This element represents the carrying value of the extinguished debt.

No definition available.

Name:	bmy_ExtinguishmentOfDebtCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Extinguishment of Debt, Principal Value

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bmy_ExtinguishmentOfDebtPrincipalValue
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the payment made to extinguish outstanding debt.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bmy_ExtinguishmentOfDebtRepurchasePrice
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the proceeds received or paid upon termination of a forward starting interest rate swap.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bmy_ForwardStartingInterestRateSwapTerminationProceeds
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the adjustment to principal value of long term debt related to the fair value of interest rate swaps.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bmy_LongTermDebtInterestRateSwapFairValueAdjustmentToPrincipalValue
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the amount of long-term debt repurchased through a cash tender offer.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bmy_LongtermDebtRepurchasedThroughCashTenderOffer
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The notional amount of interest rate swaps terminated during the period related to a debt repurchase.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bmy_NotionalAmountOfInterestRateSwapsTerminatedDebtRepurchase
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the proceeds received or paid upon termination of the interest rate swap.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bmy_SwapTerminationProceeds
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Carrying amount of total debt obligations, net of unamortized discount or premium, including amounts to be repaid within one year. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bmy_TotalDebt
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the adjustment to principal value of long term debt related to the unamortized basis adjustment from swap terminations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bmy_UnamortizedBasisAdjustmentFromSwapTerminations
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

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-SubTopic 30

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value portion of debt instrument payable, including, but not limited to, notes payable and loans payable.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 10

-Subparagraph (a)

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of debt discount that was originally recognized at the issuance of the instrument that has yet to be amortized.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1A

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-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34725769&loc=d3e28878-108400

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Nominal or face amount used to calculate payments on the derivative liability.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1B

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Notional Amount

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6519104

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-SubTopic 10

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-Paragraph 1A

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56946850&loc=SL5579245-113959

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 470

-SubTopic 50

-Section 40

-Paragraph 2

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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170532&loc=d3e12355-112629

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of cash paid for interest during the period net of cash paid for interest that is capitalized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4297-108586

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Carrying amount of long-term debt, net of unamortized discount or premium, excluding amounts to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer (current maturities). Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash inflow from a debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Financing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
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- Details

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FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Debt) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal value	$ 6,367		$ 6,804
Adjustments to Principal Value, Fair value of interest rate swaps	46		43
Adjustments to Principal Value, Unamortized basis adjustment from swap terminations	277		454
Adjustments to Principal Value, Unamortized bond discounts	(58)		(59)
Total Long-term debt	6,632		7,242
Long-term debt	6,632		7,242
Long-term debt, fair value	6,935		$ 8,045
Interest payments	158	$ 131
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	1,268
Extinguishment of Debt, Principal Value	1,624	582
Extinguishment Of Debt, Carrying Value	1,795	633
Extinguishment of Debt, Redemption Price	1,957	676
Extinguishment of Debt, Notional amount of interest rate swaps terminated	735	500
Extinguishment of Debt, Swap Termination Payments	11	4
Extinguishment of Debt, Total loss	180	$ 45
Euro Member Countries, Euro
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal value	1,150
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	1,133
Extinguishment of Debt, Principal Value	1,000
Euro Member Countries, Euro \| 1.000% Euro Notes Due 2025 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal value	575
Euro Member Countries, Euro \| 1.750% Euro Notes Due 2035 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal value	575
United States of America, Dollars
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal value	1,286
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	1,268
Long-term Debt Repurchased Through Cash Tender Offer	500
Extinguishment of Debt, Principal Value	1,100
United States of America, Dollars \| 1.000% Euro Notes Due 2025 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal value	643
United States of America, Dollars \| 1.750% Euro Notes Due 2035 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal value	643
Forward Starting Interest Rate Swap Contracts [Member] \| Euro Member Countries, Euro
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notional amount of forward starting interest rate swap contracts terminated	500
Unrealized loss of terminated forward starting interest rate swap contracts	(16)
Forward Starting Interest Rate Swap Contracts [Member] \| United States of America, Dollars
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notional amount of forward starting interest rate swap contracts terminated	559
Unrealized loss of terminated forward starting interest rate swap contracts	$ (18)