Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 2,851	$ 2,761	$ 8,323	$ 8,266
Cost of sales	1,621	1,529	4,860	4,690
Gross margin	1,230	1,232	3,463	3,576
Selling, general and administrative expenses	627	684	1,869	1,993
Research and development expenses	144	166	439	479
Other operating income, net	(44)	0	(81)	(89)
Operating income	503	382	1,236	1,193
Interest expense, net	13	11	51	34
Other (income) expense, net	9	(1)	(8)	(45)
Income before income taxes	481	372	1,193	1,204
Income tax expense (benefit)	106	(146)	163	(37)
Net income	375	518	1,030	1,241
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	6	0	6	0
Net income attributable to Baxter stockholders	$ 369	$ 518	$ 1,024	$ 1,241
Earnings per share
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.72	$ 0.97	$ 2.01	$ 2.32
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.71	$ 0.95	$ 1.97	$ 2.26
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding
Basic (in shares)	511	534	510	536
Diluted (in shares)	520	546	520	548