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

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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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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
-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=98514028&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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Balance Type:	credit
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, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Extinguishment of Debt [Line Items]
Premiums and fees						$ 809	$ 226
Write-off of unamortized debt discounts and debt issuance costs						14	2
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	$ 0	$ 823	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	823	228
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%
10.20% Note due 2039 [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member]
Extinguishment of Debt [Line Items]
Notes Purchased						492	0
Stated interest rate					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%