Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 719.0us-gaap_ProfitLoss	$ 759.2us-gaap_ProfitLoss	$ 752.9us-gaap_ProfitLoss
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	375.8	358.5	363.1
Goodwill impairment	0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss	0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss	96.0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss
Share-based compensation	49.4us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	48.5us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	55.0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
Income tax benefit from stock option exercises	37.2	38.4	11.0
Excess income tax benefit from stock option exercises	(11.1)	(8.6)	(2.7)
Inventory step-up	5.4zmh_InventoryStepUp	8.0zmh_InventoryStepUp	4.8zmh_InventoryStepUp
Deferred income tax provision	(84.2)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	(126.2)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	(64.8)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquired assets and liabilities
Income taxes payable	(51.9)	96.8	59.2
Receivables	(40.4)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInReceivables	(74.3)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInReceivables	(45.5)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInReceivables
Inventories	(154.1)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	(128.4)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	(67.5)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	120.1	38.3	47.8
Other assets and liabilities	87.6	(47.1)	(57.4)
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,052.8	963.1	1,151.9
Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities:
Additions to instruments	(197.4)zmh_AdditionsToInstruments	(192.9)zmh_AdditionsToInstruments	(148.9)zmh_AdditionsToInstruments
Additions to other property, plant and equipment	(144.9)	(100.0)	(114.7)
Purchases of investments	(1,350.9)	(732.7)	(1,130.1)
Sales of investments	1,282.2	830.8	878.5
Business combination investments	(54.3)	(74.2)	(59.0)
Investments in other assets	(4.1)	(13.5)	(17.9)
Net cash used in investing activities	(469.4)	(282.5)	(592.1)
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities:
Payment of senior notes	(250.0)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfSeniorDebt
Net proceeds (payments) under revolving credit facilities	2.3	(97.5)	(50.1)
Proceeds from term loans			147.3
Dividends paid to stockholders	(145.5)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock	(132.4)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock	(94.4)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock
Debt issuance costs	(64.1)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts		(3.3)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts
Equity issuance costs	(0.4)us-gaap_PaymentsOfStockIssuanceCosts
Proceeds from employee stock compensation plans	284.7	474.8	46.9
Excess income tax benefit from stock option exercises	11.1	8.6	2.7
Purchase of additional shares from noncontrolling interest		(1.8)us-gaap_PaymentsToMinorityShareholders
Repurchase of common stock	(400.5)	(719.0)	(485.6)
Net cash used in financing activities	(562.4)	(467.3)	(436.5)
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents	(18.3)	(17.0)	(7.3)
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	2.7	196.3	116.0
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	1,080.6	884.3	768.3
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	$ 1,083.3	$ 1,080.6	$ 884.3

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Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Excludes cash and cash equivalents within disposal group and discontinued operation.