CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS) - USD ($) shares in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 14,813,000,000	$ 14,506,000,000	$ 12,146,000,000
Cost of sales	9,838,000,000	9,440,000,000	7,426,000,000
Gross margin	4,975,000,000	5,066,000,000	4,720,000,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses	3,946,000,000	3,859,000,000	2,845,000,000
Research and development expenses	667,000,000	602,000,000	531,000,000
Goodwill impairments	0	2,812,000,000	0
Other operating expense (income), net	(28,000,000)	36,000,000	(6,000,000)
Operating income (loss)	390,000,000	(2,243,000,000)	1,350,000,000
Interest expense, net	442,000,000	395,000,000	193,000,000
Other (income) expense, net	51,000,000	12,000,000	41,000,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(103,000,000)	(2,650,000,000)	1,116,000,000
Income tax (benefit) expense	(34,000,000)	4,000,000	83,000,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(69,000,000)	(2,654,000,000)	1,033,000,000
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	2,732,000,000	233,000,000	262,000,000
Net income (loss)	2,663,000,000	(2,421,000,000)	1,295,000,000
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	7,000,000	12,000,000	11,000,000
Net income (loss) attributable to Baxter stockholders	$ 2,656,000,000	$ (2,433,000,000)	$ 1,284,000,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations per common share
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.15)	$ (5.29)	$ 2.04
Diluted (in dollars per share)	(0.15)	(5.29)	2.01
Income from discontinued operations per common share
Basic (in dollars per share)	5.40	0.46	0.52
Diluted (in dollars per share)	5.40	0.46	0.52
Net Income (loss) per common share
Basic (in dollars per share)	5.25	(4.83)	2.56
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 5.25	$ (4.83)	$ 2.53
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding
Basic (in shares)	506	504	502
Diluted (in shares)	506	504	508