EQUITY (Changes in Equity) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
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,	2,208,000,000	2,205,000,000	2,208,000,000	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,	221,000,000	220,000,000	221,000,000	220,000,000
Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock, Balance at January 1,			3,114,000,000	3,682,000,000
Employee stock compensation plans, Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock			(397,000,000)	(456,000,000)
Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock, Balance at September 30,	2,717,000,000	3,226,000,000	2,717,000,000	3,226,000,000
Retained Earnings, Balance at January 1,			33,069,000,000	31,636,000,000
Net earnings attributable to Bristol-Myers Squibb Company	(711,000,000)	969,000,000	1,035,000,000	2,857,000,000
Cash dividends declared			(1,723,000,000)	(1,696,000,000)
Retained Earnings, Balance at September 30,	32,381,000,000	32,797,000,000	32,381,000,000	32,797,000,000
Treasury Stock, Shares, Balance at January 1,			515,000,000	501,000,000
Stock repurchase program, Treasury Stock			58,000,000	30,000,000
Treasury Stock, Shares, Balance at September 30,	558,000,000	511,000,000	558,000,000	511,000,000
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at January 1,			(17,402,000,000)	(17,454,000,000)
Stock repurchase program, Cost of Treasury Stock			(1,914,000,000)	(858,000,000)
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at September 30,	(18,475,000,000)	(17,389,000,000)	(18,475,000,000)	(17,389,000,000)
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at January 1,			(89,000,000)	(75,000,000)
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest			854,000,000	1,781,000,000
Distributions			(765,000,000)	(1,842,000,000)
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at September 30,	0	(136,000,000)	0	(136,000,000)
The increase in authorization of common stock repurchases			3,000,000,000
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest, tax		209,000,000	318,000,000	609,000,000
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest, tax benefit	2,000,000		2,000,000
Common Stock [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Employee stock compensation plans, Cost			1,000,000
Employee stock compensation plans, Shares			3,000,000
Treasury Stock [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Employee stock compensation plans, Cost			$ 841,000,000	$ 923,000,000
Employee stock compensation plans, Shares			(15,000,000)	(20,000,000)