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

- Definition

The percentage of net sales of certain products in certain territories payable as a distribution fee pursuant to the collaboration agreement to other collaboration partners.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Expense recognized in cost of products sold as a distribution fee pursuant to the collaboration agreement during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

This item represents the non-cash charge relating to the divestiture of a business.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

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

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Sales threshold for 2015 when the royalty rate adjusts to a lower percentage of net sales.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bmy_Royaltysalesthreshold2015
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Sales threshold for 2016 when the royalty rate adjusts to a lower percentage of net sales.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bmy_Royaltysalesthreshold2016
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Sales threshold for 2017 when the royalty rate adjusts to a lower percentage of net sales.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bmy_Royaltysalesthreshold2017
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Sales threshold for 2018 when the royalty rate adjusts to a lower percentage of net sales.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bmy_Royaltysalesthreshold2018
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
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+ Details

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

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

- Definition

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

+ References

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

- Definition

Amount, after sales adjustments, returns, allowances, and discounts, of revenue classified as other.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

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

- Definition

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

+ References

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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+ Details

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

- Definition

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.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)
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Name:	us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	bmy_AlliancesAndCollaborationCompaniesAxis=bmy_LillyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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Data Type:	na
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Period Type:

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
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Period Type:

- Details

Name:	bmy_AlliancesAndCollaborationCompaniesAxis=bmy_LillyAndMerckKgaaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	bmy_LocationAxis=country_JP
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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Period Type:

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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ALLIANCES (Lilly) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
ALLIANCES (Lilly) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Alliances Statement [Line Items]
Net product sales									$ 19,258	$ 17,702	$ 14,045
Alliance revenues									1,518	1,725	2,515
Total Revenues	$ 5,449	$ 5,254	$ 5,144	$ 4,929	$ 5,243	$ 4,922	$ 4,871	$ 4,391	20,776	19,427	16,560
Cost of products sold - Amortization of intangible asset									190	178	183
Royalties									(557)	(618)	(293)
Divestiture loss									161	564	194
Lilly [Member]
Alliances Statement [Line Items]
Net product sales											492
Alliance revenues											9
Total Revenues											501
Cost of products sold - Distribution fees and royalties											261
Royalties									(224)	$ (246)	(70)
Divestiture loss											171
Lilly [Member] \| Erbitux [Member] \| North America [Member]
Alliances Statement [Line Items]
Distribution fee, percentage of net sales					39.00%					39.00%
Divestiture non-cash charge											171
Royalty sales threshold - 2015											165
Royalty sales threshold - 2016										$ 650
Royalty sales threshold - 2017									650
Royalty sales threshold - 2018									480
Royalties									207	227	56
Lilly and Merck KGaA [Member] \| Erbitux [Member] \| Japan [Member]
Alliances Statement [Line Items]
Royalties									$ 17	$ 19	$ 14
Maximum [Member] \| Lilly [Member] \| Erbitux [Member] \| North America [Member]
Alliances Statement [Line Items]
Royalty rate on net sales									38.00%
Maximum [Member] \| Lilly [Member] \| Erbitux [Member] \| Japan [Member]
Alliances Statement [Line Items]
Royalty rate on net sales									50.00%
Minimum [Member] \| Lilly [Member] \| Erbitux [Member] \| North America [Member]
Alliances Statement [Line Items]
Royalty rate on net sales									20.00%