Name:	bmy_Assetacquisitionmilestonepayment
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This element represents the upfront payment to acquire an asset.

No definition available.

Name:	bmy_Assetacquisitionpayment
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

Asset acquisition subsequent milestone payment

No definition available.

Name:	bmy_Assetacquisitionsubsequentmilestonepayment
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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This represents the amount of contingent development and regulatory milestone payments for an asset acquisition.

No definition available.

Name:	bmy_Contingentdevelopmentandregulatorymilestonepayments
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

The expected cash inflow from a pending business divestiture.

No definition available.

Name:	bmy_Expectedproceedsfromdivestitureofabusiness
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	duration

Upfront payment allocated to deferred tax asset

No definition available.

Name:	bmy_Upfrontpaymentallocatedtodeferredtaxasset
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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This element represents the upfront payment to acquire an entity, net of tax, charged to research and development expense.

No definition available.

Name:	bmy_Upfrontpaymentallocatedtoresearchanddevelopmentexpenses
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Upfront payment for future negotiation rights

No definition available.

Name:	bmy_Upfrontpaymentforfuturenegotiationrights
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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Amount classified as assets attributable to disposal group held for sale or disposed of, expected to be disposed of within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
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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_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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Period Type:	duration

Amount, before tax, of (gain) loss recognized for the (reversal of write-down) write-down to fair value, less cost to sell, of a disposal group. Excludes discontinued operations.

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

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.

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

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Namespace Prefix:
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Name:	bmy_AssetAcquisitionNameAxis=bmy_IFMMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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Name:	bmy_AssetAcquisitionNameAxis=bmy_FlexusMember
Namespace Prefix:
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