Contingencies (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Compensatory Damages [Member] | Actos [Member]
Loss Contingency, Damages Awarded, Value	$ 1.5
Punitive Damages Lilly [Member] | Actos [Member]
Loss Contingency, Damages Awarded, Value	3,000.0
Punitive Damages Takeda [Member] | Actos [Member]
Loss Contingency, Damages Awarded, Value	$ 6,000.0
Multi District Litigation MDL [Member] | Byetta [Member]
Loss Contingency, Number of Lawsuits	220
Loss Contingency, Number of Plaintiffs	225
Product Liability Litigation [Member] | Byetta [Member]
Loss Contingency, Number of Lawsuits	340
Loss Contingency, Number of Plaintiffs	770
Loss Contingency, Number of Claimants	460
Product Liability Litigation [Member] | Prozac [Member]
Loss Contingency, Number of Lawsuits	10
Loss Contingency, Number of Claimants	400
Product Liability Litigation [Member] | Actos [Member]
Loss Contingency, Number of Cases	3,700
Product Liability Litigation [Member] | Damages from Product, Cancer [Member] | Byetta [Member]
Loss Contingency, Number of Lawsuits	260
Loss Contingency, Number of Plaintiffs	370
Product Liability Litigation [Member] | CANADA | Actos [Member]
Loss Contingency, Number of Cases	3
Product Liability Litigation [Member] | ONTARIO | Actos [Member]
Loss Contingency, Number of Cases	1
Product Liability Litigation [Member] | QUEBEC | Actos [Member]
Loss Contingency, Number of Cases	1
Product Liability Litigation [Member] | ALBERTA | Actos [Member]
Loss Contingency, Number of Cases	1
Product Liability Litigation [Member] | CALIFORNIA | Byetta [Member]
Loss Contingency, Number of Lawsuits	95
Loss Contingency, Number of Plaintiffs	490
Product Liability Litigation [Member] | Other states [Member] | Byetta [Member]
Loss Contingency, Number of Lawsuits	25
Loss Contingency, Number of Plaintiffs	60
Lilly Portion [Member] | Compensatory Damages [Member] | Actos [Member]
Loss Contingency, Parties Jointly and Severally Liable in Litigation, Percent Share	25.00%
Takeda Portion [Member] | Compensatory Damages [Member] | Actos [Member]
Loss Contingency, Parties Jointly and Severally Liable in Litigation, Percent Share	75.00%
Employee Litigation [Member] | Brazil [Member]
Loss Contingency, Number of Lawsuits	30