The number of claimants in a given litigation or loss contingency

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- Definition

Number of lawsuits in a particular litigation or loss contingency.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	lly
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
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- Definition

The number of plantiffs pursuant to particular litigation or loss contingency.

+ Details

Name:	lly_LossContingencyNumberOfPlaintiffs
Namespace Prefix:	lly
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
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- Definition

Number of states prusuant to a particular litigation or loss contingency.

+ Details

Name:	lly_LossContingencyNumberOfStates
Namespace Prefix:	lly
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of loss reported during the period pertaining to product liability.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 5

-Paragraph 9

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14326-108349

+ Details

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Contingencies (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011 California [Member] Product Liability Litigation [Member] Byetta [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Product Liability Litigation [Member] Zyprexa [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Product Liability Litigation [Member] Zyprexa [Member]	Dec. 31, 2008 Product Liability Litigation [Member] Zyprexa [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Product Liability Litigation [Member] Byetta [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Multi District Litigation MDL [Member] Zyprexa [Member]	Dec. 31, 2006 Marketing and Promotional Practices [Member] Zyprexa [Member]	Dec. 31, 2005 Marketing and Promotional Practices [Member] Zyprexa [Member]
Loss Contingency, Number of Claimants					480
Loss Contingency, Number of Lawsuits	90	40			115	25	2	2
Loss Contingency, Number of Plaintiffs		110			430	15
Loss Contingency, Number of States				13
Product Liability Accrual, Period Expense			$ 230.0	$ 15.0