Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Oct. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity registrant name	BECTON DICKINSON & CO
Entity central index key	0000010795
Current fiscal year end date	--09-30
Entity filer category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document type	10-K
Document period end date	Sep. 30, 2017
Document fiscal year focus	2017
Document fiscal period focus	FY
Amendment flag	false
Entity common stock, shares outstanding (shares)		227,978,328
Entity well-known seasoned issuer	Yes
Entity voluntary filers	No
Entity current reporting status	Yes
Entity public float			$ 39,070,060,303