3.3.1.900 html 752 811 1 false 196 0 false 22 false false R1.htm 00090 - Document - Document and Entity Information Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DocumentDocumentAndEntityInformation Document and Entity Information Cover 1 false false R2.htm 00100 - Statement - Consolidated Income Statements Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/StatementConsolidatedIncomeStatements Consolidated Income Statements Statements 2 false false R3.htm 00200 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/StatementConsolidatedStatementsOfComprehensiveIncome Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income Statements 3 false false R4.htm 00300 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/StatementConsolidatedBalanceSheets Consolidated Balance Sheets Statements 4 false false R5.htm 00305 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/StatementConsolidatedBalanceSheetsParenthetical Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) Statements 5 false false R6.htm 00400 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/StatementConsolidatedStatementsOfCashFlows Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Statements 6 false false R7.htm 00500 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/StatementConsolidatedStatementsOfChangesInStockholdersEquity Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity Statements 7 false false R8.htm 10101 - Disclosure - The Company Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureCompany The Company Notes 8 false false R9.htm 10201 - Disclosure - Significant accounting policies Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureSignificantAccountingPolicies Significant accounting policies Notes 9 false false R10.htm 10301 - Disclosure - Acquisitions and business divestments Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureAcquisitionsAndBusinessDivestments Acquisitions and business divestments Notes 10 false false R11.htm 10401 - Disclosure - Cash and equivalents, marketable securities and short-term investments Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureCashAndEquivalentsMarketableSecuritiesAndShortTermInvestments Cash and equivalents, marketable securities and short-term investments Notes 11 false false R12.htm 10501 - Disclosure - Derivative financial instruments Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureDerivativeFinancialInstruments Derivative financial instruments Notes 12 false false R13.htm 10601 - Disclosure - Fair values Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureFairValues Fair values Notes 13 false false R14.htm 10701 - Disclosure - Receivables, net Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureReceivablesNet Receivables, net Notes 14 false false R15.htm 10801 - Disclosure - Inventories, net Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureInventoriesNet Inventories, net Notes 15 false false R16.htm 10901 - Disclosure - Other non-current assets Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureOtherNonCurrentAssets Other non-current assets Notes 16 false false R17.htm 11001 - Disclosure - Property, plant and equipment, net Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosurePropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet Property, plant and equipment, net Notes 17 false false R18.htm 11101 - Disclosure - Goodwill and other intangible assets Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureGoodwillAndOtherIntangibleAssets Goodwill and other intangible assets Notes 18 false false R19.htm 11201 - Disclosure - Debt Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureDebt Debt Notes 19 false false R20.htm 11301 - Disclosure - Other provisions, other current liabilities and other non-current liabilities Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureOtherProvisionsOtherCurrentLiabilitiesAndOtherNonCurrentLiabilities Other provisions, other current liabilities and other non-current liabilities Notes 20 false false R21.htm 11401 - Disclosure - Leases Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureLeases Leases Notes 21 false false R22.htm 11501 - Disclosure - Commitments and contingencies Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureCommitmentsAndContingencies Commitments and contingencies Notes 22 false false R23.htm 11601 - Disclosure - Taxes Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureTaxes Taxes Notes 23 false false R24.htm 11701 - Disclosure - Employee benefits Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureEmployeeBenefits Employee benefits Notes 24 false false R25.htm 11801 - Disclosure - Share-based payment arrangements Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureShareBasedPaymentArrangements Share-based payment arrangements Notes 25 false false R26.htm 11901 - Disclosure - Stockholders' equity Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureStockholdersEquity Stockholders' equity Notes 26 false false R27.htm 12001 - Disclosure - Earnings per share Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureEarningsPerShare Earnings per share Notes 27 false false R28.htm 12101 - Disclosure - Other comprehensive income Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureOtherComprehensiveIncome Other comprehensive income Notes 28 false false R29.htm 12201 - Disclosure - Restructuring and related expenses Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureRestructuringAndRelatedExpenses Restructuring and related expenses Notes 29 false false R30.htm 12301 - Disclosure - Operating segment and geographic data Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureOperatingSegmentAndGeographicData Operating segment and geographic data Notes 30 false false R31.htm 20202 - Disclosure - Significant accounting policies (Policies) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureSignificantAccountingPoliciesPolicies Significant accounting policies (Policies) Policies 31 false false R32.htm 30303 - Disclosure - Acquisitions and business divestments (Tables) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureAcquisitionsAndBusinessDivestmentsTables Acquisitions and business divestments (Tables) Tables http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureAcquisitionsAndBusinessDivestments 32 false false R33.htm 30403 - Disclosure - Cash and equivalents, marketable securities and short-term investments (Tables) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureCashAndEquivalentsMarketableSecuritiesAndShortTermInvestmentsTables Cash and equivalents, marketable securities and short-term investments (Tables) Tables http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureCashAndEquivalentsMarketableSecuritiesAndShortTermInvestments 33 false false R34.htm 30503 - Disclosure - Derivative financial instruments (Tables) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureDerivativeFinancialInstrumentsTables Derivative financial instruments (Tables) Tables http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureDerivativeFinancialInstruments 34 false false R35.htm 30603 - Disclosure - Fair values (Tables) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureFairValuesTables Fair values (Tables) Tables http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureFairValues 35 false false R36.htm 30703 - Disclosure - Receivables, net (Tables) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureReceivablesNetTables Receivables, net (Tables) Tables http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureReceivablesNet 36 false false R37.htm 30803 - Disclosure - Inventories, net (Tables) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureInventoriesNetTables Inventories, net (Tables) Tables http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureInventoriesNet 37 false false R38.htm 30903 - Disclosure - Other non-current assets (Tables) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureOtherNonCurrentAssetsTables Other non-current assets (Tables) Tables http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureOtherNonCurrentAssets 38 false false R39.htm 31003 - Disclosure - Property, plant and equipment, net (Tables) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosurePropertyPlantAndEquipmentNetTables Property, plant and equipment, net (Tables) Tables http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosurePropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet 39 false false R40.htm 31103 - Disclosure - Goodwill and other intangible assets (Tables) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureGoodwillAndOtherIntangibleAssetsTables Goodwill and other intangible assets (Tables) Tables http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureGoodwillAndOtherIntangibleAssets 40 false false R41.htm 31203 - Disclosure - Debt (Tables) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureDebtTables Debt (Tables) Tables http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureDebt 41 false false R42.htm 31303 - Disclosure - Other provisions, other current liabilities and other non-current liabilities (Tables) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureOtherProvisionsOtherCurrentLiabilitiesAndOtherNonCurrentLiabilitiesTables Other provisions, other current liabilities and other non-current liabilities (Tables) Tables http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureOtherProvisionsOtherCurrentLiabilitiesAndOtherNonCurrentLiabilities 42 false false R43.htm 31403 - Disclosure - Leases (Tables) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureLeasesTables Leases (Tables) Tables http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureLeases 43 false false R44.htm 31503 - Disclosure - Commitments and contingencies (Tables) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureCommitmentsAndContingenciesTables Commitments and contingencies (Tables) Tables http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureCommitmentsAndContingencies 44 false false R45.htm 31603 - Disclosure - Taxes (Tables) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureTaxesTables Taxes (Tables) Tables http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureTaxes 45 false false R46.htm 31703 - Disclosure - Employee benefits (Tables) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureEmployeeBenefitsTables Employee benefits (Tables) Tables http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureEmployeeBenefits 46 false false R47.htm 31803 - Disclosure - Share-based payment arrangements (Tables) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureShareBasedPaymentArrangementsTables Share-based payment arrangements (Tables) Tables http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureShareBasedPaymentArrangements 47 false false R48.htm 32003 - Disclosure - Earnings per share (Tables) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureEarningsPerShareTables Earnings per share (Tables) Tables http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureEarningsPerShare 48 false false R49.htm 32103 - Disclosure - Other comprehensive income (Tables) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureOtherComprehensiveIncomeTables Other comprehensive income (Tables) Tables http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureOtherComprehensiveIncome 49 false false R50.htm 32203 - Disclosure - Restructuring and related expenses (Tables) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureRestructuringAndRelatedExpensesTables Restructuring and related expenses (Tables) Tables http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureRestructuringAndRelatedExpenses 50 false false R51.htm 32303 - Disclosure - Operating segment and geographic data (Tables) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureOperatingSegmentAndGeographicDataTables Operating segment and geographic data (Tables) Tables http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureOperatingSegmentAndGeographicData 51 false false R52.htm 40201 - Disclosure - Significant accounting policies - General (Details) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureSignificantAccountingPoliciesGeneralDetails Significant accounting policies - General (Details) Details 52 false false R53.htm 40202 - Disclosure - Significant accounting policies - Intangibles (Details 2) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureSignificantAccountingPoliciesIntangiblesDetails2 Significant accounting policies - Intangibles (Details 2) Details 53 false false R54.htm 40203 - Disclosure - Significant accounting policies - New Accounting Pronouncements (Details 3) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureSignificantAccountingPoliciesNewAccountingPronouncementsDetails3 Significant accounting policies - New Accounting Pronouncements (Details 3) Details 54 false false R55.htm 40301 - Disclosure - Acquisitions and business divestments - Acquisitions (Details) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureAcquisitionsAndBusinessDivestmentsAcquisitionsDetails Acquisitions and business divestments - Acquisitions (Details) Details 55 false false R56.htm 40302 - Disclosure - Acquisitions and business divestments - Divestments (Details 2) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureAcquisitionsAndBusinessDivestmentsDivestmentsDetails2 Acquisitions and business divestments - Divestments (Details 2) Details 56 false false R57.htm 40401 - Disclosure - Cash and equivalents, marketable securities and short-term investments - Unrealized gains and losses (Details) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureCashAndEquivalentsMarketableSecuritiesAndShortTermInvestmentsUnrealizedGainsAndLossesDetails Cash and equivalents, marketable securities and short-term investments - Unrealized gains and losses (Details) Details 57 false false R58.htm 40402 - Disclosure - Cash and equivalents, marketable securities and short-term investments - Contractual maturities (Details 2) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureCashAndEquivalentsMarketableSecuritiesAndShortTermInvestmentsContractualMaturitiesDetails2 Cash and equivalents, marketable securities and short-term investments - Contractual maturities (Details 2) Details 58 false false R59.htm 40501 - Disclosure - Derivative financial instruments - General informaiton and gain or loss recognized or reclassified (Details) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureDerivativeFinancialInstrumentsGeneralInformaitonAndGainOrLossRecognizedOrReclassifiedDetails Derivative financial instruments - General informaiton and gain or loss recognized or reclassified (Details) Details 59 false false R60.htm 40502 - Disclosure - Derivative financial instruments - Balance sheet location (Details 2) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureDerivativeFinancialInstrumentsBalanceSheetLocationDetails2 Derivative financial instruments - Balance sheet location (Details 2) Details 60 false false R61.htm 40503 - Disclosure - Derivative financial instruments - Offsetting assets (Details 3) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureDerivativeFinancialInstrumentsOffsettingAssetsDetails3 Derivative financial instruments - Offsetting assets (Details 3) Details 61 false false R62.htm 40504 - Disclosure - Derivative financial instruments - Offsetting liabilities (Details 4) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureDerivativeFinancialInstrumentsOffsettingLiabilitiesDetails4 Derivative financial instruments - Offsetting liabilities (Details 4) Details 62 false false R63.htm 40601 - Disclosure - Fair values - Fair value hierarchy (Details) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureFairValuesFairValueHierarchyDetails Fair values - Fair value hierarchy (Details) Details 63 false false R64.htm 40602 - Disclosure - Fair values - Carrying value and fair value (Details 2) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureFairValuesCarryingValueAndFairValueDetails2 Fair values - Carrying value and fair value (Details 2) Details 64 false false R65.htm 40701 - Disclosure - Receivables, net (Details) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureReceivablesNetDetails Receivables, net (Details) Details http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureReceivablesNetTables 65 false false R66.htm 40801 - Disclosure - Inventories, net (Details) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureInventoriesNetDetails Inventories, net (Details) Details http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureInventoriesNetTables 66 false false R67.htm 40901 - Disclosure - Other non-current assets (Details) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureOtherNonCurrentAssetsDetails Other non-current assets (Details) Details http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureOtherNonCurrentAssetsTables 67 false false R68.htm 41001 - Disclosure - Property, plant and equipment, net (Details) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosurePropertyPlantAndEquipmentNetDetails Property, plant and equipment, net (Details) Details http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosurePropertyPlantAndEquipmentNetTables 68 false false R69.htm 41101 - Disclosure - Goodwill and other intangible assets - Changes in goodwill (Details) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureGoodwillAndOtherIntangibleAssetsChangesInGoodwillDetails Goodwill and other intangible assets - Changes in goodwill (Details) Details 69 false false R70.htm 41102 - Disclosure - Goodwill and other intangible assets - Future amortization (Details 2) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureGoodwillAndOtherIntangibleAssetsFutureAmortizationDetails2 Goodwill and other intangible assets - Future amortization (Details 2) Details 70 false false R71.htm 41201 - Disclosure - Debt (Details) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureDebtDetails Debt (Details) Details http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureDebtTables 71 false false R72.htm 41301 - Disclosure - Other provisions, other current liabilities and other non-current liabilities (Details) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureOtherProvisionsOtherCurrentLiabilitiesAndOtherNonCurrentLiabilitiesDetails Other provisions, other current liabilities and other non-current liabilities (Details) Details http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureOtherProvisionsOtherCurrentLiabilitiesAndOtherNonCurrentLiabilitiesTables 72 false false R73.htm 41401 - Disclosure - Leases (Details) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureLeasesDetails Leases (Details) Details http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureLeasesTables 73 false false R74.htm 41501 - Disclosure - Commitments and contingencies - Contingencies (Details) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureCommitmentsAndContingenciesContingenciesDetails Commitments and contingencies - Contingencies (Details) Details 74 false false R75.htm 41502 - Disclosure - Commitments and contingencies - Product warranty reconciliation (Details 2) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureCommitmentsAndContingenciesProductWarrantyReconciliationDetails2 Commitments and contingencies - Product warranty reconciliation (Details 2) Details 75 false false R76.htm 41601 - Disclosure - Taxes - Provision, Reconciliation, and Deferred Taxes (Details) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureTaxesProvisionReconciliationAndDeferredTaxesDetails Taxes - Provision, Reconciliation, and Deferred Taxes (Details) Details 76 false false R77.htm 41602 - Disclosure - Taxes - Unrecognized tax benefits (Details 2) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureTaxesUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDetails2 Taxes - Unrecognized tax benefits (Details 2) Details 77 false false R78.htm 41701 - Disclosure - Employee benefits - Change in benefit obligation and fair value of plan assets (Details) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureEmployeeBenefitsChangeInBenefitObligationAndFairValueOfPlanAssetsDetails Employee benefits - Change in benefit obligation and fair value of plan assets (Details) Details 78 false false R79.htm 41702 - Disclosure - Employee benefits - Balance sheet location and funded status (Details 2) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureEmployeeBenefitsBalanceSheetLocationAndFundedStatusDetails2 Employee benefits - Balance sheet location and funded status (Details 2) Details 79 false false R80.htm 41703 - Disclosure - Employee benefits - Net periodic benefit costs and assumptions (Details 3) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureEmployeeBenefitsNetPeriodicBenefitCostsAndAssumptionsDetails3 Employee benefits - Net periodic benefit costs and assumptions (Details 3) Details 80 false false R81.htm 41704 - Disclosure - Employee benefits - Target asset allocation (Details 4) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureEmployeeBenefitsTargetAssetAllocationDetails4 Employee benefits - Target asset allocation (Details 4) Details 81 false false R82.htm 41705 - Disclosure - Employee benefits - Fair value of plan assets (Details 5) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureEmployeeBenefitsFairValueOfPlanAssetsDetails5 Employee benefits - Fair value of plan assets (Details 5) Details 82 false false R83.htm 41706 - Disclosure - Employee benefits - Level three rollforward (Details 6) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureEmployeeBenefitsLevelThreeRollforwardDetails6 Employee benefits - Level three rollforward (Details 6) Details 83 false false R84.htm 41707 - Disclosure - Employee benefits - Contributions (Details 7) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureEmployeeBenefitsContributionsDetails7 Employee benefits - Contributions (Details 7) Details 84 false false R85.htm 41801 - Disclosure - Share-based payment arrangements - General and MIP (Details) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureShareBasedPaymentArrangementsGeneralAndMipDetails