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Share-Based Payments - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based compensation, options granted, shares			292,727
Share-based compensation, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)			$ 143.23
Share-based compensation, Options, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)			$ 33.83
Share-based compensation, risk free interest rate			1.46%
Share-based compensation, expected dividend rate			0.55%
Share-based compensation, expected volatility rate			24.22%
Share-based compensation, expected term			5 years 6 months
Unrecognized net gains/(losses) on cross-currency interest rate swap contracts, recorded, net of tax			$ (27)	$ 28
zts_ForwardStartingInterestRateSwap \| Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments:
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized net gains/(losses) on cross-currency interest rate swap contracts, recorded, net of tax	$ 5	$ (4)	$ (22)	$ (4)
Stock options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based compensation, award vesting period			3 years
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based compensation, award vesting period			3 years
Share-based compensation, granted, shares			234,064
Share-based compensation, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)			$ 143.68
Performance Shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based compensation, expected volatility rate			20.20%
Share-based compensation, award vesting period			3 years
Share-based compensation, granted, shares			85,279
Share-based compensation, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)			$ 217.49
Performance Shares \| PeerCompanies
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based compensation, expected volatility rate			24.80%
Performance Shares \| Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based compensation, target number of units percentage			0.00%
Performance Shares \| Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based compensation, target number of units percentage			200.00%