Debt Instrument, Maximum Redemption Percentage With Equity Offering Proceeds

No definition available.

Name:	bhc_DebtInstrumentMaximumRedemptionPercentageWithEquityOfferingProceeds
Namespace Prefix:	bhc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage, Change in Control

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bhc_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPricePercentageChangeinControl
Namespace Prefix:	bhc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

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

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114775744&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114775985&loc=d3e28878-108400

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

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

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-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

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage price of original principal amount of debt at which debt can be redeemed by the issuer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 470
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph e
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=75038535&loc=d3e64711-112823

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPricePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Face (par) amount of the original debt instrument that was repurchased.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRepurchasedFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Weighted average interest rate of debt outstanding.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- 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://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 50
-Section 40
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=117329964&loc=d3e12355-112629

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 50
-Section 40
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=117329964&loc=d3e12317-112629

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118932676&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow during the period from additional borrowings in aggregate debt. Includes proceeds from short-term and long-term debt.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118932676&loc=d3e3255-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow from a debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118932676&loc=d3e3255-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhc_A9.25SeniorNotesDueApril2026Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhc_A5.375SeniorNotesdueMarch2020Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhc_SeniorNotes6.375PercentDueOctober2020Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhc_SeniorNotes6.75PercentDueAugust2021Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhc_A8.50SeniorNotesDueJanuary2027Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhc_SeniorNotes7.00PercentDueJanuary2028Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhc_SeniorNotes7.25PercentDueMay2029Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhc_A5.875SeniorNotesdueMay2023Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhc_A5.50SeniorNotesdueMarch2023Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS - Senior Unsecured Notes (Details) - USD ($)					3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	May 23, 2019	Mar. 08, 2019	Jun. 01, 2018	Mar. 26, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption price percentage to change in control (as a percent)							101.00%
Loss on extinguishment of debt		$ 8,000,000			$ 0	$ 0	$ 40,000,000	$ 75,000,000
Net proceeds from the issuances of long-term debt							$ 3,238,000,000	$ 7,471,000,000
Weighted average effective interest rate (as a percent)					6.39%		6.39%			6.23%
Unsecured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption price percentage to change in control (as a percent)									101.00%
Repurchased principal amount				$ 1,500,000,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt	$ 32,000,000			$ 26,000,000
Unsecured Debt \| 9.25% Senior Notes Due April 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt (as a percent)				9.25%	9.25%		9.25%
Proceeds from debt issuance				$ 1,500,000,000
Unsecured Debt \| 5.375% Senior Notes Due March 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt (as a percent)			5.375%
Repurchased principal amount				$ 1,017,000,000
Unsecured Debt \| 6.375% Senior Notes Due October 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt (as a percent)			6.375%	6.375%
Repurchased principal amount				$ 411,000,000
Unsecured Debt \| 6.75% Senior Notes Due August 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt (as a percent)			6.75%
Repurchased principal amount				$ 72,000,000
Unsecured Debt \| 8.50% Senior Notes Due January 2027
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt (as a percent)			8.50%		8.50%		8.50%
Net proceeds from the issuances of long-term debt			$ 750,000,000
Principal amount		$ 1,000,000,000
Unsecured Debt \| 7.00 % Senior Notes Due January 2028
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt (as a percent)	7.00%				7.00%		7.00%
Proceeds from debt issuance	$ 750,000,000
Redemption price percentage (as a percent)	100.00%
Maximum percentage of the aggregate principal amount that may be redeemed with the net proceeds of certain equity offerings	40.00%
Unsecured Debt \| 7.25 % Senior Notes Due May 2029
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt (as a percent)	7.25%				7.25%		7.25%
Proceeds from debt issuance	$ 750,000,000
Redemption price percentage (as a percent)	100.00%
Maximum percentage of the aggregate principal amount that may be redeemed with the net proceeds of certain equity offerings	40.00%
Unsecured Debt \| 5.875% Senior Notes Due May 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt (as a percent)		5.875%			5.875%		5.875%
Repurchased principal amount	$ 1,118,000,000
Unsecured Debt \| 5.50% Senior Notes Due March 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt (as a percent)		5.50%			5.50%		5.50%
Repurchased principal amount	$ 382,000,000