The amount of punitive damages awarded.

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_Litigationsettlementexpensepunitive
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of claims that the Company prevailed after being taken to trial.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mmm_LossContingencyClaimsPrevailedAfterTakenToTrialNumber
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of claims settled and taken to trial.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mmm_LossContingencyClaimsSettledAndTakenToTrialTotalNumber
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of years the company has been the defendant in Respirator Mask/Asbestos Litigation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mmm_LossContingencyClaimsYearsInLitigationNumber
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of unnamed defendants.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mmm_NumberOfUnnamedDefendants
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The quarterly fee paid to a co-defendant to retain responsibility, and liability for and indemnify the entity's subsidiary against product liability claims for respirators manufactured prior to July 11, 1995.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mmm_QuarterlyFeePaidToCoDefendantForRetentionOfLiability
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount due in settlement of a claim for reimbursement from an insurance company when the Company has suffered a loss covered under an insurance policy.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InsuranceSettlementsReceivable
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in asbestos and environmental claims reserve, before estimated recoveries from reinsurers.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 40
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (b),(c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116884095&loc=d3e14764-158437

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LiabilityForAsbestosAndEnvironmentalClaimsGrossPeriodIncreaseDecrease
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount awarded to other party in judgment or settlement of litigation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationSettlementAmountAwardedToOtherParty
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of litigation expense, including but not limited to legal, forensic, accounting, and investigative fees.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationSettlementExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of loss contingency liability.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121557415&loc=d3e14326-108349

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) in loss contingency liability.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValuePeriodIncreaseDecrease
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of plaintiffs that have filed claims pertaining to a loss contingency.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyNumberOfPlaintiffs
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Identifies individuals or entities that are co-defendants in a lawsuit, and who may have to pay all or a portion of any damages awarded.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyPartiesJointlyAndSeverallyLiableInLitigation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=mmm_RespiratorMaskAsbestosLitigationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_StatementGeographicalAxis=mmm_StateCourtOfCaliforniaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_StatementGeographicalAxis=mmm_StateCourtOfKentuckyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_StatementGeographicalAxis=mmm_KentuckyAndWestVirginiaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=mmm_RespiratorMaskAsbestosLitigationWestVirginiaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=mmm_RespiratorMaskAsbestosLitigationExcludingAearoMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=mmm_RespiratorMaskAsbestosLitigationAearoMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Commitments and Contingencies - Respirator (Details)	1 Months Ended	2 Months Ended	3 Months Ended							12 Months Ended
Commitments and Contingencies - Respirator (Details)	Apr. 30, 2018 USD ($) individual	Apr. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2021 USD ($) individual	Mar. 31, 2021 USD ($) case	Mar. 31, 2021 USD ($) lawsuit	Mar. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020 individual
Respirator Mask/Asbestos Litigation
Loss contingencies
Total number of named claimants \| individual				2,179						2,075
Number of years company has been the defendant in Respirator Mask/Asbestos Litigation			20 years
Number of total claims the Company prevailed after being taken to trial					15	2
Number of total claims taken to trial \| case					16
Respirator Mask/Asbestos Litigation \| State court of California
Loss contingencies
Number of total claims the Company prevailed after being taken to trial \| lawsuit						1
Respirator Mask/Asbestos Litigation \| State court of Kentucky
Loss contingencies
Litigation settlement awarded	$ 2,000,000
Number of unnamed defendant \| individual	2
Amount of punitive damages awarded	$ 63,000,000
Respirator Mask/Asbestos Litigation \| Kentucky and West Virginia
Loss contingencies
Settlement amount paid		$ 340,000,000
Respirator Mask/Asbestos Litigation - State of West Virginia
Loss contingencies
Number of additional defendants			two
Accrued loss contingency reserve			$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Respirator Mask/Asbestos litigation - Excluding Aearo Technologies
Loss contingencies
Increase in liabilities, gross							36,000,000		$ 313,000,000
Insurance receivables			4,000,000	4,000,000	4,000,000	4,000,000	4,000,000
Litigation settlement awarded							19,000,000
Accrued loss contingency reserve			679,000,000	679,000,000	679,000,000	679,000,000	679,000,000
Respirator Mask/Asbestos Litigation - Aearo Technologies
Loss contingencies
Accrued loss contingency reserve			$ 27,000,000	$ 27,000,000	$ 27,000,000	$ 27,000,000	27,000,000
Increase (decrease) accrued loss contingency reserve								$ 37,000,000
Quarterly fee paid to Cabot to retain responsibility and liability for products manufactured before July 11, 1995							$ 100,000