Revenue - Disaggregated Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	$ 7,991	$ 8,152	$ 24,025	$ 24,820
Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	28	35	98	47
Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(434)	(468)	(1,292)	(1,371)
Safety and Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	2,849	3,021	8,796	9,542
Safety and Industrial | Abrasives
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	345	362	1,079	1,171
Safety and Industrial | Adhesives and Tapes
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	696	734	2,075	2,191
Safety and Industrial | Automotive Aftermarket
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	310	334	929	1,038
Safety and Industrial | Closure and Masking Systems
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	282	300	835	920
Safety and Industrial | Communication Markets
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		8		169
Safety and Industrial | Electrical Markets
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	298	315	911	949
Safety and Industrial | Personal Safety
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	813	864	2,656	2,745
Safety and Industrial | Roofing Granules
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	101	83	293	283
Safety and Industrial | Other Safety and Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	4	21	18	76
Transportation and Electronics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	2,503	2,619	7,312	7,665
Transportation and Electronics | Advanced Materials
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	319	313	961	932
Transportation and Electronics | Automotive and Aerospace
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	485	509	1,486	1,610
Transportation and Electronics | Commercial Solutions
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	437	436	1,361	1,415
Transportation and Electronics | Electronics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,001	1,101	2,759	2,951
Transportation and Electronics | Transportation Safety
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	261	260	745	758
Transportation and Electronics | Other Transportation and Electronics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales				(1)
Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,721	1,643	5,290	5,118
Health Care | Drug Delivery
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	99	102	301	340
Health Care | Food Safety
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	86	82	254	246
Health Care | Health Information Systems
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	296	208	853	618
Health Care | Medical Solutions
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	737	732	2,294	2,273
Health Care | Oral Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	312	317	991	1,013
Health Care | Separation and Purification Sciences
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	191	203	602	631
Health Care | Other Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		(1)	(5)	(3)
Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,324	1,302	3,821	3,819
Consumer | Consumer Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	97	97	297	300
Consumer | Home Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	242	249	747	773
Consumer | Home Improvement
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	612	579	1,739	1,694
Consumer | Stationery and Office
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	361	367	1,006	1,022
Consumer | Other Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	12	10	32	30
United States
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	3,292	3,265	9,742	9,657
United States | Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	25	36	91	43
United States | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(150)	(164)	(462)	(471)
United States | Safety and Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,153	1,208	3,498	3,726
United States | Transportation and Electronics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	594	627	1,796	1,838
United States | Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	827	740	2,477	2,248
United States | Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	843	818	2,342	2,273
Asia Pacific
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	2,490	2,621	7,383	7,801
Asia Pacific | Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1		1
Asia Pacific | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(207)	(225)	(591)	(639)
Asia Pacific | Safety and Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	713	788	2,190	2,397
Asia Pacific | Transportation and Electronics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,390	1,464	3,917	4,151
Asia Pacific | Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	360	357	1,121	1,114
Asia Pacific | Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	233	237	745	778
Europe, Middle East and Africa
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,465	1,527	4,682	5,077
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	(49)	(52)	(158)	(178)
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Safety and Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	626	665	2,035	2,296
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Transportation and Electronics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	363	378	1,138	1,218
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	388	399	1,253	1,303
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	136	137	413	438
Latin America and Canada
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	744	741	2,220	2,289
Latin America and Canada | Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1		6	3
Latin America and Canada | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(27)	(25)	(81)	(81)
Latin America and Canada | Safety and Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	356	361	1,073	1,126
Latin America and Canada | Transportation and Electronics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	157	149	463	458
Latin America and Canada | Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	145	146	438	453
Latin America and Canada | Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	112	110	321	330
Other Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		(2)	(2)	(4)
Other Unallocated | Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		(1)	(1)	1
Other Unallocated | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(1)	(2)		(2)
Other Unallocated | Safety and Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1	(1)		$ (3)
Other Unallocated | Transportation and Electronics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(1)	1	(2)
Other Unallocated | Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	$ 1	$ 1	$ 1