Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Oct. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Trading Symbol	BDX
Entity Registrant Name	BECTON DICKINSON & CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000010795
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--09-30
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		196,957,804
Entity Public Float			$ 15,700,984,058