EQUITY (Changes in Equity) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Equity [Abstract]
Common Stock, Shares Issued, Balance at January 1,			2,205,000,000	2,205,000,000
Common Stock, Shares Issued, Balance at September 30,	2,205,000,000	2,205,000,000	2,205,000,000	2,205,000,000
Common Stock, Value, Issued, Balance at January 1,			$ 220,000,000	$ 220,000,000
Common Stock, Value, Issued, Balance at September 30,	220,000,000	220,000,000	220,000,000	220,000,000
Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock, Balance at January 1,			3,682,000,000	3,768,000,000
Employee stock compensation plans, Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock			(456,000,000)	(107,000,000)
Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock, Balance at September 30,	3,226,000,000	3,661,000,000	3,226,000,000	3,661,000,000
Retained Earnings, Balance at January 1,			31,636,000,000	30,760,000,000
Net earnings attributable to Bristol-Myers Squibb Company	969,000,000	949,000,000	2,857,000,000	2,619,000,000
Cash dividends declared			(1,696,000,000)	(1,658,000,000)
Retained Earnings, Balance at September 30,	32,797,000,000	31,721,000,000	32,797,000,000	31,721,000,000
Treasury Stock, Shares, Balance at January 1,			501,000,000	491,000,000
Stock repurchase program, Treasury Stock			30,000,000	15,000,000
Employee stock compensation plans, Treasury Stock			(20,000,000)	(12,000,000)
Treasury Stock, Shares, Balance at September 30,	511,000,000	494,000,000	511,000,000	494,000,000
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at January 1,			(17,454,000,000)	(17,364,000,000)
Employee stock compensation plans, Cost of Treasury Stock			923,000,000	428,000,000
Stock repurchase program, Cost of Treasury Stock			(858,000,000)	(362,000,000)
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at September 30,	(17,389,000,000)	(17,298,000,000)	(17,389,000,000)	(17,298,000,000)
Authorization to repurchase common stock value			3,000,000,000
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at January 1,			(75,000,000)	(58,000,000)
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest			1,781,000,000	1,558,000,000
Distributions			(1,842,000,000)	(1,613,000,000)
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at September 30,	(136,000,000)	(113,000,000)	(136,000,000)	(113,000,000)
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest, tax	$ 209,000,000	$ 173,000,000	$ 609,000,000	$ 509,000,000