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- References

No definition available.

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- References

No definition available.

Name:	abb_TotalUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsAbstract
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The gross amount of decreases in penalties and interest related to unrecognized tax benefits resulting from tax positions taken in prior period tax returns, excluding amounts pertaining to examined tax returns.

No definition available.

Name:	abb_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
Namespace Prefix:	abb_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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The gross amount of decreases in penalties and interest related to unrecognized tax benefits resulting from settlements with taxing authorities.

No definition available.

Name:	abb_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities
Namespace Prefix:	abb_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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The gross amount of increases in penalties and interest related to unrecognized tax benefits resulting from tax positions that have been or will be taken in the tax return for the current period, excluding amounts pertaining to examined tax returns.

No definition available.

Name:	abb_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions
Namespace Prefix:	abb_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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The gross amount of increases in penalties and interest related to unrecognized tax benefits resulting from tax positions taken in prior period tax returns, excluding amounts pertaining to examined tax returns.

No definition available.

Name:	abb_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
Namespace Prefix:	abb_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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The gross amount of decreases in penalties and interest related to unrecognized tax benefits resulting from lapses of the applicable statutes of limitations.

No definition available.

Name:	abb_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations
Namespace Prefix:	abb_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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This element represents the amount of changes in penalties and interest related to unrecognized tax benefits resulting from exchange rate differences.

No definition available.

Name:	abb_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestResultingFromExchangeRateDifferences
Namespace Prefix:	abb_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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This element represents the net change in penalties and interest related to unrecognized tax benefits due to acquisitions and divestments.

No definition available.

Name:	abb_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestResultingInNetChangeDueToAcquisitionsAndDivestments
Namespace Prefix:	abb_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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This element represents the net change in unrecognized tax benefits due to acquisitions and divestments.

No definition available.

Name:	abb_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsNetChangeDueToAcquisitionsAndDivestments
Namespace Prefix:	abb_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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This element represents the amount of changes in unrecognized tax benefit resulting from exchange rate differences.

No definition available.

Name:	abb_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsResultingFromExchangeRateDifferences
Namespace Prefix:	abb_
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This element represents the total amount of decreases in unrecognized tax benefits that would impact the effective tax rate resulting from tax positions that have been or will be taken in the tax return for the current period.

No definition available.

Name:	abb_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRateDecreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions
Namespace Prefix:	abb_
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This element represents the total amount of decreases in unrecognized tax benefits that would impact the effective tax rate resulting from tax positions taken in prior period tax returns.

No definition available.

Name:	abb_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRateDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
Namespace Prefix:	abb_
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This element represents the total amount of decreases in unrecognized tax benefits that would impact the effective tax rate resulting from settlements with taxing authorities.

No definition available.

Name:	abb_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRateDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities
Namespace Prefix:	abb_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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This element represents the total amount of increases in unrecognized tax benefits that would impact the effective tax rate resulting from tax positions that have been or will be taken in the tax return for the current period.

No definition available.

Name:	abb_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRateIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions
Namespace Prefix:	abb_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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This element represents the total amount of increases in unrecognized tax benefits that would impact the effective tax rate resulting from tax positions taken in prior period tax returns.

No definition available.

Name:	abb_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRateIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
Namespace Prefix:	abb_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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This element represents the total amount of reductions in unrecognized tax benefits that would impact the effective tax rate resulting from lapses of the applicable statutes of limitations.

No definition available.

Name:	abb_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRateReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations
Namespace Prefix:	abb_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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This element represents the total amount of changes in unrecognized tax benefits that would impact the effective tax rate resulting from exchange rate differences.

No definition available.

Name:	abb_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRateResultingFromExchangeRateDifferences
Namespace Prefix:	abb_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

This element represents the total amount of change in unrecognized tax benefits that would impact the effective tax rate resulting from acquisitions and divestments.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	abb_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Amount of decrease reasonably possible in the next twelve months for the unrecognized tax benefit.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (d)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32718-109319

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A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

No definition available.

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Amount of unrecognized tax benefits pertaining to uncertain tax positions taken in tax returns.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 15A
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=SL6600010-109319

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Unrecognized Tax Benefit
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6527854

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Amount of decrease in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from tax positions that have been or will be taken in current period tax return.

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Amount of decrease in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from tax positions taken in prior period tax returns.

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Amount of decrease in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from settlements with taxing authorities.

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Amount accrued for interest on an underpayment of income taxes and penalties related to a tax position claimed or expected to be claimed in the tax return.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32718-109319

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Amount of increase in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from tax positions that have been or will be taken in current period tax return.

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Amount of increase in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from tax positions taken in prior period tax returns.

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Amount of decrease in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from lapses of applicable statutes of limitations.

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate.