Name:	bmy_AcquiredIntangiblesWeightedAverageUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Reimbursements paid to or received from collaboration partner for commercialization expense included principally in advertising and product promotion and selling, general and administrative expenses.

No definition available.

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

This element represents the contingent proceeds to be received by the Company from a collaboration partner to establish equal governance rights of the collaboration.

No definition available.

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

This element represents a payment made by a collaboration partner as part of a tax sharing agreement.

No definition available.

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

This element represents the payment made to the Company by a collaboration partner to enter into collaboration agreement.

No definition available.

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

This element represents the percentage of capital expenditures to be reimbursed by a collaboration partner pursuant to the collaboration agreement.

No definition available.

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

This element represents the portion of the preliminary proceeds received upon entering into a collaboration that is included in accrued expenses as an adjustment to the initial proceeds.

No definition available.

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

This element represents the total additional development and regulatory milestone receipts that the Company could receive if all development and regulatory milestones are met.

No definition available.

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

This element represents the total additional sales based milestone receipts that the Company could receive if all sales milestones are met.

No definition available.

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

Profit sharing reimbursements made to or received from a collaboration partner based on gross margin which is recorded in cost of products sold.

No definition available.

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

The amount of development expenses reimbursed by the collaboration partner pursuant to the terms of the agreement that are netted in research and development expense.

No definition available.

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

The amount of previously capitalized upfront, milestone and other licensing payments included in intangible assets, which are amortized into earnings over the remaining life of the agreement.

No definition available.

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

The amount of upfront, licensing and milestone payments received by the Company during the period that is amortized from deferred income over the useful life of the products into other income.

No definition available.

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

- Details

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

Total costs related to goods produced and sold during the reporting period.

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 2

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.2(a))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

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

Total carrying amount of consideration received or receivable as of the balance sheet date representing potential earnings that were not as yet recognized as revenue or other forms of income in conformity with GAAP.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 605

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 13.A.4(a).Q1 Response)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6600647&loc=d3e214044-122780

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 13

-Section A

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

The net amount of other income and expense amounts, the components of which are not separately disclosed on the income statement, resulting from ancillary business-related activities (that is, excluding major activities considered part of the normal operations of the business) also known as other nonoperating income (expense) recognized for the period. Such amounts may include: (a) dividends, (b) interest on securities, (c) net gains or losses on securities, (d) unusual costs, (e) gains or losses on foreign exchange transactions, and (f) miscellaneous other income and expense items.

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 9

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.9)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

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

Useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Examples include, but not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

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.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5