Derivatives (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Cash flow hedges
Maximum time over which 3M hedges exposure to variability in future cash flows for majority of forecasted foreign currency transactions (in months)	12 months
Dollar equivalent gross notional amount, foreign exchange forward and option contracts designated as cash flow hedges	$ 3,400,000,000
Length of time over which 3M hedges exposure to variability in future cash flows for forecasted natural gas transactions (in months)	12 months
Dollar equivalent gross notional amount, natural gas commodity price swaps designated as cash flow hedges	31,000,000
Derivatives gain (loss)
Pretax gain (loss) recognized in other comprehensive income on effective portion of derivative	(9,000,000)	(21,000,000)
Pretax gain (loss) recognized in income on effective portion of derivative as a result of reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income	(15,000,000)	109,000,000
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	(32,000,000)	(36,000,000)
The time period estimated for the anticipated transfer of gains (losses), net from accumulated other comprehensive income into earnings	12 months
Foreign currency forward/option contracts
Derivatives gain (loss)
Pretax gain (loss) recognized in other comprehensive income on effective portion of derivative	(30,000,000)	(58,000,000)
Pretax gain (loss) recognized in income on effective portion of derivative as a result of reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to cost of sales	(39,000,000)	96,000,000
Foreign currency forward contracts
Derivatives gain (loss)
Pretax gain (loss) recognized in other comprehensive income on effective portion of derivative	34,000,000	55,000,000
Pretax gain (loss) recognized in income on effective portion of derivative as a result of reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to interest expense	33,000,000	47,000,000
Commodity price swap contracts
Derivatives gain (loss)
Pretax gain (loss) recognized in other comprehensive income on effective portion of derivative	(13,000,000)	(18,000,000)
Pretax gain (loss) recognized in income on effective portion of derivative as a result of reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to cost of sales	$ (9,000,000)	$ (34,000,000)

The time period estimated for the anticipated transfer of gains (losses), net from accumulated other comprehensive income into earnings.

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Accumulated change, net of tax, in accumulated gains and losses from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges. Includes an entity's share of an equity investee's increase (decrease) in deferred hedging gains or losses.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 130
-Paragraph 26

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The amount of net gains (losses) on a cash flow hedge reclassified in the period to cost of sales from accumulated other comprehensive income.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 133
-Paragraph 45
-Subparagraph b
-Clause 1

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The amount of net gains (losses) on a cash flow hedge reclassified in the period to earnings from accumulated other comprehensive income.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 133
-Paragraph 45
-Subparagraph b(1)

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The amount of net gains (losses) on a cash flow hedge reclassified in the period to interest expense from accumulated other comprehensive income.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 133
-Paragraph 45
-Subparagraph b(1)

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Maximum length of time over which the entity is hedging its exposure to the variability in future cash flows for forecasted transactions, excluding those forecasted transactions related to the payment of variable interest on existing financial instruments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 133
-Paragraph 45
-Subparagraph b(3)

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 133
-Paragraph 45
-Subparagraph b(3)

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Aggregate notional amount of all foreign currency derivatives designated as hedging instruments in cash flow hedges. Notional amount refers to the number of currency units specified in the foreign currency derivative contract.

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Aggregate notional amount of all price risk derivatives designated as hedging instruments in cash flow hedges. Notional amount refers to the number of currency units specified in the price risk derivative contract. Excludes notional amount expressed in nonmonetary terms such as for a commodity forward contract.

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Amount of unrealized gain (loss) related to derivatives designated as cash flow hedging instruments, recorded in results of operations to the extent that the cash flow hedge is determined to be ineffective.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 133
-Paragraph 45
-Subparagraph b(1)

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