- Definition

The maximum milestone payments that may be received by the entity based on the achievement of specified events under a collaborative arrangement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	abbv_CollaborativeArrangementMilestoneMethodPaymentsReceivable
Namespace Prefix:	abbv_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the amount paid or to be paid to other party as profit sharing in the contract which is recorded as expense for the company.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	abbv_CollaborativeArrangementsPaymentToOtherPartyAsShareOfProfitsBeforeIncomeTaxes
Namespace Prefix:	abbv_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the percentage of share in collaboration development costs responsible by the entity under cost sharing arrangement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	abbv_CollaborativeArrangementsPercentageOfShareOfDevelopmentCosts
Namespace Prefix:	abbv_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the percentage of share in collaboration development costs responsible by Janssen under cost sharing arrangement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	abbv_CollaborativeArrangementsPercentageOfShareOfDevelopmentCostsResponsibleByThirdParty
Namespace Prefix:	abbv_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the amount of share of profits before income taxes under the collaborative arrangements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	abbv_CollaborativeArrangementsShareOfProfitsBeforeIncomeTaxes
Namespace Prefix:	abbv_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents cost sharing expenses.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	abbv_CostSharingExpenses
Namespace Prefix:	abbv_
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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis=us-gaap_CollaborativeArrangementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=us-gaap_NonUsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis=abbv_JanssenBiotechIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_US
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=abbv_PharmacyclicsIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Collaboration with Janssen Biotech, Inc. (Details) - Collaborative arrangement - USD ($) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Collaborative and license agreements
Share of collaboration development costs responsible by the entity (as a percent)	40.00%
AbbVie cost sharing expense		$ 70	$ 65	$ 195	$ 87
Non-US
Collaborative and license agreements
Collaboration revenues – International		64	37	175	47
Janssen Biotech, Inc
Collaborative and license agreements
Share of collaboration development costs responsible by Janssen (as a percent)	60.00%
Janssen Biotech, Inc \| United States
Collaborative and license agreements
AbbVie profit share costs – United States		$ 211	$ 124	$ 540	$ 169
Pharmacyclics Inc \| Janssen Biotech, Inc
Collaborative and license agreements
Milestone payments	$ 200