Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Total Baxter stockholders' equity	Common stock	Common stock in treasury	Additional contributed capital	Retained earnings	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	Noncontrolling interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Treasury stock, shares (in shares)				182,000,000
Balance, beginning of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2021			683,000,000
Balance, beginning of period (in usd) at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 9,121	$ 9,077	$ 683	$ (11,488)	$ 6,197	$ 17,065	$ (3,380)	$ 44
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	73	71				71		2
Other comprehensive income	(7)	(7)					(7)
Stock issued under employee benefit plans and other (in shares)				(2,000,000)
Stock issued under employee benefit plans and other	76	76		$ 66	10
Dividends declared on common stock	(142)	(142)				(142)
Change in noncontrolling interests	(2)							(2)
Balance, end of period (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2022			683,000,000
Balance, end of period (in usd) at Mar. 31, 2022	$ 9,119	9,075	$ 683	$ (11,422)	6,207	16,994	(3,387)	44
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Treasury stock, shares (in shares)				180,000,000
Treasury stock, shares (in shares)	179,062,594			179,000,000
Balance, beginning of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2022			683,000,000
Balance, beginning of period (in usd) at Dec. 31, 2022	$ 5,895	5,833	$ 683	$ (11,389)	6,322	14,050	(3,833)	62
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	45	44				44		1
Other comprehensive income	94	94					94
Stock issued under employee benefit plans and other (in shares)				(1,000,000)
Stock issued under employee benefit plans and other	55	55		$ 65	(10)
Dividends declared on common stock	(147)	(147)				(147)
Change in noncontrolling interests	(1)							(1)
Balance, end of period (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2023			683,000,000
Balance, end of period (in usd) at Mar. 31, 2023	$ 5,941	$ 5,879	$ 683	$ (11,324)	$ 6,312	$ 13,947	$ (3,739)	$ 62
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Treasury stock, shares (in shares)	177,658,649			178,000,000