveEffectOfConvertiblePreferredStockbiibfalsenadurationThe amount of Convertible preferred stock not included in determination of diluted EPS because their effects were...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabelfalse1falsetruefalsefalse500000500000falsefalsefalse2falsetruefalsefalse500000500000falsefalsefalse3falsetruefalsefalse500000500000falsefalsefalse4falsetruefalsefalse500000500000falsefalsefalsexbrli:sharesItemTypesharesThe amount of Convertible preferred stock not included in determination of diluted EPS because their effects were anti-dilutive.No authoritative reference available.true263us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmountus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition 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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 13, 14
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 171
Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 40
-Subparagraph c
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