This element represents the Company match for all eligible compensation for defined contribution plans.

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Represents the employer matching contribution of the employee contributions for employees hired prior to January 1, 2009.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mmm_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerMatchHiredBefore2009
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

For a defined contribution postretirement plan, the percentage of eligible compensation which the entity will contribute for employees hired after January 1, 2009.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mmm_DefinedContributionPlanPostretirementPlanHiredAfter2009Percentage
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of the cost recognized during the period for defined contribution plans.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 70
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170846&loc=d3e28014-114942

+ Details

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

- Definition

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.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Percentage employer matches of the employee's percentage contribution matched.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerMatchingContributionPercentOfMatch
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	mmm_DefinedContributionPlanByGeographyAxis=mmm_DefinedContributionPlanUSMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	mmm_DefinedContributionPlanByGeographyAxis=mmm_DefinedContributionPlanForeignMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Pension and Postretirement Benefit Plans - Opening Paragraph Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Schedule Of Defined Contribution Plans Disclosures
Company match of eligible compensation of employee contributions into 401(k)	5.00%	6.00%
Company cash match of employee contributions for employees hired after January 1, 2009	100.00%
Company contribution to employer retirement income account for employees hired on or after January 1, 2009	3.00%
Maximum
Schedule Of Defined Contribution Plans Disclosures
Company cash match of employee contributions for employees hired prior to January 1, 2009	60.00%
Minimum
Schedule Of Defined Contribution Plans Disclosures
Company cash match of employee contributions for employees hired prior to January 1, 2009	45.00%
U.S. Defined Contribution Plan
Schedule Of Defined Contribution Plans Disclosures
Expenses related to defined contribution plans	$ 139	$ 165	$ 153
Foreign Defined Contribution Plan
Schedule Of Defined Contribution Plans Disclosures
Expenses related to defined contribution plans	$ 87	$ 77	$ 75