Debt Tender Premium and Fees

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	mo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Write off of Unamortized Debt Discounts and Debt Issuance Costs

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	mo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
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+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value portion of debt instrument payable, including, but not limited to, notes payable and loans payable.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
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-Paragraph 10
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+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- 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_DebtInstrumentLineItems
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Gross amount of debt extinguished.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Reflects the total carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of debt having initial terms less than one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph 2, 3
-Article 9

+ Details

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Period Type:	instant

- Details

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Debt (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
Debt (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	$ 0		$ 0
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0	$ 228,000,000
Debt tender premium and fees		226,000,000
Write-off of unamortized debt discount		$ 2,000,000
Reported Value Measurement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fair value of long term debt	12,900,000,000		12,800,000,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] \| Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fair value of long term debt	15,500,000,000		$ 14,500,000,000
Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate		9.70%
Senior Notes [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes purchased		$ 793,000,000
Senior Notes [Member] \| Notes Issued, 2008 and 2009 [Member] \| Subject to Credit Rating Step Up [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount	$ 3,400,000,000