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

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

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-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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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- 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

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

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- 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
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 50
-Section 40
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170532&loc=d3e12317-112629

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 50
-Section 40
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170532&loc=d3e12355-112629

+ Details

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Period Type:	duration

- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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Long-Term Debt (Debt Tender Offers and Redemption) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Extinguishment of Debt [Line Items]
Premiums and fees									$ 809	$ 226	$ 44
Write-off of unamortized debt discounts and debt issuance costs									14	2	0
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	$ 0	$ 823	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 228	823	228	$ 44
Senior Notes [Member]
Extinguishment of Debt [Line Items]
Notes Purchased									933	793
9.95% Notes due 2038 [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member]
Extinguishment of Debt [Line Items]
Notes Purchased									$ 441	0
Stated interest rate	9.95%								9.95%
10.20% Note due 2039 [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member]
Extinguishment of Debt [Line Items]
Notes Purchased									$ 492	0
Stated interest rate	10.20%								10.20%
9.70% Notes due 2018 [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member]
Extinguishment of Debt [Line Items]
Notes Purchased									$ 0	$ 793
Stated interest rate					9.70%					9.70%