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Pension and Postretirement Benefit Plans (Narratives) (Details 1) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Benefit Plan Information    
Maximum amount of certain nonqualified unfunded pension and postretirement benefit plans obligations not included in benefit obligation reconciliation $ 30mmm_MaximumAmountOfCertainNonqualifiedUnfundedPensionAndPostretirementBenefitPlansObligationsNotIncludedInBenefitObligationReconciliation $ 30mmm_MaximumAmountOfCertainNonqualifiedUnfundedPensionAndPostretirementBenefitPlansObligationsNotIncludedInBenefitObligationReconciliation
Qualified and Non-qualified Pension Benefits    
Benefit Plan Information    
Company-sponsored retirement plans, minimum number of worldwide plans 80mmm_DefinedBenefitPlanNumberOfPlansWorldwideMinimum
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Company-sponsored retirement plans, number of countries 28mmm_NumberOfCountriesInWhichRetirementPlansSponsored
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
United States Qualified and Non-qualified Pension Benefits    
Benefit Plan Information    
Percentage of funding target for defined benefit pension plans, of the target liability by 2011 100.00%mmm_DefinedBenefitPensionPlansPercentageOfFundingTargetToTargetLiabilityBy2011
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPensionPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember
 
United States Qualified and Non-qualified Pension Benefits | Long/short equity    
Benefit Plan Information    
Reclassification of pension assets from Level 3 to Level 2   67mmm_ChangeInPensionAssetsDueToReclassification
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= mmm_LongShortEquityMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPensionPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember
United States Qualified and Non-qualified Pension Benefits | Absolute return    
Benefit Plan Information    
Reclassification of pension assets from Level 3 to Level 2   $ 100mmm_ChangeInPensionAssetsDueToReclassification
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= mmm_AbsoluteReturnMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPensionPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember
International Qualified and Non-qualified Pension Benefits    
Benefit Plan Information    
Company-sponsored retirement plans, minimum number of international plans 70mmm_DefinedBenefitPlanNumberOfPlansMinimum
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Company-sponsored retirement plans, number of countries 27mmm_NumberOfCountriesInWhichRetirementPlansSponsored
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember