Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Goodwill balance by business segment) (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Goodwill
Balance at the beginning of the period	$ 10,513
Acquisition activity	(20)
Divestiture activity	(12)
Translation and other	89
Balance at the end of the period	10,570
Amount of Goodwill impairment	0
Industrial
Goodwill
Balance at the beginning of the period	2,678
Divestiture activity	(4)
Translation and other	38
Balance at the end of the period	2,712
Safety and Graphics
Goodwill
Balance at the beginning of the period	4,419
Acquisition activity	(20)
Divestiture activity	(8)
Translation and other	18
Balance at the end of the period	4,409
Health Care
Goodwill
Balance at the beginning of the period	1,682
Translation and other	17
Balance at the end of the period	1,699
Electronics and Energy
Goodwill
Balance at the beginning of the period	1,524
Translation and other	12
Balance at the end of the period	1,536
Consumer
Goodwill
Balance at the beginning of the period	210
Translation and other	4
Balance at the end of the period	$ 214