Revenue - Disaggregated Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	$ 7,863	$ 8,278
Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	21
Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(644)	(666)
Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	2,929	3,135
Industrial | Abrasives
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	433	473
Industrial | Adhesives and Tapes
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	807	842
Industrial | Advanced Materials
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	312	304
Industrial | Automotive and Aerospace
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	500	556
Industrial | Automotive Aftermarket
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	390	419
Industrial | Closure and Masking Systems
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	278	307
Industrial | Separation and Purification
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	214	235
Industrial | Other Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(5)	(1)
Safety and Graphics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,704	1,779
Safety and Graphics | Commercial Solutions
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	458	485
Safety and Graphics | Personal Safety
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	939	957
Safety and Graphics | Roofing Granules
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	92	101
Safety and Graphics | Transportation Safety
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	217	237
Safety and Graphics | Other Safety and Graphics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(2)	(1)
Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,540	1,535
Health Care | Drug Delivery
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	92	119
Health Care | Food Safety
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	83	81
Health Care | Health Information Systems
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	260	205
Health Care | Medical Solutions
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	764	777
Health Care | Oral Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	341	354
Health Care | Other Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		(1)
Electronics and Energy
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,190	1,350
Electronics and Energy | Electronics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	863	930
Electronics and Energy | Energy
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	330	420
Electronics and Energy | Other Electronics and Energy
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(3)
Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,123	1,145
Consumer | Consumer Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	98	102
Consumer | Home Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	258	269
Consumer | Home Improvement
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	462	458
Consumer | Stationery and Office
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	294	303
Consumer | Other Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	11	13
United States
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	3,046	3,044
United States | Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	19	(1)
United States | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(249)	(248)
United States | Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,082	1,100
United States | Safety and Graphics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	635	652
United States | Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	725	702
United States | Electronics and Energy
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	203	229
United States | Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	631	610
Asia Pacific
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	2,478	2,676
Asia Pacific | Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	2
Asia Pacific | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(227)	(248)
Asia Pacific | Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	823	937
Asia Pacific | Safety and Graphics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	469	493
Asia Pacific | Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	305	298
Asia Pacific | Electronics and Energy
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	840	910
Asia Pacific | Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	266	286
Europe, Middle East and Africa
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,624	1,792
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(113)	(113)
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	727	787
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Safety and Graphics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	408	436
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	378	394
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Electronics and Energy
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	94	145
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	130	143
Latin America and Canada
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	717	767
Latin America and Canada | Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	3
Latin America and Canada | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(55)	(57)
Latin America and Canada | Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	297	312
Latin America and Canada | Safety and Graphics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	191	198
Latin America and Canada | Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	132	141
Latin America and Canada | Electronics and Energy
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	53	67
Latin America and Canada | Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	96	106
Other Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(2)	(1)
Other Unallocated | Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(3)	1
Other Unallocated | Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		(1)
Other Unallocated | Safety and Graphics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	$ 1
Other Unallocated | Electronics and Energy
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		$ (1)