Debt Instrument, Redemption Period without Payment of Make Whole Amount

No definition available.

Name:	amgn_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodwithoutPaymentofMakeWholeAmount
Namespace Prefix:	amgn_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930739&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28551-108399

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Effective interest rate for the funds borrowed under the debt agreement considering interest compounding and original issue discount or premium.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28551-108399

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the charge against earnings during the period for commitment fees and debt issuance expenses.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.8)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtRelatedCommitmentFeesAndDebtIssuanceCosts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, before accumulated amortization, of debt issuance costs. Includes, but is not limited to, legal, accounting, underwriting, printing, and registration costs.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, after accumulated amortization, of debt issuance costs. Includes, but is not limited to, legal, accounting, underwriting, printing, and registration costs.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28555-108399

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.17)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash outflow for debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3291-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Financing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Financing arrangements (Details Textual) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Financing arrangements (Details Textual) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 GBP (£)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 CHF (SFr)	Jun. 30, 2016 EUR (€)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 CHF (SFr)	Feb. 29, 2016 USD ($)	Feb. 29, 2016 EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayment of principal amount of debt		$ 1,000	$ 2,150
Debt issuance costs					$ 13
Accounting Standards Update 2015-03 [Member] \| Other Current Assets [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Change in balances resulting from adoption of new standard												$ (3)
Accounting Standards Update 2015-03 [Member] \| Short-term Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Change in balances resulting from adoption of new standard												(3)
Accounting Standards Update 2015-03 [Member] \| Other Assets [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Change in balances resulting from adoption of new standard												(124)
Accounting Standards Update 2015-03 [Member] \| Long-term Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Change in balances resulting from adoption of new standard												$ (124)
Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount of notes issued										$ 2,200
Debt issuance costs					$ 801
Notes [Member] \| 4.375% euro-denominated notes due 2018 (4.375% 2018 euro Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount of notes issued \| €							€ 550,000,000
Interest rate, stated percentage				4.375%	4.375%	4.375%	4.375%					4.375%
Notes [Member] \| 2.125% euro-denominated notes due 2019 (2.125% 2019 euro Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount of notes issued \| €							€ 675,000,000
Interest rate, stated percentage				2.125%	2.125%	2.125%	2.125%					2.125%
Notes [Member] \| 1.25% euro-denominated notes due 2022 (1.25% 2022 euro Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount of notes issued \| €							€ 1,250,000,000				€ 1,250,000,000
Interest rate, stated percentage				1.25%	1.25%	1.25%	1.25%			1.25%	1.25%
Notes [Member] \| 2.00% euro-denominated notes due 2026 (2.00% 2026 euro Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount of notes issued \| €							€ 750,000,000				€ 750,000,000
Interest rate, stated percentage				2.00%	2.00%	2.00%	2.00%			2.00%	2.00%
Notes [Member] \| 5.50% pound-sterling denominated notes due 2026 (5.50% 2026 pound sterling Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount of notes issued \| £				£ 475,000,000
Interest rate, stated percentage				5.50%	5.50%	5.50%	5.50%					5.50%
Notes [Member] \| 4.00% pound-sterling denominated notes due 2029 (4.00% 2029 pound sterling Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount of notes issued \| £				£ 700,000,000
Interest rate, stated percentage				4.00%	4.00%	4.00%	4.00%					4.00%
Notes [Member] \| 2.30% notes due 2016 (2.30% 2016 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage				2.30%	2.30%	2.30%	2.30%					2.30%
Repayment of principal amount of debt		$ 750
Notes [Member] \| Euro-denominated Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption period without payment of a make-whole amount		3 months
Notes [Member] \| New Senior Notes [Member] \| Interest and other income, net [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Transaction costs	$ 24
Notes [Member] \| 4.563% notes due 2048 (4.563% 2048 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount of notes issued					$ 1,400
Interest rate, stated percentage				4.563%	4.563%	4.563%	4.563%
Effective interest rate				6.30%	6.30%	6.30%	6.30%
Notes [Member] \| 4.663% notes due 2051 (4.663% 2051 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount of notes issued					$ 3,500
Interest rate, stated percentage				4.663%	4.663%	4.663%	4.663%
Effective interest rate				5.60%	5.60%	5.60%	5.60%
Bonds [Member] \| 0.41% Swiss-franc-denominated bonds due 2023 (0.41% 2023 Swiss franc Bonds) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount of notes issued						SFr 700,000,000		$ 704	SFr 700,000,000
Interest rate, stated percentage				0.41%	0.41%	0.41%	0.41%	0.41%	0.41%
Term Loan [Member] \| Term Loan due 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayment of principal amount of debt		$ 250