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Financial Instruments, Derivatives and Fair Value Measures (Details) (USD $)
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Derivative instruments, notional amount and fair value    
Fair Value - Assets $ 594,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset $ 358,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
Fair Value - Liabilities 559,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability 575,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
Designated as hedging instrument | Short-term borrowings | Net investment hedges    
Derivative instruments, notional amount and fair value    
Fair Value - Liabilities 442,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_ShortTermDebtMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		 445,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_ShortTermDebtMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
Designated as hedging instrument | Interest rate swaps | Fair value hedges    
Derivative instruments, notional amount and fair value    
Notional amount of cash flow hedge instruments 4,000,000,000invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		 1,500,000,000invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
Amount of hedge ineffectiveness recorded in income 0us-gaap_GainLossOnInterestRateFairValueHedgeIneffectiveness
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		 0us-gaap_GainLossOnInterestRateFairValueHedgeIneffectiveness
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
Designated as hedging instrument | Interest rate swaps | Deferred income taxes and other assets | Fair value hedges    
Derivative instruments, notional amount and fair value    
Fair Value - Assets 150,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= abt_DeferredIncomeTaxesAndOtherAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		 101,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= abt_DeferredIncomeTaxesAndOtherAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
Designated as hedging instrument | Foreign currency forward exchange contracts | Cash flow hedges    
Derivative instruments, notional amount and fair value    
Notional amount of cash flow hedge instruments 1,500,000,000invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		 1,500,000,000invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
Minimum length of time over which accumulated gains and losses will be recognized in Cost of products sold 12 months  
Maximum length of time over which accumulated gains and losses will be recognized in Cost of products sold 18 months  
Designated as hedging instrument | Foreign currency forward exchange contracts | Prepaid expenses, deferred income taxes, and other receivables    
Derivative instruments, notional amount and fair value    
Fair Value - Assets 120,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= abt_PrepaidExpensesDeferredIncomeTaxesAndOtherReceivablesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		 107,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= abt_PrepaidExpensesDeferredIncomeTaxesAndOtherReceivablesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
Fair Value - Liabilities 10,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= abt_PrepaidExpensesDeferredIncomeTaxesAndOtherReceivablesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		  
Not designated as hedging instrument | Foreign currency forward exchange contracts    
Derivative instruments, notional amount and fair value    
Notional amount of cash flow hedge instruments 13,800,000,000invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember		 14,100,000,000invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Not designated as hedging instrument | Foreign currency forward exchange contracts | Prepaid expenses, deferred income taxes, and other receivables    
Derivative instruments, notional amount and fair value    
Fair Value - Assets 324,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= abt_PrepaidExpensesDeferredIncomeTaxesAndOtherReceivablesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember		 150,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= abt_PrepaidExpensesDeferredIncomeTaxesAndOtherReceivablesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Not designated as hedging instrument | Foreign currency forward exchange contracts | Other accrued liabilities    
Derivative instruments, notional amount and fair value    
Fair Value - Liabilities $ 107,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember		 $ 130,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember