Name:	mmm_NewAccountingPronouncementImpactToIncomeStatementItems
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Percent of stock-based compensation related to retiree-eligible population.

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardExpensePortionAttributableToRetireeEligiblePopulationPercent
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The age at which employees of the entity are eligible for retirement, which combined with reaching years of service triggers expense recognition of share based compensation expense, in years.

No definition available.

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

Shareholders approve the number of shares to be awarded under 3Ms Long Term Incentive Plan. Awards denominated in shares count against the approved share limit as a certain number of shares for every one share covered by such an award, which varies depending on the grant date of the award. This element covers the shares awarded with grant dates prior to May 11, 2010.

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsAndStockAppreciationRightsNumberOfSharesCountedAgainstShareLimitForEveryOneShareCovered1
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsAndStockAppreciationRightsNumberOfSharesCountedAgainstShareLimitForEveryOneShareCovered2
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Shareholders approve the number of shares to be awarded under 3Ms Long Term Incentive Plan. Awards denominated in shares count against the approved share limit as a certain number of shares for every one share covered by such award, which varies depending on the grant date of the award. This element covers shares awarded with grant dates on or after May 8, 2012 and prior to May 10, 2016.

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsAndStockAppreciationRightsNumberOfSharesCountedAgainstShareLimitForEveryOneShareCovered3
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Shareholders approve the number of shares to be awarded under 3Ms Long Term Incentive Plan. Awards denominated in shares count against the approved share limit as a certain number of shares for every one share covered by such award, which varies depending on the grant date of the award. This element covers shares awarded with grant dates of May 10, 2016, or later.

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsAndStockAppreciationRightsNumberOfSharesCountedAgainstShareLimitForEveryOneShareCovered4
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Estimated period over which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the equity-based payment award, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardRequisiteServicePeriod1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
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_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Number of additional shares authorized for issuance under an established share-based compensation plan.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfAdditionalSharesAuthorized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) originally approved (usually by shareholders and board of directors), net of any subsequent amendments and adjustments, for awards under the equity-based compensation plan. As stock or unit options and equity instruments other than options are awarded to participants, the shares or units remain authorized and become reserved for issuance under outstanding awards (not necessarily vested).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The difference between the maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) authorized for issuance under the plan (including the effects of amendments and adjustments), and the sum of: 1) the number of shares (or other type of equity) already issued upon exercise of options or other equity-based awards under the plan; and 2) shares (or other type of equity) reserved for issuance on granting of outstanding awards, net of cancellations and forfeitures, if applicable.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901