Revenue - Disaggregated Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	$ 8,950	$ 7,176	$ 17,801	$ 15,251
Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1	1	(1)	1
Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(547)	(473)	(1,173)	(918)
Americas
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	4,582	3,633	8,910	7,775
Americas | Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1	(2)		(1)
Americas | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(221)	(231)	(499)	(437)
Asia Pacific
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	2,655	2,210	5,424	4,555
Asia Pacific | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(217)	(164)	(447)	(339)
Europe, Middle East and Africa
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,714	1,332	3,469	2,922
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(110)	(78)	(228)	(142)
Other Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(1)	1	(2)	(1)
Other Unallocated | Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		3	(1)	2
Other Unallocated | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1		1
United States
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	3,800	3,100	7,400	6,600
Safety and Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	3,254	2,657	6,581	5,584
Safety and Industrial | Americas
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,670	1,365	3,367	2,882
Safety and Industrial | Asia Pacific
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	814	649	1,637	1,361
Safety and Industrial | Europe, Middle East and Africa
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	770	644	1,577	1,342
Safety and Industrial | Other Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		(1)		(1)
Safety and Industrial | Abrasives
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	353	242	705	572
Safety and Industrial | Automotive Aftermarket
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	313	202	625	486
Safety and Industrial | Closure and Masking Systems
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	254	235	497	503
Safety and Industrial | Electrical Markets
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	319	251	626	539
Safety and Industrial | Industrial Adhesives and Tapes
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	761	545	1,529	1,216
Safety and Industrial | Personal Safety
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,133	1,095	2,370	2,084
Safety and Industrial | Roofing Granules
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	121	86	229	181
Safety and Industrial | Other Safety and Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		1		3
Transportation and Electronics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	2,482	1,937	5,013	4,176
Transportation and Electronics | Americas
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	718	532	1,368	1,207
Transportation and Electronics | Asia Pacific
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,382	1,151	2,872	2,353
Transportation and Electronics | Europe, Middle East and Africa
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	383	254	774	616
Transportation and Electronics | Other Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(1)		(1)
Transportation and Electronics | Advanced Materials
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	304	236	620	524
Transportation and Electronics | Automotive and Aerospace
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	469	268	985	716
Transportation and Electronics | Commercial Solutions
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	454	327	892	757
Transportation and Electronics | Electronics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	998	884	2,040	1,747
Transportation and Electronics | Transportation Safety
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	259	222	477	433
Transportation and Electronics | Other Transportation and Electronics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(2)		(1)	(1)
Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	2,278	1,823	4,526	3,927
Health Care | Americas
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,333	1,074	2,644	2,355
Health Care | Asia Pacific
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	430	358	838	714
Health Care | Europe, Middle East and Africa
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	516	392	1,045	859
Health Care | Other Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
Health Care | Drug Delivery
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales		41		146
Health Care | Food Safety
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	95	78	183	169
Health Care | Health Information Systems
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	299	276	588	553
Health Care | Medical Solutions
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,275	1,067	2,542	2,220
Health Care | Oral Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	364	144	727	421
Health Care | Separation and Purification Sciences
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	248	216	489	418
Health Care | Other Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	(3)	1	(3)
Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,482	1,231	2,855	2,481
Consumer | Americas
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	1,081	895	2,030	1,769
Consumer | Asia Pacific
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	246	216	524	466
Consumer | Europe, Middle East and Africa
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	155	120	301	247
Consumer | Other Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales				(1)
Consumer | Consumer Health and Safety
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	163	120	313	292
Consumer | Home Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	272	257	551	528
Consumer | Home Improvement
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	666	564	1,289	1,067
Consumer | Stationery and Office
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	352	257	637	525
Consumer | Other Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	$ 29	$ 33	$ 65	$ 69