CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (Parenthetical) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Currency translation adjustments, tax	$ (18,000,000)	$ 41,000,000	$ 30,000,000
Pension and other postretirement benefits, tax	(27,000,000)	12,000,000	60,000,000
Hedging activities, tax	0	2,000,000	7,000,000
Tax expense on available-for-sale securities	0	1,000,000	0
Discontinued operations, currency translation adjustments, tax	0	0	0
Discontinued operations, pension and other postretirement benefits, tax	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) from continuing operations	2,939,000,000	(2,874,000,000)	1,229,000,000
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Baxter stockholders	$ 2,935,000,000	$ (2,881,000,000)	$ 1,218,000,000