Supplemental Equity and Comprehensive Income Information (Details 6) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Selling, general and administrative expenses	$ 1,589	$ 1,552
Total before tax	(143)	289
Tax effect	470	462
Net of tax	878	1,365
Reclassifications out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Attributable to 3M
Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Net of tax	(154)	(101)
Defined Benefit Pension and Postretirement Plans Adjustment
Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Total before tax	143	153
Defined Benefit Pension and Postretirement Plans Adjustment | Reclassifications out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Attributable to 3M
Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Transition asset	1	1
Prior service benefit	20	20
Net actuarial loss	(164)	(174)
Total before tax	(143)	(153)
Tax effect	58	56
Net of tax	(85)	(97)
Debt and Equity Securities, Unrealized Gain (Loss)
Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Total before tax	0	5
Debt and Equity Securities, Unrealized Gain (Loss) | Reclassifications out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Attributable to 3M
Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Selling, general and administrative expenses	0	(1)
Total before tax	0	(1)
Tax effect	0	0
Net of tax	0	(1)
Cash Flow Hedging Instruments Unrealized Gain (Loss)
Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Total before tax	38	(24)
Cash Flow Hedging Instruments Unrealized Gain (Loss) | Reclassifications out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Attributable to 3M
Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Total before tax	(108)	(4)
Tax effect	39	1
Net of tax	(69)	(3)
Cash Flow Hedging Instruments Unrealized Gain (Loss) | Foreign currency forward/option contracts | Reclassifications out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Attributable to 3M
Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Cost of sales	(6)	0
Cash Flow Hedging Instruments Unrealized Gain (Loss) | Foreign currency forward contracts | Reclassifications out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Attributable to 3M
Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Interest expense	(101)	0
Cash Flow Hedging Instruments Unrealized Gain (Loss) | Commodity price swap contracts | Reclassifications out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Attributable to 3M
Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Cost of sales	$ (1)	$ (4)