Revenue - Disaggregated Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	$ 8,075	$ 7,863
Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1	22
Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(458)	(415)
Americas
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	4,142	3,763
Americas | Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1	21
Americas | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(208)	(182)
United States
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	3,425	3,046
Asia Pacific
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	2,345	2,478
Asia Pacific | Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		2
Asia Pacific | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(181)	(175)
Europe, Middle East and Africa
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,590	1,624
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	(69)	(61)
Other Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(2)	(2)
Other Unallocated | Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		(2)
Other Unallocated | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		3
Safety and Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	2,935	2,963
Safety and Industrial | Americas
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,519	1,486
Safety and Industrial | Asia Pacific
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	719	759
Safety and Industrial | Europe, Middle East and Africa
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	698	719
Safety and Industrial | Other Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(1)	(1)
Safety and Industrial | Abrasives
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	330	363
Safety and Industrial | Automotive Aftermarket
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	284	306
Safety and Industrial | Closure and Masking Systems
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	268	278
Safety and Industrial | Electrical Markets
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	291	311
Safety and Industrial | Industrial Adhesives and Tapes
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	674	683
Safety and Industrial | Personal Safety
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	990	924
Safety and Industrial | Roofing Granules
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	95	92
Safety and Industrial | Other Safety and Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	3	6
Transportation and Electronics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	2,238	2,355
Transportation and Electronics | Americas
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	675	713
Transportation and Electronics | Asia Pacific
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,201	1,257
Transportation and Electronics | Europe, Middle East and Africa
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	362	386
Transportation and Electronics | Other Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		(1)
Transportation and Electronics | Advanced Materials
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	288	311
Transportation and Electronics | Automotive and Aerospace
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	447	508
Transportation and Electronics | Commercial Solutions
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	429	462
Transportation and Electronics | Electronics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	863	861
Transportation and Electronics | Transportation Safety
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	211	216
Transportation and Electronics | Other Transportation and Electronics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		(3)
Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	2,103	1,738
Health Care | Americas
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,281	922
Health Care | Asia Pacific
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	356	378
Health Care | Europe, Middle East and Africa
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	467	438
Health Care | Other Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(1)
Health Care | Drug Delivery
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	105	83
Health Care | Food Safety
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	91	83
Health Care | Health Information Systems
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	277	260
Health Care | Medical Solutions
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,153	773
Health Care | Oral Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	277	341
Health Care | Separation and Purification Sciences
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	202	203
Health Care | Other Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(2)	(5)
Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,256	1,200
Consumer | Americas
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	874	803
Consumer | Asia Pacific
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	250	257
Consumer | Europe, Middle East and Africa
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	132	141
Consumer | Other Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		(1)
Consumer | Consumer Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	99	97
Consumer | Home Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	270	257
Consumer | Home Improvement
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	576	528
Consumer | Stationery and Office
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	273	295
Consumer | Other Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	$ 38	$ 23