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Significant Accounting Policies (Details 2) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Cash and cash equivalents      
Cash and cash equivalents classification when acquired, maximum maturity period 3 months    
Marketable securities      
Marketable securities classification, minimum holding period for classification as non-current 1 year    
Finite Lived Intangible Assets      
Asset retirement obligation liability $ 96us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation $ 90us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation  
Advertising and merchandising expense 407us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense 423us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense 482us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense
Research, development and related expenses 1,770mmm_ResearchDevelopmentAndRelatedExpenses 1,715mmm_ResearchDevelopmentAndRelatedExpenses 1,634mmm_ResearchDevelopmentAndRelatedExpenses
Research and development expense 1,193us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense 1,150us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense 1,079us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense
Deferred tax assets valuation allowance $ 22us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance $ 23us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance  
Maximum      
Finite Lived Intangible Assets      
Intangible assets useful life 20 years    
Maximum | Customer related intangible assets      
Finite Lived Intangible Assets      
Intangible assets useful life 10 years    
Maximum | Patents      
Finite Lived Intangible Assets      
Intangible assets useful life 10 years    
Maximum | Other technology-based intangible assets      
Finite Lived Intangible Assets      
Intangible assets useful life 12 years    
Maximum | Definite-lived tradenames      
Finite Lived Intangible Assets      
Intangible assets useful life 20 years    
Maximum | Other amortizable intangible assets      
Finite Lived Intangible Assets      
Intangible assets useful life 10 years    
Minimum      
Finite Lived Intangible Assets      
Intangible assets useful life 1 year    
Minimum | Customer related intangible assets      
Finite Lived Intangible Assets      
Intangible assets useful life 2 years    
Minimum | Patents      
Finite Lived Intangible Assets      
Intangible assets useful life 5 years    
Minimum | Other technology-based intangible assets      
Finite Lived Intangible Assets      
Intangible assets useful life 5 years    
Minimum | Definite-lived tradenames      
Finite Lived Intangible Assets      
Intangible assets useful life 2 years    
Minimum | Other amortizable intangible assets      
Finite Lived Intangible Assets      
Intangible assets useful life 2 years    
Buildings and improvements | Maximum      
Property, plant and equipment - at cost      
Estimated useful life 40 years    
Estimated useful life, majority of the assets 40 years    
Buildings and improvements | Minimum      
Property, plant and equipment - at cost      
Estimated useful life 10 years    
Estimated useful life, majority of the assets 20 years    
Machinery and equipment | Maximum      
Property, plant and equipment - at cost      
Estimated useful life 15 years    
Estimated useful life, majority of the assets 10 years    
Machinery and equipment | Minimum      
Property, plant and equipment - at cost      
Estimated useful life 3 years    
Estimated useful life, majority of the assets 5 years    
Internal use software | Maximum      
Property, plant and equipment - at cost      
Estimated useful life 7 years    
Internal use software | Minimum      
Property, plant and equipment - at cost      
Estimated useful life 3 years