Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities - Gross Unrealized Losses from Derivative Instruments (Detail) - Cash Flow Hedges [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount of Gain / (Loss) Recognized in AOCI	$ (36.6)	$ (56.5)
Amount of Gain / (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI	11.0	31.7
Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount of Gain / (Loss) Recognized in AOCI	(37.2)	(56.5)
Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Cost of Products Sold [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount of Gain / (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI	11.1	32.1
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount of Gain / (Loss) Recognized in AOCI	0.6
Forward Starting Interest Rate Swaps [Member] \| Interest Expense [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount of Gain / (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI	$ (0.1)	$ (0.4)

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.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The effective portion of net gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into income on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4C
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64837297&loc=SL5624171-113959

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4D
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64837297&loc=SL5624177-113959

+ Details

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

- Definition

The effective portion of gains and losses (net) on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments that was recognized in other comprehensive income during the current period.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis=us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=us-gaap_CostOfSalesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=zbh_ForwardStartingInterestRateSwapsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=zbh_InterestExpenseNetMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: