QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED) - Quarterly Financial Results and Market for Company's Stock (Details) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2023	Dec. 31, 2024	Sep. 30, 2024	Jun. 30, 2024	Mar. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023	Sep. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2023	Mar. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Effect of Fourth Quarter Events [Line Items]
Net sales		$ 2,753,000,000	$ 2,699,000,000	$ 2,694,000,000	$ 2,490,000,000	$ 2,729,000,000	$ 2,599,000,000	$ 2,591,000,000	$ 2,441,000,000	$ 10,636,000,000	$ 10,360,000,000	$ 10,057,000,000
Gross margin		959,000,000	1,033,000,000	1,031,000,000	961,000,000	1,100,000,000	1,056,000,000	1,030,000,000	964,000,000	3,984,000,000	4,150,000,000	3,549,000,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations		(488,000,000)	61,000,000	95,000,000	6,000,000	219,000,000	37,000,000	(27,000,000)	(48,000,000)	(326,000,000)	181,000,000	(3,113,000,000)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax		(22,000,000)	83,000,000	(406,000,000)	33,000,000	27,000,000	2,474,000,000	(112,000,000)	93,000,000	(312,000,000)	2,482,000,000	692,000,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations		(510,000,000)	144,000,000	(311,000,000)	39,000,000	246,000,000	2,511,000,000	(139,000,000)	45,000,000	(638,000,000)	2,663,000,000	(2,421,000,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to Baxter stockholders		$ (512,000,000)	$ 140,000,000	$ (314,000,000)	$ 37,000,000	$ 245,000,000	$ 2,508,000,000	$ (141,000,000)	$ 44,000,000	$ (649,000,000)	$ 2,656,000,000	$ (2,433,000,000)
Income (loss) from continuing operations per common share
Basic (in dollars per share)		$ (0.95)	$ 0.12	$ 0.19	$ 0.01	$ 0.43	$ 0.07	$ (0.05)	$ (0.10)	$ (0.64)	$ 0.36	$ (6.18)
Diluted (in dollars per share)		(0.95)	0.12	0.19	0.01	0.43	0.07	(0.05)	(0.10)	(0.64)	0.36	(6.18)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations per common share
Basic (in dollars per share)		(0.05)	0.15	(0.81)	0.06	0.05	4.88	(0.23)	0.19	(0.63)	4.89	1.35
Diluted (in dollars per share)		(0.05)	0.15	(0.81)	0.06	0.05	4.86	(0.23)	0.19	(0.63)	4.87	1.35
Net Income (loss) per common share
Basic (in dollars per share)		(1.00)	0.27	(0.62)	0.07	0.48	4.95	(0.28)	0.09	(1.27)	5.25	(4.83)
Diluted (in dollars per share)		$ (1.00)	$ 0.27	$ (0.62)	$ 0.07	$ 0.48	$ 4.93	$ (0.28)	$ 0.09	$ (1.27)	$ 5.23	$ (4.83)
Other long-lived asset impairments			$ 267,000,000							$ 44,000,000	$ (11,000,000)	$ 9,000,000
Goodwill impairments										425,000,000	0	2,812,000,000
Healthcare Systems & Technologies | Front Line Care
Net Income (loss) per common share
Goodwill impairments		$ 425,000,000								425,000,000
Manufacturing Facility
Net Income (loss) per common share
Other long-lived asset impairments				$ 243,000,000
Kidney Care
Net Income (loss) per common share
Goodwill impairments				$ 430,000,000
Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale
Effect of Fourth Quarter Events [Line Items]
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax										(312,000,000)	2,482,000,000	692,000,000
Net Income (loss) per common share
Goodwill impairments										430,000,000	0	0
Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale | BioPharma Solutions
Effect of Fourth Quarter Events [Line Items]
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax										0	2,732,000,000	233,000,000
Net Income (loss) per common share
Pre-tax gain on sale	$ 2,880,000,000
Goodwill impairments										0	0	0
Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale | Kidney Care
Effect of Fourth Quarter Events [Line Items]
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax										(312,000,000)	(250,000,000)	459,000,000
Net Income (loss) per common share
Goodwill impairments										$ 430,000,000	$ 0	$ 0