Revenue (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2022 USD ($) units	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2022 USD ($) units	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 3,170	$ 2,932	$ 9,440	$ 8,761
Emerging Markets total countries | units	20		20
Net sales	$ 3,170	2,932	$ 9,440	8,761
Contract with Customer, Liability [Abstract]
Contract with Customer, Liability	494		494		$ 484
Change in Contract with Customer, Liability [Abstract]
Contract with Customer, Liability, Revenue Recognized	39			116
United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	1,934	1,726	5,645	5,112
Net sales	1,934	1,726	5,645	5,112
International [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	1,236	1,206	3,795	3,649
Net sales	1,236	1,206	3,795	3,649
Emerging Markets [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	454	354	1,271	1,031
Net sales	454	354	1,271	1,031
Endoscopy [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	559	533	1,649	1,583
Net sales	559	533	1,649	1,583
Endoscopy [Member] | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	342	306	992	902
Net sales	342	306	992	902
Endoscopy [Member] | International [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	217	227	657	681
Net sales	217	227	657	681
Urology and Pelvic Health [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	433	384	1,296	1,142
Net sales	433	384	1,296	1,142
Urology and Pelvic Health [Member] | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	315	275	921	817
Net sales	315	275	921	817
Urology and Pelvic Health [Member] | International [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	118	109	375	325
Net sales	118	109	375	325
Neuromodulation [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	221	221	669	666
Net sales	221	221	669	666
Neuromodulation [Member] | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	173	175	519	520
Net sales	173	175	519	520
Neuromodulation [Member] | International [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	48	46	150	145
Net sales	48	46	150	145
Interventional Cardiology Therapies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	549	534	1,667	1,634
Net sales	549	534	1,667	1,634
Interventional Cardiology Therapies | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	190	193	568	593
Net sales	190	193	568	593
Interventional Cardiology Therapies | International [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	359	341	1,099	1,041
Net sales	359	341	1,099	1,041
Watchman
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	262	210	738	596
Net sales	262	210	738	596
Watchman | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	234	183	662	524
Net sales	234	183	662	524
Watchman | International [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	28	26	76	72
Net sales	28	26	76	72
Cardiac Rhythm Management [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	519	512	1,580	1,505
Net sales	519	512	1,580	1,505
Cardiac Rhythm Management [Member] | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	338	312	1,005	903
Net sales	338	312	1,005	903
Cardiac Rhythm Management [Member] | International [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	181	199	575	603
Net sales	181	199	575	603
Electrophysiology [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	148	86	418	265
Net sales	148	86	418	265
Electrophysiology [Member] | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	73	32	196	96
Net sales	73	32	196	96
Electrophysiology [Member] | International [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	75	55	222	169
Net sales	75	55	222	169
Cardiology [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	1,479	1,342	4,403	4,000
Net sales	1,479	1,342	4,403	4,000
Cardiology [Member] | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	836	720	2,431	2,115
Net sales	836	720	2,431	2,115
Cardiology [Member] | International [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	643	622	1,972	1,885
Net sales	643	622	1,972	1,885
Peripheral Interventions [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	479	452	1,423	1,358
Net sales	479	452	1,423	1,358
Peripheral Interventions [Member] | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	269	250	782	748
Net sales	269	250	782	748
Peripheral Interventions [Member] | International [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	210	202	641	609
Net sales	210	202	641	609
Specialty Pharmaceuticals [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0	0	0	13
Net sales	0	0	0	13
Specialty Pharmaceuticals [Member] | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0	0	0	10
Net sales	0	0	0	10
Specialty Pharmaceuticals [Member] | International [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0	0	0	4
Net sales	0	0	0	4
BSX Reportable Segments [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	3,170	2,932	9,440	8,748
Net sales	3,170	2,932	9,440	8,748
BSX Reportable Segments [Member] | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	1,934	1,726	5,645	5,103
Net sales	1,934	1,726	5,645	5,103
BSX Reportable Segments [Member] | EMEA [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	585	590	1,869	1,855
Net sales	585	590	1,869	1,855
BSX Reportable Segments [Member] | APAC [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	532	517	1,579	1,511
Net sales	532	517	1,579	1,511
BSX Reportable Segments [Member] | Latin America and Canada [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	119	99	347	279
Net sales	119	99	347	279
MedSurg [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	1,213	1,138	3,614	3,390
Net sales	1,213	1,138	3,614	3,390
MedSurg [Member] | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	830	756	2,432	2,239
Net sales	830	756	2,432	2,239
MedSurg [Member] | International [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	383	382	1,182	1,151
Net sales	383	382	1,182	1,151
Cardiovascular [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	1,958	1,794	5,826	5,358
Net sales	1,958	1,794	5,826	5,358
Cardiovascular [Member] | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	1,104	970	3,213	2,864
Net sales	1,104	970	3,213	2,864
Cardiovascular [Member] | International [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	853	824	2,613	2,494
Net sales	$ 853	$ 824	$ 2,613	$ 2,494