FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Debt) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Adjustments to Principal Value, Fair value of interest rate swaps	$ 71		$ 146
Adjustments to Principal Value, Unamortized basis adjustment from swap terminations	470		509
Adjustments to Principal Value, Unamortized bond discounts	(54)		(54)
Total Long-term debt	7,122		7,232
Current portion of long-term debt	680		664
Principal value	6,635		6,631
Long-term debt	6,442		6,568
Interest payments	105	89
Long term debt, fair value	7,722		8,285
The average amount of commercial paper outstanding	253
The weighted average interest rate of commercial paper	0.13%
The maximum month end commercial paper outstanding	600
Extinguishment of Debt, Principal Value		80
Extinguishment Of Debt, Carrying Value		90
Extinguishment of Debt, Repurchase Price		109
Extinguishment of Debt, Notional amount of interest rate swaps terminated		6
Extinguishment of Debt, Swap Termination Proceeds		2
Extinguishment of Debt, Total loss		$ 19

This element represents the carrying value of the extinguished debt.

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Extinguishment of Debt, Principal Value

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the payment made to extinguish outstanding debt.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the adjustment to principal value of long term debt related to the fair value of interest rate swaps.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The notional amount of interest rate swaps terminated during the period related to a debt repurchase.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the proceeds received or paid upon termination of the interest rate swap.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Carrying amount of total debt obligations, net of unamortized discount or premium, including amounts to be repaid within one year. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bmy_TotalDebt
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the adjustment to principal value of long term debt related to the unamortized basis adjustment from swap terminations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
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- Definition

The stated principal amount of the debt instrument at time of issuance, which may vary from the carrying amount because of unamortized premium or discount.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission.

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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of debt discount that was originally recognized at the issuance of the instrument that has yet to be amortized.

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+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity.

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- Definition

The amount of cash paid for interest during the period net of cash paid for interest that is capitalized.

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- Definition

Carrying amount of long-term debt, net of unamortized discount or premium, scheduled to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

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- Definition

Carrying amount of long-term debt, net of unamortized discount or premium, excluding amounts to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer (current maturities). Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

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- Definition

For the form of debt having an initial term of less than one year or less than the normal operating cycle, if longer, average borrowings during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

For the form of debt having an initial term of less than one year or less than the normal operating cycle, if longer, maximum month-end borrowings during the period.

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-Publisher SEC

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-Number 3

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- Definition

Reflects the calculation as of the balance sheet date of the average interest rate weighted by the amount of short-term debt outstanding by type or by instrument at that time.

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