Accelerated Share Repurchases, Maximum Number of Shares to be Received

No definition available.

Name:	cvs_AcceleratedShareRepurchasesMaximumNumberofSharestobeReceived
Namespace Prefix:	cvs_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the additional number of shares of common stock receivable under the entity's fixed dollar accelerated share repurchase agreement with Barclays Bank PLC, depending on the market price of common stock over the term of the ASR agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cvs_AcceleratedShareRepurchasesNumberofAdditionalSharestobeReceived
Namespace Prefix:	cvs_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Accelerated Share Repurchases, Percentage of Notional Purchase Price

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cvs_AcceleratedShareRepurchasesPercentageofNotionalPurchasePrice
Namespace Prefix:	cvs_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of shares of common stock repurchased under the entity's fixed dollar accelerated share repurchase agreement with Barclays Bank PLC that were placed into treasury stock.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cvs_AcceleratedShareRepurchasesSettlementPaymentorReceiptSharesRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares
Namespace Prefix:	cvs_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The price paid per share to immediately purchase the targeted number of shares on the date of executing the accelerated share repurchase agreement.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)

-Number 99-7

-Paragraph 1

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AcceleratedShareRepurchasesInitialPricePaidPerShare
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of cash payment to or cash receipt from the bank; or the stock issuance to or stock received from the bank in the settlement of the accelerated share repurchase agreement.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Details

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

- Definition

Number of shares that have been repurchased during the period and have not been retired and are not held in treasury. Some state laws may govern the circumstances under which an entity may acquire its own stock and prescribe the accounting treatment therefore. This element is used when state law does not recognize treasury stock.

+ References

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

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 12

-Paragraph 10

-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 SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)

-Number 43

-Section B

-Paragraph 11A

-Chapter 1

-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 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 29, 30

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Equity impact of the value of stock that has been repurchased during the period and has not been retired and is not held in treasury. Some state laws may mandate the circumstances under which an entity may acquire its own stock and prescribe the accounting treatment therefore. This element is used when state law does not recognize treasury stock.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

The amount authorized by an entity's Board of Directors under a stock repurchase plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The remaining repurchase amount authorized by an entity's Board of Directors under a stock repurchase plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

Share Repurchase Programs (Details) (2012 Repurchase Program, USD $) Share data in Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Sep. 19, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 30, 2013 Subsequent Event [Member]	Oct. 02, 2013 Subsequent Event [Member]
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Maximum authorization under share repurchase program	$ 6,000,000,000
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)		25.8	39.6
Accelerated share repurchase agreement, value of stock repurchased in the period		1,500,000,000	2,300,000,000
Accelerated share repurchase agreement, remaining authorized repurchase amount			2,400,000,000
Accelerated share repurchase agreement payment					$ 1,700,000,000
Accelerated share repurchase agreement number of shares repurchased					14.9
Accelerated share repurchase agreement, percentage of notional purchase price, percentage				50.00%
Number of additional shares receivable under the accelerated share repurchase agreement				14.9
Initial price paid per share under the accelerated share repurchase agreement				$ 57.18
Maximum number of shares to be received under the accelerated share repurchase agreement			59.5