Cover Document - $ / shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Oct. 30, 2020
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2020
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	1-11083
Entity Registrant Name	BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	04-2695240
Entity Address, Address Line One	300 Boston Scientific Way
Entity Address, City or Town	Marlborough
Entity Address, State or Province	MA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	01752-1234
City Area Code	508
Local Phone Number	683-4000
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Listing, Par Value Per Share	$ 0.01
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,431,921,459
Entity Central Index Key	0000885725
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false
Common Stock [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.01 par value
Trading Symbol	BSX
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Senior Note due 2027 [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	0.625% Senior Notes due 2027
Trading Symbol	BSX27
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
5.50% MCPS, Series A [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	5.50% Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A, par value $0.01 per share
Trading Symbol	BSX PR A
Security Exchange Name	NYSE