Name:	mmm_AmountOfPFOAInDrinkingWaterAllowedPerProvisionalHealthAdvisories
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The amount of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in drinking water allowed per the guidance of the provisional health advisories issued by the EPA in 2009 under the Safe Drinking Water Act (presented in grams per liter).

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_AmountOfPFOSInDrinkingWaterAllowedPerProvisionalHealthAdvisories
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The number of years the Company expects it will pay the amounts recorded over the periods of remediation for the applicable sites.

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValueRemediationPaymentsYears
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The number of claims settled and taken to trial.

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_LossContingencyClaimsSettledAndTakenToTrialTotalNumber
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The number of claims settled and tried to verdict.

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_LossContingencyClaimsSettledAndTriedToVerdictTotalNumber
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The number of claims tried to verdict.

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_LossContingencyClaimsTriedToVerdictNumber
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The number of former disposal sites with a presence of PFCs in the soil and groundwater.

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_LossContingencyFormerDisposalSitesWithPFCNumber
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The number of years the entity incorporated wastewater treatment plant sludge containing PFCs pursuant to a permit issued by ADEM.

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_LossContingencyWastewaterTreatmentPlantSludgeContainingPFCNumberOfYearsPursuantToPermit
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The number of PFCs the EPA has required to have public water system suppliers monitor.

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_NumberOfPFCsEPARequiredToHavePublicWaterSystemSuppliersMonitor
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The wastewater treatment plants from which PFC-containing sludge and biosolids may allegedly be discharged by Metropolitan Council, low end of range.

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_NumberOfWastewaterTreatmentPlantsFromWhichPfcContainingSludgeAndBiosolidsMayBeAllegedlyDischargedByMetropolitanCouncilMinimum
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The number of water works that the water authority supplies water (collectively, the "Water Utilities").

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_NumberOfWaterWorksToWhichWaterAuthoritySuppliesWater
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Number of years after phase-out decision in May 2000 that the Company stopped manufacturing and using vast majority of perfluorooctanyl compounds.

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_NumberOfYearsAfterPhaseOutDecisionInMay2000ThatCompanyStoppedManufacturingPlusUsingVastMajorityOfPerfluorooctanylCompounds
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The amount of issues outstanding related to Aearo litigation.

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_OutstandingIssues
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The quarterly fee paid to a co-defendant to retain responsibility, and liability for and indemnify the entity's subsidiary against product liability claims for respirators manufactured prior to July 11, 1995.

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_QuarterlyFeePaidToCoDefendantForRetentionOfLiability
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Amount due in settlement of a claim for reimbursement from an insurance company when the Company has suffered a loss covered under an insurance policy.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_InsuranceSettlementsReceivable
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in asbestos and environmental claims reserve, before estimated recoveries from reinsurers.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 40

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (b),(c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6482485&loc=d3e14764-158437

Name:	us-gaap_LiabilityForAsbestosAndEnvironmentalClaimsGrossPeriodIncreaseDecrease
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount of loss contingency liability.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of payments made reducing loss contingency liability.

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValuePayments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Number of defendants named in a legal action.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyNumberOfDefendants
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Number of plaintiffs that have filed claims pertaining to a loss contingency.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyNumberOfPlaintiffs
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Number of pending claims pertaining to a loss contingency.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14435-108349

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyPendingClaimsNumber
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=mmm_RespiratorMaskAsbestosLitigationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=mmm_RespiratorMaskAsbestosLitigationWestVirginiaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=mmm_RespiratorMaskAsbestosLitigationExcludingAearoMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=mmm_RespiratorMaskAsbestosLitigationAearoMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=mmm_EnvironmentalRemediationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=mmm_EnvironmentalMattersRegulatoryActivitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=stpr_AL
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=mmm_EnvironmentalMattersLitigationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=mmm_MorganCountyAlabamaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=mmm_MetropolitanCouncilMinnesotaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=mmm_EnvironmentalMattersOtherEnvironmentalLitigationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: