Revenue - Disaggregated Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	$ 7,176	$ 8,171	$ 15,251	$ 16,034
Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(2)	48	(1)	70
Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(490)	(415)	(948)	(830)
Americas
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	3,633	4,163	7,775	7,926
Americas | Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(1)	49		70
Americas | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(234)	(195)	(442)	(377)
United States
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	3,100	3,400	6,600	6,500
Asia Pacific
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	2,210	2,415	4,555	4,893
Asia Pacific | Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		(2)
Asia Pacific | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(172)	(166)	(353)	(341)
Europe, Middle East and Africa
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,332	1,593	2,922	3,217
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	(84)	(51)	(153)	(112)
Other Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1		(1)	(2)
Other Unallocated | Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(1)	2	(1)
Other Unallocated | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		(3)
Safety and Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	2,668	2,937	5,603	5,900
Safety and Industrial | Americas
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,367	1,549	2,886	3,035
Safety and Industrial | Asia Pacific
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	655	700	1,374	1,459
Safety and Industrial | Europe, Middle East and Africa
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	645	688	1,343	1,407
Safety and Industrial | Other Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1			(1)
Safety and Industrial | Abrasives
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	243	358	573	721
Safety and Industrial | Automotive Aftermarket
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	203	304	487	610
Safety and Industrial | Closure and Masking Systems
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	235	275	503	553
Safety and Industrial | Electrical Markets
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	253	302	544	613
Safety and Industrial | Industrial Adhesives and Tapes
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	552	674	1,226	1,357
Safety and Industrial | Personal Safety
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,095	917	2,085	1,841
Safety and Industrial | Roofing Granules
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	86	100	181	192
Safety and Industrial | Other Safety and Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1	7	4	13
Transportation and Electronics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,937	2,450	4,175	4,805
Transportation and Electronics | Americas
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	532	794	1,207	1,507
Transportation and Electronics | Asia Pacific
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,151	1,267	2,352	2,524
Transportation and Electronics | Europe, Middle East and Africa
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	254	389	616	775
Transportation and Electronics | Other Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales				(1)
Transportation and Electronics | Advanced Materials
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	236	331	524	642
Transportation and Electronics | Automotive and Aerospace
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	268	478	715	986
Transportation and Electronics | Commercial Solutions
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	328	477	757	939
Transportation and Electronics | Electronics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	884	898	1,747	1,759
Transportation and Electronics | Transportation Safety
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	222	265	433	481
Transportation and Electronics | Other Transportation and Electronics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(1)	1	(1)	(2)
Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,825	1,831	3,928	3,569
Health Care | Americas
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,074	1,021	2,355	1,943
Health Care | Asia Pacific
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	358	383	714	761
Health Care | Europe, Middle East and Africa
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	392	427	859	865
Health Care | Other Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1
Health Care | Drug Delivery
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	41	101	146	184
Health Care | Food Safety
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	79	85	170	168
Health Care | Health Information Systems
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	276	297	553	557
Health Care | Medical Solutions
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,068	801	2,221	1,574
Health Care | Oral Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	144	338	421	679
Health Care | Separation and Purification Sciences
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	216	208	418	411
Health Care | Other Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1	1	(1)	(4)
Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,238	1,320	2,494	2,520
Consumer | Americas
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	895	945	1,769	1,748
Consumer | Asia Pacific
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	218	233	468	490
Consumer | Europe, Middle East and Africa
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	125	141	257	282
Consumer | Other Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		1
Consumer | Consumer Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	83	101	182	198
Consumer | Home Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	258	247	528	504
Consumer | Home Improvement
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	601	589	1,177	1,117
Consumer | Stationery and Office
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	263	351	536	646
Consumer | Other Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	$ 33	$ 32	$ 71	$ 55