Business Segments - Segment information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Business Segment Information
Net sales	$ 7,329	$ 7,709	$ 7,662	$ 7,409	$ 7,298	$ 7,712	$ 7,686	$ 7,578	$ 30,109	$ 30,274	$ 31,821
Operating Income									7,223	6,946	7,135
Assets	32,906				32,883				32,906	32,883	31,374
Depreciation and amortization									1,474	1,435	1,408
Capital expenditures									1,420	1,461	1,493
Business Segments | Industrial
Business Segment Information
Net sales									10,313	10,295	10,985
Operating Income									2,376	2,256	2,381
Assets	9,158				9,230				9,158	9,230	8,536
Depreciation and amortization									407	374	383
Capital expenditures									360	317	395
Business Segments | Safety and Graphics
Business Segment Information
Net sales									5,660	5,515	5,732
Operating Income									1,390	1,305	1,296
Assets	7,479				7,564				7,479	7,564	4,939
Depreciation and amortization									264	245	234
Capital expenditures									215	199	221
Business Segments | Health Care
Business Segment Information
Net sales									5,527	5,420	5,572
Operating Income									1,754	1,724	1,724
Assets	4,303				4,403				4,303	4,403	4,344
Depreciation and amortization									175	179	181
Capital expenditures									136	168	169
Business Segments | Electronics and Energy
Business Segment Information
Net sales									4,826	5,253	5,608
Operating Income									1,075	1,109	1,122
Assets	4,556				4,788				4,556	4,788	5,088
Depreciation and amortization									241	291	271
Capital expenditures									210	211	232
Business Segments | Consumer
Business Segment Information
Net sales									4,482	4,422	4,523
Operating Income									1,064	1,046	995
Assets	2,504				2,393				2,504	2,393	2,434
Depreciation and amortization									114	108	108
Capital expenditures									109	124	111
Corporate and Unallocated
Business Segment Information
Net sales									9	1	5
Operating Income									(280)	(355)	(250)
Assets	$ 4,906				$ 4,505				4,906	4,505	6,033
Depreciation and amortization									273	238	231
Capital expenditures									390	442	365
Elimination of Dual Credit
Business Segment Information
Net sales									(708)	(632)	(604)
Operating Income									$ (156)	$ (139)	$ (133)