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Income Taxes - Summary of Gross Amounts of Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Sep. 30, 2013
Sep. 30, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]      
Unrecognized tax benefits, beginning balance $ 146us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits $ 134us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits $ 117us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
Increase due to current year tax positions 51us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions 80us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions 37us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions
Increase due to prior year tax positions 9us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions 25us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions 2us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
Decreases due to prior year tax positions     (3)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
Decrease due to settlements and lapse of statute of limitations (9)bdx_DecreaseInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDueToSettlementsAndLapseOfStatuteOfLimitations (93)bdx_DecreaseInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDueToSettlementsAndLapseOfStatuteOfLimitations (19)bdx_DecreaseInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDueToSettlementsAndLapseOfStatuteOfLimitations
Unrecognized tax benefits, ending balance $ 197us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits $ 146us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits $ 134us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits