Business Segments (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Business Segment Information
Net sales	$ 7,089	$ 7,531	$ 7,680	$ 7,311	$ 6,709	$ 6,874	$ 6,731	$ 6,348	$ 29,611	$ 26,662	$ 23,123
Operating Income									6,178	5,918	4,814
Assets	31,616				30,156				31,616	30,156	27,250
Depreciation & Amortization									1,236	1,120	1,157
Capital Expenditures									1,379	1,091	903
Industrial and Transportation
Business Segment Information
Net sales									10,073	8,429	7,120
Operating Income									2,057	1,754	1,230
Assets	7,960				6,703				7,960	6,703	6,365
Depreciation & Amortization									362	326	328
Capital Expenditures									471	331	235
Health Care
Business Segment Information
Net sales									5,031	4,513	4,282
Operating Income									1,489	1,362	1,347
Assets	4,198				4,189				4,198	4,189	3,216
Depreciation & Amortization									199	131	143
Capital Expenditures									159	78	125
Display and Graphics
Business Segment Information
Net sales									3,674	3,884	3,132
Operating Income									788	946	590
Assets	3,617				3,729				3,617	3,729	3,564
Depreciation & Amortization									192	187	174
Capital Expenditures									120	185	160
Consumer and Office
Business Segment Information
Net sales									4,153	3,853	3,471
Operating Income									840	840	748
Assets	2,400				2,149				2,400	2,149	1,819
Depreciation & Amortization									101	100	88
Capital Expenditures									97	69	43
Safety, Security and Protection Services
Business Segment Information
Net sales									3,821	3,316	3,076
Operating Income									814	709	728
Assets	3,954				3,996				3,954	3,996	3,208
Depreciation & Amortization									187	168	169
Capital Expenditures									118	130	93
Electro and Communications
Business Segment Information
Net sales									3,306	3,043	2,387
Operating Income									712	670	351
Assets	2,308				2,245				2,308	2,245	2,143
Depreciation & Amortization									103	101	107
Capital Expenditures									154	110	60
Corporate and Unallocated
Business Segment Information
Net sales									11	10	13
Operating Income									(421)	(278)	(101)
Assets	7,179				7,145				7,179	7,145	6,935
Depreciation & Amortization									92	107	148
Capital Expenditures									260	188	187
Elimination of Dual Credit
Business Segment Information
Net sales									(458)	(386)	(358)
Operating Income									$ (101)	$ (85)	$ (79)