Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) (unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2026	Mar. 31, 2025
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 2,701	$ 2,625
Cost of sales	1,810	1,764
Gross margin	891	861
Selling, general and administrative expenses	728	703
Research and development expenses	139	140
Other operating income, net	(42)	(40)
Operating income	66	58
Interest expense, net	66	64
Other (income) expense, net	6	(3)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(6)	(3)
Income tax expense (benefit)	11	(67)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(17)	64
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	2	62
Net income (loss)	(15)	126
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Baxter stockholders	$ (15)	$ 126
Income (loss) from continuing operations per common share
Income from continuing operations per common share, basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.03)	$ 0.13
Income from continuing operations per common share, diluted (in dollars per share)	(0.03)	0.13
Income (loss) from discontinued operations per common share
Income from discontinued operations per common share, basic (in dollars per share)	0	0.12
Income from discontinued operations per common share, diluted (in dollars per share)	0	0.12
Income (loss) per common share
Basic (in dollars per share)	(0.03)	0.25
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.03)	$ 0.25
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding
Basic (in shares)	515	512
Diluted (in shares)	515	514