Supplemental Equity and Comprehensive Income Information (Details 3) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Components of Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to 3M
Net income attributable to 3M	$ 1,125	$ 1,081
Cumulative translation	155	221
Tax effect		27
Cumulative translation - net of tax	155	248
Defined benefit pension and postretirement plans adjustment	153	119
Tax effect	(56)	(43)
Defined benefit pension and postretirement plans adjustment - net of tax	97	76
Debt and equity securities, unrealized gain (loss)	5	(2)
Tax effect	(2)	1
Debt and equity securities, unrealized gain (loss) - net of tax	3	(1)
Cash flow hedging instruments, unrealized gain (loss)	(24)	(27)
Tax effect	9	10
Cash flow hedging instruments, unrealized gain (loss) - net of tax	(15)	(17)
Total Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to 3M	1,365	1,387
Reclassification to earnings from accumulated other comprehensive income including noncontrolling interest that related to pension and postretirement expense in the income statement, before tax	153	119
Reclassification to earnings from accumulated other comprehensive income including noncontrolling interest that related to pension and postretirement expense in the income statement, after tax	97	76
Reclassification to earnings from accumulated other comprehensive income to loss on debt and equity securities in the income statement, before tax	1
Reclassification to earnings from accumulated other comprehensive income to loss on debt and equity securities in the income statement, after tax	$ 1