Business Segments (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Business Segment Information
Net sales	$ 7,387	$ 7,497	$ 7,534	$ 7,486	$ 7,089	$ 7,531	$ 7,680	$ 7,311	$ 29,904	$ 29,611	$ 26,662
Operating Income									6,483	6,178	5,918
Assets	33,876				31,616				33,876	31,616	30,156
Depreciation and Amortization									1,288	1,236	1,120
Capital Expenditures									1,484	1,379	1,091
Industrial and Transportation
Business Segment Information
Net sales									10,346	10,073	8,429
Operating Income									2,258	2,057	1,754
Assets	9,148				7,960				9,148	7,960	6,703
Depreciation and Amortization									353	362	326
Capital Expenditures									521	471	331
Health Care
Business Segment Information
Net sales									5,158	5,031	4,513
Operating Income									1,646	1,489	1,362
Assets	4,304				4,198				4,304	4,198	4,189
Depreciation and Amortization									169	199	131
Capital Expenditures									113	159	78
Consumer and Office
Business Segment Information
Net sales									4,316	4,153	3,853
Operating Income									930	840	840
Assets	2,421				2,400				2,421	2,400	2,149
Depreciation and Amortization									109	101	100
Capital Expenditures									103	97	69
Safety, Security and Protection Services
Business Segment Information
Net sales									3,802	3,821	3,316
Operating Income									847	814	709
Assets	3,966				3,954				3,966	3,954	3,996
Depreciation and Amortization									175	187	168
Capital Expenditures									121	118	130
Display and Graphics
Business Segment Information
Net sales									3,560	3,674	3,884
Operating Income									693	788	946
Assets	3,714				3,617				3,714	3,617	3,729
Depreciation and Amortization									190	192	187
Capital Expenditures									156	120	185
Electro and Communications
Business Segment Information
Net sales									3,228	3,306	3,043
Operating Income									691	712	670
Assets	2,398				2,308				2,398	2,308	2,245
Depreciation and Amortization									109	103	101
Capital Expenditures									159	154	110
Corporate and Unallocated
Business Segment Information
Net sales									5	11	10
Operating Income									(469)	(421)	(278)
Assets	7,925				7,179				7,925	7,179	7,145
Depreciation and Amortization									183	92	107
Capital Expenditures									311	260	188
Elimination of Dual Credit
Business Segment Information
Net sales									(511)	(458)	(386)
Operating Income									$ (113)	$ (101)	$ (85)