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

The number of companies, in addition to the named parties disclosed in the document, that have been included in an enforcement action.

No definition available.

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

The amount of perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) in drinking water allowed per the guidance of the provisional health advisories issued by the EPA in 2009 under the Safe Drinking Water Act (presented parts per trillion).

No definition available.

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

The amount of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in drinking water allowed per the guidance of the provisional health advisories issued by the EPA in 2009 under the Safe Drinking Water Act (presented in parts per trillion).

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_AmountOfPFOSInDrinkingWaterAllowedPerProvisionalHealthAdvisories
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
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This element represents the amount of PFBS chemicals allowed in drinking water (in parts per billion) per guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health.

No definition available.

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

The amount of Perfluoroocotanoate (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in drinking water allowed per the EPA's announced lifetime health advisory levels (presented as parts per trillion).

No definition available.

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

This element represents the amount of PFOA chemicals allowed in drinking water (in parts per trillion) as per guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health.

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_AmountOfPfoaInDrinkingWaterAllowedPerMinnesotaDepartmentOfHealth
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
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This element represents the amount of PFOS chemicals allowed in drinking water (in parts per trillion) per guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health.

No definition available.

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

This element represents the amount of PFHxS chemicals allowed in drinking water (in parts per trillion) per guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health.

No definition available.

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

The number of landfills tested by the entity for environmental matters and litigation related to historical PFAS manufacturing operations.

No definition available.

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

The number of years the Company expects it will pay the amounts recorded over the periods of remediation for the applicable sites.

No definition available.

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

The total number of additional new claims filed pertaining to a loss contingency during the period.

No definition available.

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

The approximate number of miles of the river plaintiffs are seeking to be cleaned.

No definition available.

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

Number of served claims pertaining to a loss contingency.

No definition available.

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

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

No definition available.

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

Number of plaintiffs that have been dismissed pertaining to a loss contingency.

No definition available.

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

Represents the number of cases stayed by the courts.

No definition available.

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

The number of chemicals of concern in the sediment.

No definition available.

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

Represents the number of closed municipal landfills.

No definition available.

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

The number of combined PFAS compounds detailed in published final regulations establishing a drinking water standard.

No definition available.

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

The number of commercial drum conditioning facilities.

No definition available.

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

Represents the number compounds EPA asked for public comment on draft toxicity assessments for PFAS compounds, including PFBS.

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_NumberOfCompoundsForWhichEpaHasAskedForPublicCommentRegardingPossibleHealthEffectsOfVariousPerfluorinatedCompounds
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
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The number of facilities related to the manufacture and disposal of PFAS.

No definition available.

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

This element represents the number of federal bellwether cases that have a scheduled trial date set.

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_NumberOfFederalBellwetherCases
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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The number of federal bellwether cases the court issued the first round of dispositive motion rulings.

No definition available.

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

The number of guidance documents released by the EPA related to Perfluorinated Compounds.

No definition available.

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

he number of local water providers.

No definition available.

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

The number of local water works for whom the water authority supplies supply water.

No definition available.

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

The number of other perfluorinated compounds in drinking water standards.

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_NumberOfOtherPerfluorinatedCompoundsInDrinkingWaterStandards
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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The number of PFCs the EPA has required to have public water system suppliers monitor.

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_NumberOfPFCsEPARequiredToHavePublicWaterSystemSuppliersMonitor
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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the number of companies involved in the litigation and/or settlement.

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_NumberOfPartiesInvolvedInLitigation
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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The number of perfluorinated materials (FBSA and FBSEE) the company cannot release into "the waters of the United States."

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_NumberOfPerfluorinatedMaterialsFBSAndFBSEE
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Balance Type:	na
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The amount of public water supplies for which the EPA reported results.

No definition available.

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

The number of putative class action and other lawsuits.

No definition available.

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

The number of recommended options for utilizing the Water Quality and Sustainability Fund seeking public comment.

No definition available.

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

The number of samples used of water supplies used by the EPA to test for lifetime health advisory amounts of PFOA and PFOS chemicals.

No definition available.

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

The number of unnamed defendants.

No definition available.

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

The number of water supplier cases.

No definition available.

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

The amount of water supplies that reported above the lifetime health advisory level issued by the EPA for both PFOA and PFOS under the technical advisory issued by the EPA in September 2016.

No definition available.

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

The amount of water supplies that reported above the lifetime health advisory level issued by the EPA for PFOA.

No definition available.

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

The amount of water supplies that reported above the lifetime health advisory level issued by the EPA for PFOS.

No definition available.

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

Number of years after phase-out decision in May 2000 that the Company stopped manufacturing and using vast majority of perfluorooctanyl compounds.

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_NumberOfYearsAfterPhaseOutDecisionInMay2000ThatCompanyStoppedManufacturingPlusUsingVastMajorityOfPerfluorooctanylCompounds
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The number of subsidiaries of the plaintiff.

No definition available.

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

The total number of federal bellwether cases the court issued.

No definition available.

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

Increase (decrease) in the accrual for environmental loss contingencies during the reporting period.

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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.

No definition available.

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

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

No definition available.

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

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

No definition available.

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

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.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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Amount of loss contingency liability.

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Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Amount of increase (decrease) in loss contingency liability.

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValuePeriodIncreaseDecrease
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Number of claims settled.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyClaimsSettledNumber
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
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The value (monetary amount) of the award the plaintiff seeks in the legal matter.

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Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyDamagesSoughtValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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The total number of new claims filed pertaining to a loss contingency during the period.

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Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyNewClaimsFiledNumber
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
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Number of plaintiffs that have filed claims pertaining to a loss contingency.

No definition available.

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

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyPartiesJointlyAndSeverallyLiableInLitigation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
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Number of pending claims pertaining to a loss contingency.

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyPendingClaimsNumber
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The amount of cash paid for the settlement of litigation or for other legal issues during the period.

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-Topic 230
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-Paragraph 25
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121586364&loc=d3e3536-108585

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Namespace Prefix:
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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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