Other (Income) Expense, Net (Detail) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Nov. 02, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Components of Other Income (Expense) [Line Items]
Interest income					$ (1,300,000)	$ (5,500,000)	$ (3,500,000)
Foreign exchange losses (gains)					4,400,000	(700,000)	2,000,000
Gore Proceeds	(894,300,000)	(894,300,000)			(894,300,000)	0	0
Litigation charges, net					428,000,000	0	246,500,000
Gain on the EP Sale		(213,000,000)			(213,000,000)	0	0
Contribution to C. R. Bard Foundation, Inc.		22,500,000			25,000,000	2,500,000	2,200,000
Divestiture-related charges		7,800,000	9,700,000		17,500,000	0	0
Asset impairments					6,400,000	22,200,000	0
Restructuring				19,000,000	(2,100,000)	17,400,000	7,800,000
Acquisition-related items		11,200,000			11,300,000	2,100,000	4,400,000
Impairment charges for bonds					0	0	11,500,000
Other, net					(1,200,000)	2,300,000	1,000,000
Total other (income) expense, net					$ (619,300,000)	$ 40,300,000	$ 271,900,000