Revenue - Disaggregated Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	$ 8,278
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		$ 7,685
Abrasives
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	475
Abrasives | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		430
Adhesives and Tapes
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,153
Adhesives and Tapes | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		1,075
Advanced Materials
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	304
Advanced Materials | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		287
Automotive and Aerospace
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	559
Automotive and Aerospace | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		508
Automotive Aftermarket
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	418
Automotive Aftermarket | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		417
Separation and Purification
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	236
Separation and Purification | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		220
Other Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1
Other Industrial | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		1
Commercial Solutions
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	485
Commercial Solutions | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		443
Personal Safety
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	962
Personal Safety | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		707
Roofing Granules
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	101
Roofing Granules | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		97
Transportation Safety
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	236
Transportation Safety | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		303
Other Safety and Graphics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1
Drug Delivery
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	119
Drug Delivery | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		121
Food Safety
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	82
Food Safety | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		73
Health Information Systems
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	205
Health Information Systems | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		191
Medical Consumables
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	776
Medical Consumables | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		714
Oral Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	354
Oral Care | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		336
Electronics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	931
Electronics | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		878
Energy
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	420
Energy | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		413
Other Electronics and Energy
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1
Consumer Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	102
Consumer Health Care | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		102
Home Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	269
Home Care | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		261
Home Improvement
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	447
Home Improvement | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		408
Stationery and Office
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	299
Stationery and Office | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		292
Other Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	10
Other Consumer | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		10
Corporate and Unallocated | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		1
Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(662)
Elimination of Dual Credit | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		(601)
Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	3,144
Industrial | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		2,936
Safety and Graphics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,783
Safety and Graphics | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		1,550
Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,536
Health Care | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		1,435
Electronics and Energy
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,350
Electronics and Energy | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		1,291
Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,127
Consumer | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		1,073
United States
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	3,044
United States | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		2,941
United States | Corporate and Unallocated | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		1
United States | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(249)
United States | Elimination of Dual Credit | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		(231)
United States | Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,100
United States | Industrial | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		1,082
United States | Safety and Graphics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	652
United States | Safety and Graphics | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		581
United States | Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	702
United States | Health Care | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		690
United States | Electronics and Energy
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	229
United States | Electronics and Energy | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		231
United States | Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	610
United States | Consumer | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		587
Asia Pacific
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	2,676
Asia Pacific | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		2,433
Asia Pacific | Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(1)
Asia Pacific | Corporate and Unallocated | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		(1)
Asia Pacific | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(246)
Asia Pacific | Elimination of Dual Credit | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		(220)
Asia Pacific | Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	944
Asia Pacific | Industrial | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		853
Asia Pacific | Safety and Graphics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	497
Asia Pacific | Safety and Graphics | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		431
Asia Pacific | Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	299
Asia Pacific | Health Care | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		260
Asia Pacific | Electronics and Energy
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	911
Asia Pacific | Electronics and Energy | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		851
Asia Pacific | Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	272
Asia Pacific | Consumer | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		259
Europe, Middle East and Africa
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,792
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		1,577
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(109)
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Elimination of Dual Credit | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		(92)
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	785
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Industrial | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		696
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Safety and Graphics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	436
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Safety and Graphics | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		351
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	394
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Health Care | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		353
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Electronics and Energy
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	145
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Electronics and Energy | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		143
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	141
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Consumer | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		126
Latin America and Canada
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	767
Latin America and Canada | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		736
Latin America and Canada | Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(1)
Latin America and Canada | Corporate and Unallocated | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		1
Latin America and Canada | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(59)
Latin America and Canada | Elimination of Dual Credit | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		(58)
Latin America and Canada | Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	316
Latin America and Canada | Industrial | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		305
Latin America and Canada | Safety and Graphics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	198
Latin America and Canada | Safety and Graphics | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		188
Latin America and Canada | Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	141
Latin America and Canada | Health Care | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		133
Latin America and Canada | Electronics and Energy
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	66
Latin America and Canada | Electronics and Energy | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		65
Latin America and Canada | Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	106
Latin America and Canada | Consumer | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		102
Other Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1
Other Unallocated | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		2
Other Unallocated | Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	2
Other Unallocated | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1
Other Unallocated | Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1
Other Unallocated | Safety and Graphics | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		1
Other Unallocated | Health Care | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		1
Other Unallocated | Electronics and Energy
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1
Other Unallocated | Electronics and Energy | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		1
Other Unallocated | Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	$ 2
Other Unallocated | Consumer | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		$ 1