CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS) - USD ($) shares in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	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
Income Statement [Abstract]
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
Cost of sales									6,652,000,000	6,210,000,000	6,508,000,000
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
Selling, general and administrative expenses									2,967,000,000	2,953,000,000	3,097,000,000
Research and development expenses									590,000,000	518,000,000	450,000,000
Goodwill impairments									425,000,000	0	2,812,000,000
Other operating expense (income), net									(12,000,000)	(28,000,000)	35,000,000
Operating income (loss)									14,000,000	707,000,000	(2,845,000,000)
Interest expense, net									341,000,000	439,000,000	394,000,000
Other (income) expense, net									(38,000,000)	26,000,000	9,000,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(289,000,000)	242,000,000	(3,248,000,000)
Income tax (benefit) expense									37,000,000	61,000,000	(135,000,000)
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
Net income (loss)	(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)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests included in discontinued operations									11,000,000	7,000,000	12,000,000
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)
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding
Basic (in shares)									510	506	504
Diluted (in shares)									510	508	504