Revenue - Disaggregated Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	$ 7,945.0	$ 8,152.0	$ 8,390.0	$ 8,278.0	$ 7,990.0	$ 8,172.0	$ 7,810.0	$ 7,685.0	$ 32,765.0	$ 31,657.0	$ 30,109.0
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										31,657.0	30,109.0
Abrasives
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									1,804.0
Abrasives | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										1,746.0	1,626.0
Adhesives and Tapes
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									4,607.0
Adhesives and Tapes | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										4,468.0	4,239.0
Advanced Materials
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									1,239.0
Advanced Materials | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										1,124.0	1,039.0
Automotive and Aerospace
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									2,063.0
Automotive and Aerospace | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										1,994.0	1,871.0
Automotive Aftermarket
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									1,642.0
Automotive Aftermarket | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										1,645.0	1,590.0
Separation and Purification
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									913.0
Separation and Purification | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										886.0	859.0
Other Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									(1.0)
Other Industrial | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										3.0	(7.0)
Commercial Solutions
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									1,842.0
Commercial Solutions | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										1,759.0	1,751.0
Personal Safety
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									3,681.0
Personal Safety | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										3,012.0	2,597.0
Roofing Granules
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									353.0
Roofing Granules | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										372.0	344.0
Transportation Safety
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									950.0
Transportation Safety | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										1,091.0	1,259.0
Other Safety and Graphics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									1.0
Other Safety and Graphics | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										1.0	(3.0)
Drug Delivery
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									444.0
Drug Delivery | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										486.0	451.0
Food Safety
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									332.0
Food Safety | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										306.0	280.0
Health Information Systems
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									837.0
Health Information Systems | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										791.0	780.0
Medical Solutions
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									3,049.0
Medical Solutions | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										2,947.0	2,824.0
Oral Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									1,353.0
Oral Care | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										1,322.0	1,274.0
Other Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									6.0
Other Health Care | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										1.0	(3.0)
Electronics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									3,974.0
Electronics | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										3,850.0	3,304.0
Energy
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									1,487.0
Energy | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										1,645.0	1,616.0
Other Electronics and Energy
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									11.0
Other Electronics and Energy | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										6.0	6.0
Consumer Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									389.0
Consumer Health Care | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										421.0	382.0
Home Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									1,012.0
Home Care | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										1,028.0	1,000.0
Home Improvement
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									1,961.0
Home Improvement | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										1,858.0	1,723.0
Stationery and Office
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									1,383.0
Stationery and Office | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										1,377.0	1,435.0
Other Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									51.0
Other Consumer | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										47.0	38.0
Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									50.0
Corporate and Unallocated | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										3.0	6.0
Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									(2,668.0)
Elimination of Dual Credit | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										(2,532.0)	(2,172.0)
Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									12,267.0
Industrial | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										11,866.0	11,217.0
Safety And Graphics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									6,827.0
Safety And Graphics | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										6,235.0	5,948.0
Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									6,021.0
Health Care | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										5,853.0	5,606.0
Electronics And Energy
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									5,472.0
Electronics And Energy | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										5,501.0	4,926.0
Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									4,796.0
Consumer | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										4,731.0	4,578.0
United States
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									12,840.0
United States | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										12,372.0	12,188.0
United States | Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									47.0
United States | Corporate and Unallocated | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										6.0	6.0
United States | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									(1,042.0)
United States | Elimination of Dual Credit | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										(974.0)	(878.0)
United States | Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									4,538.0
United States | Industrial | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										4,382.0	4,251.0
United States | Safety And Graphics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									2,699.0
United States | Safety And Graphics | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										2,427.0	2,397.0
United States | Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									2,830.0
United States | Health Care | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										2,835.0	2,733.0
United States | Electronics And Energy
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									900.0
United States | Electronics And Energy | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										929.0	918.0
United States | Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									2,868.0
United States | Consumer | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										2,767.0	2,761.0
Asia Pacific
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									10,254.0
Asia Pacific | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										9,809.0	8,847.0
Asia Pacific | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									(963.0)
Asia Pacific | Elimination of Dual Credit | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										(929.0)	(736.0)
Asia Pacific | Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									3,554.0
Asia Pacific | Industrial | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										3,405.0	3,133.0
Asia Pacific | Safety And Graphics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									1,688.0
Asia Pacific | Safety And Graphics | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										1,578.0	1,434.0
Asia Pacific | Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									1,148.0
Asia Pacific | Health Care | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										1,041.0	959.0
Asia Pacific | Electronics And Energy
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									3,866.0
Asia Pacific | Electronics And Energy | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										3,731.0	3,183.0
Asia Pacific | Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									961.0
Asia Pacific | Consumer | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										983.0	874.0
Europe, Middle East and Africa
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									6,654.0
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										6,456.0	6,163.0
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Corporate and Unallocated | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										1.0	1.0
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									(428.0)
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Elimination of Dual Credit | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										(386.0)	(348.0)
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									2,939.0
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Industrial | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										2,822.0	2,649.0
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Safety And Graphics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									1,658.0
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Safety And Graphics | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										1,468.0	1,355.0
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									1,488.0
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Health Care | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										1,433.0	1,412.0
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Electronics And Energy
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									462.0
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Electronics And Energy | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										571.0	559.0
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									535.0
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Consumer | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										547.0	535.0
Latin America and Canada
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									3,024.0
Latin America and Canada | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										3,033.0	2,901.0
Latin America and Canada | Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									3.0
Latin America and Canada | Corporate and Unallocated | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										(5.0)	(1.0)
Latin America and Canada | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									(234.0)
Latin America and Canada | Elimination of Dual Credit | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										(243.0)	(210.0)
Latin America and Canada | Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									1,238.0
Latin America and Canada | Industrial | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										1,261.0	1,181.0
Latin America and Canada | Safety And Graphics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									784.0
Latin America and Canada | Safety And Graphics | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										765.0	760.0
Latin America and Canada | Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									556.0
Latin America and Canada | Health Care | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										546.0	500.0
Latin America and Canada | Electronics And Energy
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									245.0
Latin America and Canada | Electronics And Energy | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										273.0	264.0
Latin America and Canada | Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									432.0
Latin America and Canada | Consumer | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										436.0	407.0
Other Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									(7.0)
Other Unallocated | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										(13.0)	10.0
Other Unallocated | Corporate and Unallocated | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										1.0
Other Unallocated | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									(1.0)
Other Unallocated | Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									(2.0)
Other Unallocated | Industrial | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										(4.0)	3.0
Other Unallocated | Safety And Graphics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									(2.0)
Other Unallocated | Safety And Graphics | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										(3.0)	2.0
Other Unallocated | Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									(1.0)
Other Unallocated | Health Care | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										(2.0)	2.0
Other Unallocated | Electronics And Energy
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									(1.0)
Other Unallocated | Electronics And Energy | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										(3.0)	2.0
Other Unallocated | Consumer | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										(2.0)	1.0
China/Hong Kong
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									$ 3,574.0	$ 3,255.0	$ 2,799.0