Net Earnings Per Share - Schedule of Computation of Basic and Diluted Net Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 03, 2015	Sep. 27, 2014	Oct. 03, 2015	Sep. 27, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net earnings attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.	$ 215	$ 238	$ 767	$ 757
Basic weighted average shares outstanding	282.2	285.2	282.1	284.6
Dilution associated with stock-based compensation plans	4.1	4.8	4.2	4.8
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding	286.3	290.0	286.3	289.4
Basic net earnings per share attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc. (USD per share)	$ 0.76	$ 0.83	$ 2.72	$ 2.66
Diluted net earnings per share attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc. (USD per share)	$ 0.75	$ 0.82	$ 2.68	$ 2.62
Anti-dilutive shares of common stock excluded from diluted net earnings per share attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.	2.6	2.7	3.1	2.0