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Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 0 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Sep. 30, 2013
Sep. 30, 2012
Oct. 05, 2014
Jul. 30, 2013
Sep. 19, 2013
Nov. 09, 2009
Sep. 30, 2013
Nov. 10, 2014
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                  
Rental expense for operating leases $ 71us-gaap_OperatingLeasesRentExpenseNet $ 70us-gaap_OperatingLeasesRentExpenseNet $ 66us-gaap_OperatingLeasesRentExpenseNet            
Future minimum rental commitments on noncancelable leases due in 2015 51us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueCurrent                
Future minimum rental commitments on noncancelable leases due in 2016 43us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInTwoYears                
Future minimum rental commitments on noncancelable leases due in 2017 34us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInThreeYears                
Future minimum rental commitments on noncancelable leases due in 2018 23us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFourYears                
Future minimum rental commitments on noncancelable leases due in 2019 21us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFiveYears                
Future minimum rental commitments on noncancelable leases Thereafter 20us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueThereafter                
Aggregate future purchase commitments 565us-gaap_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentAmount                
CareFusion Corporation [Member]                  
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                  
Acquisition agreement date Oct. 05, 2014                
CareFusion Corporation [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]                  
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                  
Acquisition agreement date       Oct. 05, 2014          
Hospital Plaintiffs [Member]                  
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                  
Settlement amount         22us-gaap_LitigationSettlementAmount
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= bdx_HospitalPlaintiffsMember
       
RTI Technologies [Member]                  
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                  
Damages awarded           113.5us-gaap_LossContingencyDamagesAwardedValue
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= bdx_RtiTechnologiesMember
5.0us-gaap_LossContingencyDamagesAwardedValue
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= bdx_RtiTechnologiesMember
   
Pre-tax charge relating to an unfavorable litigation verdict               341bdx_PretaxChargeRelatingToAnUnfavorableLitigationVerdict
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= bdx_RtiTechnologiesMember
 
RTI Technologies [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]                  
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                  
Percentage of reduction in total fee recovery                 50.00%bdx_LossContingencyPercentageOfReductionInFeesRecovery
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= bdx_RtiTechnologiesMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Fee award, requested amount                 $ 36bdx_LossContingencyFeesRecoveryAmount
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= bdx_RtiTechnologiesMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember