Revenue - Disaggregated Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	$ 8,942	$ 8,350	$ 26,743	$ 23,601
Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	3	(2)	2	(1)
Net Sales	3	(2)	2	(1)
Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(520)	(553)	(1,693)	(1,471)
Net Sales	(520)	(553)	(1,693)	(1,471)
Americas
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	4,692	4,347	13,602	12,122
Americas | Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1		1	(1)
Americas | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(239)	(279)	(738)	(716)
United States
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	3,900	3,700	11,300	10,200
Asia Pacific
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	2,642	2,474	8,066	7,029
Asia Pacific | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(219)	(194)	(666)	(533)
Europe, Middle East and Africa
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,608	1,528	5,077	4,450
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1		1
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(62)	(80)	(290)	(222)
Other Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	0	1	(2)	0
Other Unallocated | Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1	(2)
Other Unallocated | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales			1
Safety and Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	3,235	3,017	9,816	8,601
Safety and Industrial | Americas
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,710	1,618	5,077	4,500
Safety and Industrial | Asia Pacific
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	828	702	2,465	2,063
Safety and Industrial | Europe, Middle East and Africa
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	698	696	2,275	2,038
Safety and Industrial | Other Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(1)	1	(1)	0
Safety and Industrial | Abrasives
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	362	289	1,067	861
Safety and Industrial | Automotive Aftermarket
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	314	308	939	794
Safety and Industrial | Closure and Masking Systems
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	264	242	761	745
Safety and Industrial | Electrical Markets
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	322	285	948	824
Safety and Industrial | Industrial Adhesives and Tapes
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	760	643	2,289	1,859
Safety and Industrial | Personal Safety
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,105	1,136	3,475	3,220
Safety and Industrial | Roofing Granules
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	109	113	338	294
Safety and Industrial | Other Safety and Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(1)	1	(1)	4
Transportation and Electronics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	2,450	2,316	7,463	6,492
Transportation and Electronics | Americas
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	728	641	2,096	1,848
Transportation and Electronics | Asia Pacific
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,367	1,358	4,239	3,711
Transportation and Electronics | Europe, Middle East and Africa
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	355	317	1,129	933
Transportation and Electronics | Other Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales			(1)
Transportation and Electronics | Advanced Materials
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	305	247	925	771
Transportation and Electronics | Automotive and Aerospace
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	439	410	1,424	1,126
Transportation and Electronics | Commercial Solutions
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	457	391	1,349	1,148
Transportation and Electronics | Electronics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,000	1,025	3,040	2,772
Transportation and Electronics | Transportation Safety
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	250	245	727	678
Transportation and Electronics | Other Transportation and Electronics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(1)	(2)	(2)	(3)
Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	2,249	2,160	6,775	6,087
Health Care | Americas
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,357	1,335	4,001	3,690
Health Care | Asia Pacific
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	425	377	1,263	1,091
Health Care | Europe, Middle East and Africa
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	467	447	1,512	1,306
Health Care | Other Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		1	(1)
Health Care | Drug Delivery
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	0	0	0	146
Health Care | Food Safety
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	96	83	279	252
Health Care | Health Information Systems
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	309	280	897	833
Health Care | Medical Solutions
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,241	1,251	3,783	3,471
Health Care | Oral Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	359	320	1,086	741
Health Care | Separation and Purification Sciences
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	244	221	733	639
Health Care | Other Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	0	5	(3)	5
Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,525	1,412	4,380	3,893
Consumer | Americas
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,135	1,032	3,165	2,801
Consumer | Asia Pacific
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	241	231	765	697
Consumer | Europe, Middle East and Africa
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	149	148	450	395
Consumer | Other Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		1
Consumer | Consumer Health and Safety
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	152	139	465	431
Consumer | Home Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	278	268	829	796
Consumer | Home Improvement
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	699	644	1,988	1,711
Consumer | Stationery and Office
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	355	318	992	843
Consumer | Other Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	$ 41	$ 43	$ 106	$ 112