Name:	bmy_LongTermDebtInterestRateSwapFairValueAdjustmentToPrincipalValue
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

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.

No definition available.

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

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

No definition available.

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

The amount of unamortized bond discount and issuance costs.

No definition available.

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

Amount of short-term debt and current maturity of long-term debt and capital lease obligations due within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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

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

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
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Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

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

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
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Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue
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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_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

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

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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Name:	us-gaap_InterestPaidNet
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt, classified as current. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

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

Amount after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs of long-term debt classified as noncurrent and excluding amounts to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

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

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

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

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

Reflects the total carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of debt having initial terms less than one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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