Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	$ (85)	$ 479
Consumer products
Capital expenditures	(39)	(40)
Other	(3)	1
Financial services
Proceeds from finance assets	552	129
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	510	90
Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities
Long-term debt issued	0	1,494
Repurchases of common stock	(360)	(575)
Dividends paid on common stock	(1,674)	(1,589)
Issuances of common stock	0	29
Changes in amounts due to/from Altria Group, Inc. and subsidiaries	0	0
Financing fees and debt issuance costs		(23)
Cash dividends paid to parent	0	0
Other	(133)	(155)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(2,167)	(819)
Increase (decrease)	(1,742)	(250)
Balance at beginning of period	3,270	2,314
Balance at end of period	1,528	2,064
Altria Group, Inc. [Member]
Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	714	1,356
Consumer products
Capital expenditures	0	0
Other	0	0
Financial services
Proceeds from finance assets	0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	0	0
Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities
Long-term debt issued		1,494
Repurchases of common stock	(360)	(575)
Dividends paid on common stock	(1,674)	(1,589)
Issuances of common stock		29
Changes in amounts due to/from Altria Group, Inc. and subsidiaries	(424)	(975)
Financing fees and debt issuance costs		(23)
Cash dividends paid to parent	0	0
Other	1	26
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(2,457)	(1,613)
Increase (decrease)	(1,743)	(257)
Balance at beginning of period	3,245	2,298
Balance at end of period	1,502	2,041
PM USA [Member]
Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	935	1,022
Consumer products
Capital expenditures	(11)	(10)
Other	0	1
Financial services
Proceeds from finance assets	0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(11)	(9)
Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities
Long-term debt issued		0
Repurchases of common stock	0	0
Dividends paid on common stock	0	0
Issuances of common stock		0
Changes in amounts due to/from Altria Group, Inc. and subsidiaries	960	880
Financing fees and debt issuance costs		0
Cash dividends paid to parent	(1,845)	(1,783)
Other	(39)	(110)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(924)	(1,013)
Increase (decrease)	0	0
Balance at beginning of period	0	0
Balance at end of period	0	0
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	229	(61)
Consumer products
Capital expenditures	(28)	(30)
Other	3	0
Financial services
Proceeds from finance assets	552	129
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	521	99
Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities
Long-term debt issued		0
Repurchases of common stock	0	0
Dividends paid on common stock	0	0
Issuances of common stock		0
Changes in amounts due to/from Altria Group, Inc. and subsidiaries	(536)	95
Financing fees and debt issuance costs		0
Cash dividends paid to parent	(118)	(55)
Other	(95)	(71)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(749)	(31)
Increase (decrease)	1	7
Balance at beginning of period	25	16
Balance at end of period	26	23
Total Consolidating Adjustments [Member]
Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(1,963)	(1,838)
Consumer products
Capital expenditures	0	0
Other	0	0
Financial services
Proceeds from finance assets	0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	0	0
Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities
Long-term debt issued		0
Repurchases of common stock	0	0
Dividends paid on common stock	0	0
Issuances of common stock		0
Changes in amounts due to/from Altria Group, Inc. and subsidiaries	0	0
Financing fees and debt issuance costs		0
Cash dividends paid to parent	1,963	1,838
Other	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	1,963	1,838
Increase (decrease)	0	0
Balance at beginning of period	0	0
Balance at end of period	$ 0	$ 0