Business Segments (Segment information) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Business Segment Information
Net sales	$ 7,719	$ 8,137	$ 8,134	$ 7,831	$ 7,569	$ 7,916	$ 7,752	$ 7,634	$ 31,821	$ 30,871	$ 29,904
Operating Income									7,135	6,666	6,483
Assets	31,269				33,550				31,269	33,550	33,876
Depreciation and amortization									1,408	1,371	1,288
Capital expenditures									1,493	1,665	1,484
Business Segments | Industrial
Business Segment Information
Net sales									10,990	10,657	10,008
Operating Income									2,389	2,307	2,244
Assets	8,508				8,833				8,508	8,833	8,614
Depreciation and amortization									383	373	324
Capital expenditures									395	511	416
Business Segments | Safety and Graphics
Business Segment Information
Net sales									5,732	5,584	5,406
Operating Income									1,296	1,227	1,210
Assets	4,939				5,122				4,939	5,122	5,085
Depreciation and amortization									234	255	237
Capital expenditures									221	207	189
Business Segments | Electronics and Energy
Business Segment Information
Net sales									5,604	5,393	5,458
Operating Income									1,115	954	1,026
Assets	5,116				5,336				5,116	5,336	5,512
Depreciation and amortization									271	260	266
Capital expenditures									232	261	350
Business Segments | Health Care
Business Segment Information
Net sales									5,572	5,334	5,138
Operating Income									1,724	1,672	1,641
Assets	4,344				4,329				4,344	4,329	4,296
Depreciation and amortization									181	171	169
Capital expenditures									169	120	113
Business Segments | Consumer
Business Segment Information
Net sales									4,523	4,435	4,386
Operating Income									995	945	943
Assets	2,434				2,516				2,434	2,516	2,445
Depreciation and amortization									108	106	110
Capital expenditures									111	128	105
Corporate and Unallocated
Business Segment Information
Net sales									4	8	4
Operating Income									(251)	(321)	(472)
Assets	5,928				7,414				5,928	7,414	7,924
Depreciation and amortization									231	206	182
Capital expenditures									365	438	311
Elimination of Dual Credit
Business Segment Information
Net sales									(604)	(540)	(496)
Operating Income									$ (133)	$ (118)	$ (109)