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

This element represents other income recognized during the period related to transitional services provided to a former alliance partner.

No definition available.

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

This element represents the amount of previously reported deferred income that was recognized as other income during the period.

No definition available.

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

This element represents royalty income recognized in other income during the period related to the sale of a business.

No definition available.

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

This element represents the total consideration received during the period from the sale of a business.

No definition available.

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

This element represents the total contingent approval milestone payments to potentially be received as consideration for the sale of a business.

No definition available.

Name:	bmy_ContingentApprovalMilestones
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

This element represents the maximum contingent proceeds to be received if and when the transfer of certain assets and businesses related to the sale of a business occur.

No definition available.

Name:	bmy_ContingentPaymentsRelatedToTransferOfCertainAssetsAndBusinesses
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

This element represents the total contingent consideration received in the form of approval milestone payments during the period related to the sale of a business.

No definition available.

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

Reimbursements paid to or (received) from alliance partners which are included principally in marketing, selling and administrative, advertising and promotion and research and development expenses.

No definition available.

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

The increase (decrease) during the reporting period, excluding the portion taken into income, in the liability reflecting revenue yet to be earned for which cash or other forms of consideration was received or recorded as a receivable.

No definition available.

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

This element represents the number of agreements in a alliance.

No definition available.

Name:	bmy_NumberofAgreementsinAlliance
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

This element represents the proceeds received by the Company from a collaboration partner to establish equal governance rights over certain key strategic and financial decisions regarding the collaboration.

No definition available.

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

This element represents the payment made to the Company by a collaboration partner to enter into collaboration agreement.

No definition available.

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

This element represents the percentage of capital expenditures to be reimbursed by a collaboration partner pursuant to the collaboration agreement.

No definition available.

Name:	bmy_PercentageOfCapitalExpendituresReimbursedByCollaborationPartner
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

This element represents the approximate percentage of potential future royalties that were transferred to a third party.

No definition available.

Name:	bmy_Percentageofpotentialfutureroyaltiestransferred
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

This element represents the portion of total consideration proceeds received allocated to the sale of the business.

No definition available.

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

This element represents the portion of the consideration proceeds allocated to undelivered elements in the sales transaction, which is included in deferred income.

No definition available.

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

This element represents the cash proceeds received at closing related to the sale of a business.

No definition available.

Name:	bmy_ProceedsReceivedAtClosingForSaleOfBusiness
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

This element represents the amount of the reversal of net deferred tax liabilities attributed to the inside tax basis of an entity part of a disposal group that was included in the gain on sale calculation.

No definition available.

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

This element represents the royalty rate on net sales of certain products during the period related to the sale of a business.

No definition available.

Name:	bmy_RoyaltyRateOnNetSales
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

This element represents the royalty rate on net sales of certain products during 2017 related to the sale of a business.

No definition available.

Name:	bmy_Royaltyrateonnetsales2017
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

This element represents the royalty rate on net sales of certain products during 2018 related to the sale of a business.

No definition available.

Name:	bmy_Royaltyrateonnetsales2018
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

This element represents the royalty rate on net sales of certain products during 2019 related to the sale of a business.

No definition available.

Name:	bmy_Royaltyrateonnetsales2019
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

This element represents the royalty rate on net sales of certain products related to the sale of a business for future periods.

No definition available.

Name:	bmy_Royaltyrateonnetsalesfutureperiods
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

This element represents the upper limit of a sales threshold for tiered royalties on certain products payable to the Company as consideration for the sale of a business.

No definition available.

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

This element represents the lower limit of a sales threshold for tiered royalties on certain products payable to the Company as consideration for the sale of a business.

No definition available.

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

This element represents the total contingent regulatory and sales-based milestone payments to potentially be received as consideration for the sale of a business.

No definition available.

Name:	bmy_TotalContingentRegulatoryandSalesBasedMilestonePayments
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

This element represents the total contingent sales-based milestone payments to potentially be received as consideration for the sale of a business.

No definition available.

Name:	bmy_TotalContingentSalesBasedMilestones
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

This element represents the total royalties received as consideration for the sale of a business earned during the period.

No definition available.

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

This element represents the amount of upfront, licensing and milestone payments received to date. These receipts are deferred in deferred income and recognized in other (income)/expense of the life of the alliance agreement.

No definition available.

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

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.

No definition available.

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

Total carrying amount of consideration received or receivable as of the balance sheet date representing potential earnings that were not as yet recognized as revenue or other forms of income in conformity with GAAP.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 605
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 13.A.4(a).Q1 Response)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012821&loc=d3e214044-122780

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 13
-Section A

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

Amount before tax of gain (loss) recognized on the sale or disposal of a disposal group. Excludes discontinued operations.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51719941&loc=d3e2941-110230

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

Useful life of finite-lived intangible assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount of divestiture of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

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

Revenues from the sale of other goods or rendering of other services, not elsewhere specified in the taxonomy; net of (reduced by) sales adjustments, returns, allowances, and discounts.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(a),(d))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

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

This element represents the cash inflow during the period from the sale of a component of the entity.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3179-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Investing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

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

Useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Examples include, but not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Aggregate revenue during the period from the sale of goods in the normal course of business, after deducting returns, allowances and discounts.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(a))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

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

Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

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

Name:	bmy_AlliancesAndCollaborationCompaniesAxis=bmy_AstraZenecaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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Name:	bmy_AlliancesAndCollaborationsAxis=bmy_AmylinAcquisitionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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Name:	us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=bmy_OnglyzaKombiglyzeAndForxigaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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Name:	us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=bmy_OnglyzaKombiglyzeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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Name:	bmy_AlliancesAndCollaborationsAxis=bmy_UpfrontMilestoneAndOtherLicensingPaymentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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Name:	us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=bmy_AmylinRelatedProductsMember
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Data Type:	na
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Name:	us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=bmy_DapagliflozinMember
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Data Type:	na
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Name:	us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=bmy_BydureonMember
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Data Type:	na
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Name:	us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=bmy_ByettaMember
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Data Type:	na
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Data Type:	na
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Name:	us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=bmy_MetreleptinMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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Name:	bmy_AlliancesAndCollaborationCompaniesAxis=bmy_CPPIBMember
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Data Type:	na
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Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
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