Contingencies (NPM Adjustment Calculation) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions [Member] | MSA NPM Arbitration Agreement [Member]
Loss contingency, period of occurrence	January 30, 2009
Partial liability reduction percentage for 2003 NPM adjustment for states that are party to agreement re: arbitration	20.00%
Year NPM Adjustment Calculated 2003 [Member] | Year NPM Adjustment May Be Deducted 2006 [Member]
PM USA's approximate share of disputed NPM adjustment	337
Year NPM Adjustment Calculated 2004 [Member] | Year NPM Adjustment May Be Deducted 2007 [Member]
PM USA's approximate share of disputed NPM adjustment	388
Year NPM Adjustment Calculated 2005 [Member] | Year NPM Adjustment May Be Deducted 2008 [Member]
PM USA's approximate share of disputed NPM adjustment	181
Year NPM Adjustment Calculated 2006 [Member] | Year NPM Adjustment May Be Deducted 2009 [Member]
PM USA's approximate share of disputed NPM adjustment	154
Year NPM Adjustment Calculated 2007 [Member] | Year NPM Adjustment May Be Deducted 2010 [Member]
PM USA's approximate share of disputed NPM adjustment	207
Year NPM Adjustment Calculated 2008 [Member] | Year NPM Adjustment May Be Deducted 2011 [Member]
PM USA's approximate share of disputed NPM adjustment	267
Year NPM Adjustment Calculated 2009 [Member] | Year NPM Adjustment May Be Deducted 2012 [Member]
PM USA's approximate share of disputed NPM adjustment	211
Year NPM Adjustment Calculated 2010 [Member]
PM USA's approximate share of disputed NPM adjustment	209