Revenue - Disaggregated Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	$ 8,390		$ 16,668
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		$ 7,810		$ 15,495
Abrasives
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	473		948
Abrasives | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		437		867
Adhesives and Tapes
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,165		2,318
Adhesives and Tapes | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		1,096		2,171
Advanced Materials
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	317		621
Advanced Materials | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		287		574
Automotive and Aerospace
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	519		1,078
Automotive and Aerospace | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		489		997
Automotive Aftermarket
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	438		856
Automotive Aftermarket | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		418		835
Separation and Purification
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	238		474
Separation and Purification | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		219		439
Other Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	2		3
Other Industrial | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales				1
Commercial Solutions
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	502		987
Commercial Solutions | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		457		900
Personal Safety
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	957		1,919
Personal Safety | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		721		1,428
Roofing Granules
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	99		200
Roofing Granules | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		96		193
Transportation Safety
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	257		493
Transportation Safety | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		295		598
Other Safety and Graphics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales			1
Drug Delivery
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	119		238
Drug Delivery | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		120		241
Food Safety
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	84		166
Food Safety | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		76		149
Health Information Systems
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	205		410
Health Information Systems | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		195		386
Medical Solutions
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	772		1,548
Medical Solutions | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		729		1,443
Oral Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	342		696
Oral Care | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		330		666
Other Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	2		2
Other Health Care | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		1		1
Electronics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	925		1,856
Electronics | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		883		1,761
Energy
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	411		831
Energy | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		404		817
Other Electronics and Energy
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1
Other Electronics and Energy | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		3		3
Consumer Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	100		202
Consumer Health Care | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		104		206
Home Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	255		524
Home Care | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		253		514
Home Improvement
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	507		954
Home Improvement | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		460		868
Stationery and Office
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	351		650
Stationery and Office | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		340		632
Other Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	10		20
Other Consumer | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		12		22
Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	12		12
Corporate and Unallocated | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		2		3
Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(665)		(1,327)
Elimination of Dual Credit | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		(615)		(1,216)
Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	3,148		6,292
Industrial | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		2,946		5,882
Safety and Graphics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,815		3,598
Safety and Graphics | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		1,569		3,119
Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,520		3,056
Health Care | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		1,449		2,884
Electronics and Energy
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,337		2,687
Electronics and Energy | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		1,290		2,581
Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,223		2,350
Consumer | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		1,169		2,242
United States
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	3,348		6,392
United States | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		3,127		6,068
United States | Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	8		8
United States | Corporate and Unallocated | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		2		3
United States | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(278)		(527)
United States | Elimination of Dual Credit | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		(252)		(483)
United States | Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,182		2,282
United States | Industrial | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		1,114		2,196
United States | Safety and Graphics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	747		1,399
United States | Safety and Graphics | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		639		1,220
United States | Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	703		1,405
United States | Health Care | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		697		1,387
United States | Electronics and Energy
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	244		473
United States | Electronics and Energy | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		233		464
United States | Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	742		1,352
United States | Consumer | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		694		1,281
Asia Pacific
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	2,504		5,180
Asia Pacific | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		2,322		4,755
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		2		1
Asia Pacific | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(213)		(459)
Asia Pacific | Elimination of Dual Credit | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		(207)		(427)
Asia Pacific | Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	870		1,814
Asia Pacific | Industrial | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		810		1,663
Asia Pacific | Safety and Graphics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	419		916
Asia Pacific | Safety and Graphics | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		370		801
Asia Pacific | Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	292		591
Asia Pacific | Health Care | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		261		521
Asia Pacific | Electronics and Energy
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	899		1,810
Asia Pacific | Electronics and Energy | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		855		1,706
Asia Pacific | Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	236		508
Asia Pacific | Consumer | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		231		490
Europe, Middle East and Africa
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,758		3,550
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		1,605		3,182
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1		1
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(113)		(222)
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Elimination of Dual Credit | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		(96)		(188)
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	777		1,562
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Industrial | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		709		1,405
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Safety and Graphics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	443		879
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Safety and Graphics | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		364		715
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	381		775
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Health Care | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		353		706
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Electronics and Energy
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	131		276
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Electronics and Energy | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		136		279
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	138		279
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Consumer | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		139		265
Latin America and Canada
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	781		1,548
Latin America and Canada | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		757		1,493
Latin America and Canada | Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	4		3
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	(60)		(119)
Latin America and Canada | Elimination of Dual Credit | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		(60)		(118)
Latin America and Canada | Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	318		634
Latin America and Canada | Industrial | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		314		619
Latin America and Canada | Safety and Graphics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	206		404
Latin America and Canada | Safety and Graphics | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		195		383
Latin America and Canada | Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	145		286
Latin America and Canada | Health Care | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		137		270
Latin America and Canada | Electronics and Energy
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	63		129
Latin America and Canada | Electronics and Energy | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		67		132
Latin America and Canada | Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	105		211
Latin America and Canada | Consumer | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		105		207
Other Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1		2
Other Unallocated | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		1		3
Other Unallocated | Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	2
Other Unallocated | Corporate and Unallocated | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		1		1
Other Unallocated | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1
Other Unallocated | Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1
Other Unallocated | Industrial | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		1		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
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1		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