Target allocation maximum percentage of investments of this type to total plan assets presented on a weighted average basis.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (c)(i)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65897934&loc=d3e2446-114920

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)(i)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65897934&loc=d3e1928-114920

+ Details

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

- Definition

Target allocation minimum percentage of investments of this type to total plan assets presented on a weighted average basis.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)(i)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65897934&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (c)(i)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65897934&loc=d3e2446-114920

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of employer's best estimate of contributions expected to be paid to the plan during the next fiscal year beginning after the date of the latest statement of financial position.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansEstimatedFutureEmployerContributionsInNextFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of the cost recognized during the period for defined contribution plans.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 70
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170846&loc=d3e28014-114942

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis=us-gaap_UnitedStatesPensionPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis=us-gaap_ScenarioForecastMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis=us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis=us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis=zbh_NonTraditionalInvestmentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis=us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis=us-gaap_RealEstateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis=us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis=zbh_OtherFundsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Retirement Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Expense related to defined contribution plan		$ 42,500,000	$ 40,200,000	$ 32,800,000
U.S. and Puerto Rico [Member] \| Scenario, Forecast [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Contribution towards defined benefit plans	$ 0
U.S. and Puerto Rico [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Minimum range of assets held by defined benefit plan for cash funds		40.00%
Maximum range of assets held by defined benefit plan for cash funds		45.00%
U.S. and Puerto Rico [Member] \| Debt Securities [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Minimum range of assets held by defined benefit plan for cash funds		30.00%
Maximum range of assets held by defined benefit plan for cash funds		35.00%
U.S. and Puerto Rico [Member] \| Non-Traditional Investments [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Minimum range of assets held by defined benefit plan for cash funds		20.00%
Maximum range of assets held by defined benefit plan for cash funds		25.00%
Foreign-based Defined Benefit Plans [Member] \| Scenario, Forecast [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Contribution towards defined benefit plans	$ 14,900,000
Foreign-based Defined Benefit Plans [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Minimum range of assets held by defined benefit plan for cash funds		20.00%
Maximum range of assets held by defined benefit plan for cash funds		37.00%
Foreign-based Defined Benefit Plans [Member] \| Debt Securities [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Minimum range of assets held by defined benefit plan for cash funds		30.00%
Maximum range of assets held by defined benefit plan for cash funds		50.00%
Foreign-based Defined Benefit Plans [Member] \| Real Estate [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Minimum range of assets held by defined benefit plan for cash funds		15.00%
Maximum range of assets held by defined benefit plan for cash funds		24.00%
Foreign-based Defined Benefit Plans [Member] \| Cash Fund [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Minimum range of assets held by defined benefit plan for cash funds		3.00%
Maximum range of assets held by defined benefit plan for cash funds		15.00%
Foreign-based Defined Benefit Plans [Member] \| Other Funds [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Minimum range of assets held by defined benefit plan for cash funds		0.00%
Maximum range of assets held by defined benefit plan for cash funds		12.00%