Business Combinations - Pro forma Financial Information Adjusted to Give Effect to the Merger (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Business Combination Increase Decrease To Reflect Liabilities Acquired At Fair Value [Abstract]
Net Sales	$ 7,517.7	$ 7,965.2
Net Earnings	$ 330.2	$ 320.3

The pro forma net Income or Loss for the period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(2)-(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65885119&loc=d3e1392-128463

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionsProFormaNetIncomeLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The pro forma revenue for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of the period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionsProFormaRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Business Combination Increase Decrease To Reflect Liabilities Acquired At Fair Value [Abstract]

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	zbh_BusinessCombinationIncreaseDecreaseToReflectLiabilitiesAcquiredAtFairValueAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	zbh_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration