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Business Segments (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended 3 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Segment
Dec. 31, 2013
Jun. 30, 2014
Divisions
Business Segment Information      
Number of operating business segments 5us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments    
Business Segments | Industrial      
Business Segment Information      
Increase (decrease) in net sales due to product transfers   $ 73mmm_IncreaseDecreaseInNetSalesDueToProductChangesBetweenBusinessSegments
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mmm_IndustrialMember		  
Business Segments | Safety and Graphics      
Business Segment Information      
Increase (decrease) in net sales due to product transfers   $ (73)mmm_IncreaseDecreaseInNetSalesDueToProductChangesBetweenBusinessSegments
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mmm_SafetyAndGraphicsMember		  
Business Segments | Electronics and Energy      
Business Segment Information      
Number of existing divisions affected by division combination     3mmm_NumberOfDivisionsPriorToDivisionCombination
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mmm_ElectronicsAndEnergyMember
Number of affected divisions that exist after the division combination     2mmm_NumberOfDivisionsAfterDivisionCombination
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mmm_ElectronicsAndEnergyMember