Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Cash Provided by Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 6,566	$ 4,144
Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(132)	(151)
Proceeds from finance assets	0	133
Other	(5)	(184)
Net cash used in investing activities	(137)	(202)
Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities
Repurchases of common stock	(1,317)	(2,359)
Dividends paid on common stock	(3,909)	(3,544)
Changes in amounts due to/from Altria and subsidiaries	0	0
Cash dividends paid to parent	0	0
Other	(25)	(47)
Net cash used in financing activities	(5,251)	(5,950)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Increase (decrease)	1,178	(2,008)
Balance at beginning of period	1,314	4,651
Balance at end of period	2,492	2,643
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Altria Group, Inc. [Member]
Cash Provided by Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities	4,806	4,777
Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	0	0
Proceeds from finance assets		0
Other	8	(4)
Net cash used in investing activities	8	(4)
Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities
Repurchases of common stock	(1,317)	(2,359)
Dividends paid on common stock	(3,909)	(3,544)
Changes in amounts due to/from Altria and subsidiaries	1,576	(813)
Cash dividends paid to parent	0	0
Other	(21)	(40)
Net cash used in financing activities	(3,671)	(6,756)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Increase (decrease)	1,143	(1,983)
Balance at beginning of period	1,203	4,521
Balance at end of period	2,346	2,538
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Cash Provided by Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities	5,801	3,664
Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(33)	(21)
Proceeds from finance assets		0
Other	0	2
Net cash used in investing activities	(33)	(19)
Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities
Repurchases of common stock	0	0
Dividends paid on common stock	0	0
Changes in amounts due to/from Altria and subsidiaries	(1,565)	182
Cash dividends paid to parent	(4,166)	(3,849)
Other	0	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(5,731)	(3,667)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Increase (decrease)	37	(22)
Balance at beginning of period	62	83
Balance at end of period	99	61
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash Provided by Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,123	639
Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(99)	(130)
Proceeds from finance assets		133
Other	(13)	(182)
Net cash used in investing activities	(112)	(179)
Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities
Repurchases of common stock	0	0
Dividends paid on common stock	0	0
Changes in amounts due to/from Altria and subsidiaries	(11)	631
Cash dividends paid to parent	(998)	(1,087)
Other	(4)	(7)
Net cash used in financing activities	(1,013)	(463)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Increase (decrease)	(2)	(3)
Balance at beginning of period	49	47
Balance at end of period	47	44
Total Consolidating Adjustments [Member]
Cash Provided by Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities	(5,164)	(4,936)
Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	0	0
Proceeds from finance assets		0
Other	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	0	0
Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities
Repurchases of common stock	0	0
Dividends paid on common stock	0	0
Changes in amounts due to/from Altria and subsidiaries	0	0
Cash dividends paid to parent	5,164	4,936
Other	0	0
Net cash used in financing activities	5,164	4,936
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Increase (decrease)	0	0
Balance at beginning of period	0	0
Balance at end of period	$ 0	$ 0