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		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 02, 2016	Jul. 04, 2015	Jul. 02, 2016	Jul. 04, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net earnings attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.	$ 238	$ 290	$ 333	$ 552
Basic weighted average shares outstanding	284.3	281.1	283.9	282.0
Dilution associated with stock-based compensation plans	4.0	4.4	3.4	4.3
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding	288.3	285.5	287.3	286.3
Basic net earnings per share attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc. (USD per share)	$ 0.84	$ 1.03	$ 1.17	$ 1.96
Diluted net earnings per share attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc. (USD per share)	$ 0.83	$ 1.02	$ 1.16	$ 1.93
Anti-dilutive shares of common stock excluded from diluted net earnings per share attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc. (in shares)	3.8	2.6	6.1	3.4