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

This element represents the increase or decrease in net sales related to the renewable energy product line segment changes.

No definition available.

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

This element represents the increase or decrease in net sales related to the dual credit reporting change that resulted from consolidating U.S. customer account activity.

No definition available.

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

This element represents the increase or decrease in operating income related to the renewable energy product line segment changes.

No definition available.

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

This element represents the number of divisions involved that combined to form a new division.

No definition available.

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

Number of segments reported by the entity. A reportable segment is a component of an entity for which there is an accounting requirement to report separate financial information on that component in the entity's financial statements.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
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_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Name:	us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis=us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=mmm_SafetyAndGraphicsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=mmm_ElectronicsAndEnergyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=mmm_BusinessSegmentsInAggregateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis=us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: