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. 01, 2016	Oct. 03, 2015	Oct. 01, 2016	Oct. 03, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net earnings attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.	$ 212	$ 215	$ 545	$ 767
Basic weighted average shares outstanding	285.2	282.2	284.3	282.1
Dilution associated with stock-based compensation plans (in shares)	4.8	4.1	3.9	4.2
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding	290.0	286.3	288.2	286.3
Basic net earnings per share attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc. (USD per share)	$ 0.74	$ 0.76	$ 1.92	$ 2.72
Diluted net earnings per share attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc. (USD per share)	$ 0.73	$ 0.75	$ 1.89	$ 2.68
Anti-dilutive shares of common stock excluded from diluted net earnings per share attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc. (in shares)	0.0	2.6	4.1	3.1