New Accounting Pronouncements Impact of ASU Adoption (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Jan. 01, 2018
Estimate Impact of ASU Adoption [Line Items]
Statement of Operations reclassification from adoption of ASU 2017-07			$ 44
Increase in cash provided by operating activities from adoption of ASU 2016-18	$ 537	$ 210	46
Increase in cash provided by operating activities due to adoption of ASU 2016-15			$ 45
Impact of ASU 2016-09 Adoption	38
Estimated Impact of ASU 2016-09 Adoption	$ 86			$ 200

[Line Items] for Estimate Impact of ASU Adoption [Table]

No definition available.

Name:	bsx_EstimateImpactofASUAdoptionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	bsx_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Increase in cash provided by operating activities due to adoption of ASU 2016-15

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bsx_IncreaseincashprovidedbyoperatingactivitiesduetoadoptionofASU201615
Namespace Prefix:	bsx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Increase in cash provided by operating activities from adoption of ASU 2016-18

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bsx_IncreaseincashprovidedbyoperatingactivitiesfromadoptionofASU201618
Namespace Prefix:	bsx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Statement of Operations reclassification from adoption of ASU 2017-07

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bsx_StatementofOperationsreclassificationfromadoptionofASU201707
Namespace Prefix:	bsx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount after tax of increase (decrease) to equity or (increase) decrease to net assets, resulting from the cumulative effect adjustment of a new accounting principle applied in the period of adoption.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The aggregate cash inflow comprised of the amount received from (a) employees to acquire the entity's shares under incentive awards, including stock option exercises and restricted stock arrangements, and (b) the excess tax benefit arising from such transactions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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