Income taxes - Deferred income tax expense (Detail) - EUR (€) € in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Income taxes [Abstract]
Recognition of previously unrecognized tax loss and credit carryforwards	€ 32	€ 19	€ 4
Unrecognized tax loss and credit carryforwards	(9)	(56)	(9)
Unrecognized (Recognition of) temporary differences	35	31	(35)
Prior year tax	6	(1)	(6)
Tax rate changes	(72)	5	(19)
Origination and reversal of temporary differences, tax losses and tax credits	(69)	(56)	6
Deferred tax (expense) benefit	€ (77)	€ (58)	€ (59)

Adjustments of tax expense (income) recognised in the period for the deferred tax of prior periods.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Name IAS
-Number 12
-IssueDate 2017-01-01
-Paragraph 80
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=12&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_80&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2017-03-09

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_AdjustmentsForDeferredTaxOfPriorPeriods
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of tax expense or income relating to changes in deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, recognised in profit or loss. [Refer: Deferred tax assets; Deferred tax expense (income); Deferred tax liabilities]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IAS
-Number 12
-IssueDate 2017-01-01
-Paragraph 81
-Subparagraph g
-Clause ii
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=12&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_81_g_ii&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2017-03-09

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_DeferredTaxExpenseIncomeRecognisedInProfitOrLoss
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of deferred tax expense or income relating to the creation or reversal of temporary differences. [Refer: Temporary differences [member]; Deferred tax expense (income)]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Name IAS
-Number 12
-IssueDate 2017-01-01
-Paragraph 80
-Subparagraph c
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=12&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_80_c&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2017-03-09

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_DeferredTaxExpenseIncomeRelatingToOriginationAndReversalOfTemporaryDifferences
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of deferred tax expense or income relating to tax rate changes or the imposition of new taxes. [Refer: Deferred tax expense (income)]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Name IAS
-Number 12
-IssueDate 2017-01-01
-Paragraph 80
-Subparagraph d
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=12&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_80_d&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2017-03-09

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_DeferredTaxExpenseIncomeRelatingToTaxRateChangesOrImpositionOfNewTaxes
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	phg_IncomeTaxesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	phg_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	phg_RecognitionOfPreviouslyUnrecognizedTaxLossAndCreditCarryforwards
Namespace Prefix:	phg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	phg_UnrecognizedRecognitionOfTemporaryDifferences
Namespace Prefix:	phg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	phg_UnrecognizedTaxLossAndCreditCarryforwards
Namespace Prefix:	phg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration