1.0.0.3 false Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Millions false 1 $ false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 false 2 $ false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 5 Cash flows from (used in) operating activities: 3 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 6 Net income 4 us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 true true 385000000 385 false false 2 true true 869000000 869 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 7 Adjustments to reconcile to net cash flows from (used in) continuing operating activities: 4 us-gaap_AdjustmentsToReconcileNetIncomeLossToCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 8 Depreciation and amortization 5 us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 74000000 74 false false 2 false true 70000000 70 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 9 Gain on termination of joint venture 5 us-gaap_GainLossOnContractTermination us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 0 0 false false 2 false true -328000000 -328 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 10 Restructuring charges, net of cash payments 5 us-gaap_RestructuringCharges us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -19000000 -19 false false 2 false true -2000000 -2 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 11 Trademark impairment charge 5 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsIndefinitelivedExcludingGoodwill us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 453000000 453 false false 2 false true 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 12 Deferred income tax expense 5 us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxesAndTaxCredits us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -220000000 -220 false false 2 false true 140000000 140 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 13 Tobacco settlement accruals 5 rai_TobaccoSettlementAccruals rai false debit duration monetary Tobacco settlement accruals. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -527000000 -527 false false 2 false true -940000000 -940 false false Tobacco settlement accruals. No authoritative reference available. false 14 Other, net 5 us-gaap_AdjustmentsNoncashItemsToReconcileNetIncomeLossToCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesOther us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 145000000 145 false false 2 false true -110000000 -110 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 15 Net cash flows from (used in) operating activities 5 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesContinuingOperations us-gaap true na duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 291000000 291 false false 2 false true -301000000 -301 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 16 Cash flows from (used in) investing activities: 3 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 17 Proceeds from settlement of short-term investments 4 us-gaap_ProceedsFromMaturitiesPrepaymentsAndCallsOfAvailableForSaleSecurities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 17000000 17 false false 2 false true 211000000 211 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 18 Capital expenditures 4 us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -48000000 -48 false false 2 false true -70000000 -70 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 19 Proceeds from termination of joint venture 4 us-gaap_ProceedsFromDivestitureOfInterestInJointVenture us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 24000000 24 false false 2 false true 164000000 164 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 20 Other, net 4 us-gaap_PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 14000000 14 false false 2 false true 34000000 34 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 21 Net cash flows used in investing activities 4 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesContinuingOperations us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 7000000 7 false false 2 false true 339000000 339 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 22 Cash flows from (used in) financing activities: 3 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 23 Dividends paid on common stock 4 us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -495000000 -495 false false 2 false true -502000000 -502 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 24 Repurchase of common stock 4 us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -5000000 -5 false false 2 false true -118000000 -118 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 25 Repayment of long-term debt 4 us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -200000000 -200 false false 2 false true 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 26 Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation 4 us-gaap_ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationFinancingActivities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 1000000 1 false false 2 false true 2000000 2 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 27 Other, net 4 us-gaap_ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 1000000 1 false false 2 false true 1000000 1 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 28 Net cash flows used in financing activities 4 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesContinuingOperations us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -698000000 -698 false false 2 false true -617000000 -617 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 29 Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 3 us-gaap_EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalentsContinuingOperations us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 2000000 2 false false 2 false true 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 30 Net change in cash and cash equivalents 3 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease us-gaap true na duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -398000000 -398 false false 2 false true -579000000 -579 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 31 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 3 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false true false false 1 false true 2578000000 2578 false false 2 false true 2215000000 2215 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 32 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 3 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false true false 1 false true 2180000000 2180 false false 2 false true 1636000000 1636 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 33 Income taxes paid, net of refunds 3 us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaidNet us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 437000000 437 false false 2 false true 417000000 417 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 34 Interest paid 3 us-gaap_InterestPaidNet us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 true true 127000000 127 false false 2 true true 138000000 138 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false false 2 30 false Millions UnKnown UnKnown false true