Name:	mmm_DefinedBenefitPlanSpecialTerminationBenefitsNumberOfAdditionalYearsOfAgeOfPensionServiceForCertainBenefitCalculations
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The number of additional years of pension service for enhanced pension benefits that are offered to and accepted by employees in connection with their termination of employment that are only offered for a short period of time.

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_DefinedBenefitPlanSpecialTerminationBenefitsNumberOfAdditionalYearsOfPensionService
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The number of participants who will receive special termination benefits that are offered to and accepted by employees in connection with their termination of employment that are only offered for a short period of time.

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_DefinedBenefitPlanSpecialTerminationBenefitsNumberOfParticipants
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Maximum amount of certain nonqualified unfunded pension and postretirement benefit plans obligations not included in benefit obligation reconciliation.

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_MaximumAmountOfCertainNonqualifiedUnfundedPensionAndPostretirementBenefitPlansObligationsNotIncludedInBenefitObligationReconciliation
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Amount, after tax and reclassification adjustment, of (increase) decrease in accumulated other comprehensive income for defined benefit pension plan.

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionBenefitPlanAdjustmentNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of (increase) decrease in accumulated benefit obligation of defined benefit plan from effects of settlement and curtailment.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (r)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123447040&loc=d3e1928-114920

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

Amount of cost of providing special or contractual termination benefits payable from defined benefit plan.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (q)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123447040&loc=d3e1928-114920

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

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

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

Name:	us-gaap_RetirementPlanFundingStatusAxis=us-gaap_UnfundedPlanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_RetirementPlanSponsorLocationAxis=us-gaap_ForeignPlanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_RetirementPlanFundingStatusAxis=us-gaap_FundedPlanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_RetirementPlanNameAxis=mmm_UnitedKingdomPensionPlanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis=us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeAxis=us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_RetirementPlanSponsorLocationAxis=country_US
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: