Revenue - Disaggregated Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	$ 8,171	$ 8,390	$ 16,034	$ 16,668
Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	48	12	70	12
Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(424)	(441)	(858)	(903)
Safety and Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	2,961	3,253	5,947	6,521
Safety and Industrial | Abrasives
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	365	400	734	809
Safety and Industrial | Adhesives and Tapes
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	685	726	1,379	1,457
Safety and Industrial | Automotive Aftermarket
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	309	355	619	704
Safety and Industrial | Closure and Masking Systems
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	275	313	553	620
Safety and Industrial | Communication Markets
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		67		161
Safety and Industrial | Electrical Markets
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	302	325	613	634
Safety and Industrial | Personal Safety
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	917	936	1,843	1,881
Safety and Industrial | Roofing Granules
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	100	99	192	200
Safety and Industrial | Other Safety and Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	8	32	14	55
Transportation and Electronics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	2,452	2,527	4,809	5,046
Transportation and Electronics | Advanced Materials
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	331	316	642	619
Transportation and Electronics | Automotive and Aerospace
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	487	530	1,001	1,101
Transportation and Electronics | Commercial Solutions
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	469	498	924	979
Transportation and Electronics | Electronics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	897	923	1,758	1,850
Transportation and Electronics | Transportation Safety
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	266	260	484	498
Transportation and Electronics | Other Transportation And Electrionics [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	2			(1)
Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,831	1,730	3,569	3,475
Health Care | Drug Delivery
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	110	119	202	238
Health Care | Food Safety
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	85	83	168	164
Health Care | Health Information Systems
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	297	205	557	410
Health Care | Medical Solutions
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	793	768	1,557	1,541
Health Care | Oral Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	338	342	679	696
Health Care | Separation and Purification Sciences
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	208	214	411	428
Health Care | Other Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		(1)	(5)	(2)
Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,303	1,309	2,497	2,517
Consumer | Consumer Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	102	101	200	203
Consumer | Home Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	248	255	505	524
Consumer | Home Improvement
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	592	593	1,127	1,115
Consumer | Stationery and Office
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	351	352	645	655
Consumer | Other Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	10	8	20	20
United States
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	3,404	3,348	6,450	6,392
United States | Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	47	7	66	7
United States | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(160)	(160)	(312)	(307)
United States | Safety and Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,195	1,302	2,345	2,518
United States | Transportation and Electronics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	641	642	1,202	1,211
United States | Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	869	760	1,650	1,508
United States | Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	812	797	1,499	1,455
Asia Pacific
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	2,415	2,504	4,893	5,180
Asia Pacific | Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(2)	(1)
Asia Pacific | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(186)	(191)	(384)	(414)
Asia Pacific | Safety and Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	709	770	1,477	1,609
Asia Pacific | Transportation and Electronics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,269	1,303	2,527	2,687
Asia Pacific | Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	383	372	761	757
Asia Pacific | Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	242	251	512	541
Europe, Middle East and Africa
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,593	1,758	3,217	3,550
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(1)
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(51)	(61)	(109)	(126)
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Safety and Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	689	798	1,409	1,631
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Transportation and Electronics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	389	424	775	840
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	427	445	865	904
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	140	152	277	301
Latin America and Canada
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	759	781	1,476	1,548
Latin America and Canada | Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	3	3	5	3
Latin America and Canada | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(28)	(28)	(54)	(56)
Latin America and Canada | Safety and Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	369	384	717	765
Latin America and Canada | Transportation and Electronics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	154	158	306	309
Latin America and Canada | Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	152	154	293	307
Latin America and Canada | Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	109	110	209	220
Other Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		(1)	(2)	(2)
Other Unallocated | Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1	3	(1)	2
Other Unallocated | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1	(1)	1
Other Unallocated | Safety and Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(1)	(1)	(1)	(2)
Other Unallocated | Transportation and Electronics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	$ (1)		$ (1)	(1)
Other Unallocated | Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		(1)		$ (1)
Other Unallocated | Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		$ (1)