Name:	mmm_DefinedBenefitPlanSpecialTerminationBenefitsNumberOfAdditionalYearsOfAgeOfPensionServiceForCertainBenefitCalculations
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The number of additional years of pension service for enhanced pension benefits that are offered to and accepted by employees in connection with their termination of employment that are only offered for a short period of time.

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_DefinedBenefitPlanSpecialTerminationBenefitsNumberOfAdditionalYearsOfPensionService
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The number of participants who will receive special termination benefits that are offered to and accepted by employees in connection with their termination of employment that are only offered for a short period of time.

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_DefinedBenefitPlanSpecialTerminationBenefitsNumberOfParticipants
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The employer's best estimate, as soon as it can be reasonably determined, of estimated pension and postretirement contributions to be paid to the plan during the current fiscal year.

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_EstimatedEmployerPensionAndPostretirementContributionsInCurrentFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The percentage of WG Trading Company holdings in relation to total fair value of the company's total plan assets (maximum).

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_LimitedPartnershipInterestsWithWGTradingCompanyMaximum
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The number of additional limited partners of WG Trading Company, in addition to 3M, who objected and appealed the court's order to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_NumberOfAdditionalLimitedPartnersOfWGTradingCompanyInAdditionTo3MWhoObjectedAndAppealedCourtsOrderToUnitedStatesCourtOfAppealsForSecondCircuit
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

If applicable, the cost of providing special or contractual termination benefits recognized during the period on the projected benefit obligation.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (q)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=21915506&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 132R

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph q

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanCostOfProvidingSpecialOrContractualTerminationBenefitRecognizedDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanDisclosureLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The amount of cash or cash equivalents contributed by the entity to fund its pension plans.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 28

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 25

-Subparagraph (g)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3536-108585