Name:	abb_NumberOfReportingEntitysSharesRepresentingEachADS
Namespace Prefix:	abb_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The element represents the number of additional free shares given for every 10 shares bought through exercise of the options.

No definition available.

Name:	abb_NumberOfReportingEntitysSharesToBeDeliveredBoughtThroughExerciseOfOptions
Namespace Prefix:	abb_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The element represents the number of shares that if purchased through exercise of the options will give one additional fee share.

No definition available.

Name:	abb_NumberOfReportingEntitysSharesWhichExercisePriceEffectivelyReduced
Namespace Prefix:	abb_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

This element represents the time period on which the interest rate for the risk-free rate is based.

No definition available.

Name:	abb_PeriodOfReportingCurrenciesInterestRateAsBasisForRiskFreeInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	abb_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

This element represents the number of months within each savings period for the entity's employees to contribute towards the plan.

No definition available.

Name:	abb_PeriodOfSavingsAsMonthlySalaryDeduction
Namespace Prefix:	abb_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The contractual term of the award, expressed in years.

No definition available.

Name:	abb_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardContractualLife
Namespace Prefix:	abb_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The weighted average grant-date fair value of options granted during the reporting period, expressed in Swiss francs.

No definition available.

Name:	abb_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	abb_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The weighted-average price of awards forfeited during the period under a share-based compensation plan.

No definition available.

Name:	abb_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePricePerShare
Namespace Prefix:	abb_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

This element represents the decrease in the number of reserved shares due to returning of savings along with interest, under the plan.

No definition available.

Name:	abb_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsNotExercisedInPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	abb_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The weighted-average exercise price for those options which participants elected to receive their savings plus interest instead of exercising their options to acquire shares under a share-based compensation plan during the reporting period.

No definition available.

Name:	abb_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsNotExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Namespace Prefix:	abb_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The weighted-average exercise price for options that are vested or expected to vest under a share-based compensation plan as of the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

Name:	abb_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePricePerShare
Namespace Prefix:	abb_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Represents stated weighted average exercise prices per share at which grantees can acquire shares of common stock by exercise of options before taking into account the reduction of the exercise price before receiving the free shares.

No definition available.

Name:	abb_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodStatedExercisePriceBeforeFreeShare
Namespace Prefix:	abb_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The weighted average price as of the balance sheet date at which grantees can acquire the shares reserved for issuance under the share-based compensation plan.

No definition available.

Name:	abb_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Namespace Prefix:	abb_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The estimated dividend rate (a percentage of the share price) to be paid (expected dividends) to holders of the underlying shares over the option's term.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (f)(2)(iii)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The estimated measure of the percentage by which a share price is expected to fluctuate during a period. Volatility also may be defined as a probability-weighted measure of the dispersion of returns about the mean. The volatility of a share price is the standard deviation of the continuously compounded rates of return on the share over a specified period. That is the same as the standard deviation of the differences in the natural logarithms of the stock prices plus dividends, if any, over the period.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (f)(2)(ii)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The risk-free interest rate assumption that is used in valuing an option on its own shares.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (f)(2)(iv)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The number of shares under options that were cancelled during the reporting period as a result of occurrence of a terminating event specified in contractual agreements pertaining to the stock option plan.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(1)(iv)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Net number of share options (or share units) granted during the period.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(1)(iv)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount by which the current fair value of the underlying stock exceeds the exercise price of options outstanding.

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Number of options outstanding, including both vested and non-vested options.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(1)(i)-(ii)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

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

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingRollForward
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The number of exercisable share options (fully vested and expected to vest) that may be converted as of the balance sheet date.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (e)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestExercisableNumber
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Weighted average per share amount at which grantees can acquire shares of common stock by exercise of options.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Expected term of share-based compensation awards, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 14.D.2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27013229&loc=d3e301413-122809

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (f)(2)(i)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 14
-Section D
-Subsection 2

Name:	us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedTerm1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Weighted average remaining contractual term for option awards outstanding, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (e)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

Name:	us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm2
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Weighted average remaining contractual term for fully vested and expected to vest options that are exercisable or convertible, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (e)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901