Condensed Consolidated Statements of Loss (unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2025	Jun. 30, 2024	Jun. 30, 2025	Jun. 30, 2024
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 2,810	$ 2,694	$ 5,435	$ 5,184
Cost of sales	1,819	1,663	3,583	3,192
Gross margin	991	1,031	1,852	1,992
Selling, general and administrative expenses	718	723	1,421	1,452
Research and development expenses	134	130	274	250
Other operating income, net	(52)	(1)	(92)	(4)
Operating income	191	179	249	294
Interest expense, net	58	86	122	164
Other (income) expense, net	0	24	3	33
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	133	117	130	163
Income tax expense (benefit)	11	22	(56)	62
Income (loss) from continuing operations	122	95	186	101
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(31)	(406)	31	(373)
Net income (loss)	91	(311)	217	(272)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests included in continuing operations	0	0	0	0
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests included in discontinued operations	0	3	0	5
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	3	0	5
Net income (loss) attributable to Baxter stockholders	$ 91	$ (314)	$ 217	$ (277)
Income (loss) from continuing operations per common share
Income from continuing operations per common share, basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.24	$ 0.19	$ 0.36	$ 0.20
Income from continuing operations per common share, diluted (in dollars per share)	0.24	0.19	0.36	0.20
Income (loss) from discontinued operations per common share
Income from discontinued operations per common share, basic (in dollars per share)	(0.06)	(0.81)	0.06	(0.74)
Income from discontinued operations per common share, diluted (in dollars per share)	(0.06)	(0.80)	0.06	(0.74)
Income (loss) per common share
Basic (in dollars per share)	0.18	(0.62)	0.42	(0.54)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.18	$ (0.61)	$ 0.42	$ (0.54)
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding
Basic (in shares)	513	510	512	509
Diluted (in shares)	514	511	514	510