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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 cQtyoi4IS/l7icaDIq08hw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-10-013997.txt : 20100513
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-10-013997.hdr.sgml : 20100513
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100513132315
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-10-013997
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100511
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100513
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100513

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			3M CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000066740
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SURGICAL & MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS & APPARATUS [3841]
		IRS NUMBER:				410417775
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3M CENTER
		STREET 2:		BLDG. 220-11W-02
		CITY:			ST PAUL
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55144-1000
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6517332204

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3M CENTER
		STREET 2:		BLDG. 220-11W-02
		CITY:			ST. PAUL
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55144-1000

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MINNESOTA MINING & MANUFACTURING CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ALVARADO LINDA G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001122788

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03285
		FILM NUMBER:		10827572

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2140 LAKE PARK BOULEVARD
		CITY:			RICHARDSON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75080-2254
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-05-11</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000066740</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>3M CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MMM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001122788</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ALVARADO LINDA G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1266 SANTA FE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DENVER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80204</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-05-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1148</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>83.57</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10477</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-05-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>287</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>83.57</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8936</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Corporation</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes shares acquired pursuant to 3M's Dividend Reinvestment Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This non-employee director has elected to defer all or a portion of compensation otherwise payable in cash or stock to a common stock equivalents account under the terms of 3M's Compensation Plan for Non-employee Directors and has no voting or investment powers with respect to such account.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes deferred dividend reinvestment shares acquired pursuant to 3M's Compensation Plan for Non-employee Directors.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>George Ann Biros, attorney-in-fact for Linda G. Alvarado</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-05-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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