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Other Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
Other comprehensive income from continuing operations, net of income taxes      
Balance at the beginning of the period     $ (5,053)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
Balance at the end of the period (5,607)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax   (5,053)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
Cumulative Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments      
Other comprehensive income from continuing operations, net of income taxes      
Balance at the beginning of the period (2,924)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember
(718)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember
 
Impact of business dispositions 108abt_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossFromDispositionOfDiscontinuedOperationsBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember
   
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications (911)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember
62us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember
 
Net current period comprehensive( loss) income (911)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember
62us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember
 
Balance at the end of the period (3,727)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember
(656)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember
 
Net Actuarial Losses and Prior Service Costs and Credits      
Other comprehensive income from continuing operations, net of income taxes      
Balance at the beginning of the period (2,229)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember
(1,312)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember
 
Impact of business dispositions 19abt_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossFromDispositionOfDiscontinuedOperationsBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember
   
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income 31us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember
16us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember
 
Net current period comprehensive( loss) income 31us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember
16us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember
 
Balance at the end of the period (2,179)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember
(1,296)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember
 
Cumulative Unrealized Gains on Marketable Equity Securities      
Other comprehensive income from continuing operations, net of income taxes      
Balance at the beginning of the period 1us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember
13us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember
 
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications 173us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember
1us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember
 
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income   (1)us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember
 
Net current period comprehensive( loss) income 173us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember
   
Balance at the end of the period 174us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember
13us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember
 
Cumulative Gains on Derivative Instruments Designated as Cash Flow Hedges      
Other comprehensive income from continuing operations, net of income taxes      
Balance at the beginning of the period 99us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember
5us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember
 
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications 43us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember
(1)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember
 
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (17)us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember
1us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember
 
Net current period comprehensive( loss) income 26us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember
   
Balance at the end of the period $ 125us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember
$ 5us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember