Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Feb. 15, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Document & Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q4
Entity Registrant Name	Lilly Eli & Co
Entity Central Index Key	0000059478
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 42,793,000,000
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,134,411,762