Share-based payment arrangements - General and MIP (Details) Details 85 false false R86.htm 41802 - Disclosure - Share-based payment arrangements - WARs (Details 2) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureShareBasedPaymentArrangementsWarsDetails2 Share-based payment arrangements - WARs (Details 2) Details http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureShareBasedPaymentArrangementsTables 86 false false R87.htm 41803 - Disclosure - Share-based payment arrangements - ESAP (Details 3) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureShareBasedPaymentArrangementsEsapDetails3 Share-based payment arrangements - ESAP (Details 3) Details http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureShareBasedPaymentArrangementsTables 87 false false R88.htm 41804 - Disclosure - Share-based payment arrangements - LTIP (Details 4) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureShareBasedPaymentArrangementsLtipDetails4 Share-based payment arrangements - LTIP (Details 4) Details http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureShareBasedPaymentArrangementsTables 88 false false R89.htm 41901 - Disclosure - Stockholders' equity - General and dividends (Detail) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureStockholdersEquityGeneralAndDividendsDetail Stockholders' equity - General and dividends (Detail) Details 89 false false R90.htm 41902 - Disclosure - Stockholders' equity - Treasury stock activity (Details 2) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureStockholdersEquityTreasuryStockActivityDetails2 Stockholders' equity - Treasury stock activity (Details 2) Details 90 false false R91.htm 41903 - Disclosure - Stockholders' equity - Obligations to deliver(Details 3) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureStockholdersEquityObligationsToDeliverDetails3 Stockholders' equity - Obligations to deliver(Details 3) Details 91 false false R92.htm 42001 - Disclosure - Earnings per share (Details) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureEarningsPerShareDetails Earnings per share (Details) Details http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureEarningsPerShareTables 92 false false R93.htm 42101 - Disclosure - Other comprehensive income - Amounts recorded within "Total other comprehensive income (loss)" (Details) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureOtherComprehensiveIncomeAmountsRecordedWithintotalOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDetails Other comprehensive income - Amounts recorded within "Total other comprehensive income (loss)" (Details) Details 93 false false R94.htm 42102 - Disclosure - Other comprehensive income - Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details 2) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureOtherComprehensiveIncomeChangesInAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDetails2 Other comprehensive income - Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details 2) Details 94 false false R95.htm 42103 - Disclosure - Other comprehensive income - Reclassifications out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details 3) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureOtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationsOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDetails3 Other comprehensive income - Reclassifications out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details 3) Details 95 false false R96.htm 42201 - Disclosure - Restructuring and related expenses (Details) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureRestructuringAndRelatedExpensesDetails Restructuring and related expenses (Details) Details http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureRestructuringAndRelatedExpensesTables 96 false false R97.htm 42301 - Disclosure - Operating segment and geographic data - Income and expense by segment (Details) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureOperatingSegmentAndGeographicDataIncomeAndExpenseBySegmentDetails Operating segment and geographic data - Income and expense by segment (Details) Details 97 false false R98.htm 42302 - Disclosure - Operating segment and geographic data - Depreciation and amortization, Capital expenditure, and Total assets by segment (Details 2) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureOperatingSegmentAndGeographicDataDepreciationAndAmortizationCapitalExpenditureAndTotalAssetsBySegmentDetails2 Operating segment and geographic data - Depreciation and amortization, Capital expenditure, and Total assets by segment (Details 2) Details 98 false false R99.htm 42303 - Disclosure - Operating segment and geographic data - Geographical information for revenues and long-lived assets (Details 3) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureOperatingSegmentAndGeographicDataGeographicalInformationForRevenuesAndLongLivedAssetsDetails3 Operating segment and geographic data - Geographical information for revenues and long-lived assets (Details 3) Details 99 false false R100.htm 42304 - Disclosure - Operating segment and geographic data - Concentration risk (Details 4) Sheet http://www.abb.com/role/DisclosureOperatingSegmentAndGeographicDataConcentrationRiskDetails4 Operating segment and geographic data - Concentration risk (Details 4) Details 100 false false All Reports Book All Reports abb-20151231.xml abb-20151231.xsd abb-20151231_cal.xml abb-20151231_def.xml abb-20151231_lab.xml abb-20151231_pre.xml true true