Revenue - Disaggregated Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	$ 8,350	$ 7,991	$ 23,601	$ 24,025
Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		28	(1)	98
Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(565)	(429)	(1,513)	(1,259)
Americas
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	4,347	4,036	12,122	11,962
Americas | Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(1)	27	(1)	97
Americas | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(282)	(185)	(724)	(562)
United States
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	3,700	3,300	10,200	9,700
Asia Pacific
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	2,474	2,490	7,029	7,383
Asia Pacific | Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		1		1
Asia Pacific | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(197)	(193)	(550)	(534)
Europe, Middle East and Africa
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,528	1,465	4,450	4,682
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	(86)	(52)	(239)	(164)
Other Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1			(2)
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		1
Safety and Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	3,024	2,829	8,627	8,729
Safety and Industrial | Americas
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,623	1,497	4,509	4,532
Safety and Industrial | Asia Pacific
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	706	706	2,080	2,165
Safety and Industrial | Europe, Middle East and Africa
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	695	626	2,038	2,033
Safety and Industrial | Other Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales				(1)
Safety and Industrial | Abrasives
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	290	338	863	1,059
Safety and Industrial | Automotive Aftermarket
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	309	307	796	917
Safety and Industrial | Closure and Masking Systems
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	242	282	745	835
Safety and Industrial | Electrical Markets
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	285	299	829	912
Safety and Industrial | Industrial Adhesives and Tapes
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	647	684	1,873	2,041
Safety and Industrial | Personal Safety
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,136	812	3,221	2,653
Safety and Industrial | Roofing Granules
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	114	101	295	293
Safety and Industrial | Other Safety and Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1	6	5	19
Transportation and Electronics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	2,314	2,500	6,489	7,305
Transportation and Electronics | Americas
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	640	749	1,847	2,256
Transportation and Electronics | Asia Pacific
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,357	1,388	3,709	3,912
Transportation and Electronics | Europe, Middle East and Africa
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	317	362	933	1,137
Transportation and Electronics | Other Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		1
Transportation and Electronics | Advanced Materials
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	246	319	770	961
Transportation and Electronics | Automotive and Aerospace
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	410	477	1,125	1,463
Transportation and Electronics | Commercial Solutions
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	390	443	1,147	1,382
Transportation and Electronics | Electronics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,024	1,001	2,771	2,760
Transportation and Electronics | Transportation Safety
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	245	260	678	741
Transportation and Electronics | Other Transportation and Electronics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(1)		(2)	(2)
Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	2,160	1,721	6,088	5,290
Health Care | Americas
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,335	973	3,690	2,916
Health Care | Asia Pacific
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	377	360	1,091	1,121
Health Care | Europe, Middle East and Africa
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	448	388	1,307	1,253
Health Care | Drug Delivery
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		93	146	277
Health Care | Food Safety
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	82	86	252	254
Health Care | Health Information Systems
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	280	296	833	853
Health Care | Medical Solutions
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,251	745	3,472	2,319
Health Care | Oral Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	320	312	741	991
Health Care | Separation and Purification Sciences
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	221	191	639	602
Health Care | Other Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	6	(2)	5	(6)
Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,417	1,342	3,911	3,862
Consumer | Americas
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,032	975	2,801	2,723
Consumer | Asia Pacific
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	231	228	699	718
Consumer | Europe, Middle East and Africa
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	154	140	411	422
Consumer | Other Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		(1)		(1)
Consumer | Consumer Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	96	97	278	295
Consumer | Home Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	268	243	796	747
Consumer | Home Improvement
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	686	612	1,863	1,729
Consumer | Stationery and Office
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	323	362	859	1,008
Consumer | Other Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	$ 44	$ 28	$ 115	$ 83