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

The number of additional limited partners of WG Trading Company, in addition to 3M, who objected and appealed the court's order to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_NumberOfAdditionalLimitedPartnersOfWGTradingCompanyInAdditionTo3MWhoObjectedAndAppealedCourtsOrderToUnitedStatesCourtOfAppealsForSecondCircuit
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The number of entities that were invested in by the U.S. pension and postretirement benefit plans that have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

No definition available.

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

This element represents the percentage of an investment in relation to the fair value of the U.S. pension and postretirement benefit plans' assets at the most recent measurement date.

No definition available.

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

Amount of contribution received by defined benefit plan from employer which increases plan assets.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)(5)(ii)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82843861&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82843861&loc=d3e2709-114920

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82843861&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)(5)(iv)(01)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82843861&loc=d3e1928-114920

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByEmployer
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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_DefinedBenefitPlanDisclosureLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount of contributions expected to be received by defined benefit plan from employer in fiscal year. Excludes contributions paid by employer in current fiscal year.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82843861&loc=d3e2709-114920

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

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

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=mmm_WgTradingCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=mmm_PandaTemplePowerLlcMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

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

Name:	us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeAxis=us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_RetirementPlanFundingStatusAxis=us-gaap_FundedPlanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

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