RECEIVABLES (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Accounts Receivable, Net [Abstract]
Trade receivables	$ 2,193us-gaap_AccountsReceivableGrossCurrent	$ 1,779us-gaap_AccountsReceivableGrossCurrent
Less allowances	(93)	(89)
Net trade receivables	2,100us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	1,690us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrent
Alliance partner receivables	888bmy_AlliancePartnerReceivables	1,122bmy_AlliancePartnerReceivables
Prepaid and refundable income taxes	178us-gaap_IncomeTaxesReceivable	262us-gaap_IncomeTaxesReceivable
Miscellaneous receivables	224us-gaap_OtherReceivables	286us-gaap_OtherReceivables
Receivables	3,390us-gaap_ReceivablesNetCurrent	3,360us-gaap_ReceivablesNetCurrent
Receivables sold on a nonrecourse basis	812bmy_ReceivablesSoldOnNonrecourseBasis	1,031bmy_ReceivablesSoldOnNonrecourseBasis	956bmy_ReceivablesSoldOnNonrecourseBasis
The number of the largest pharmaceutical wholesalers in the U.S.	3
Percentage of aggregate total trade receivables due from three pharmaceutical wholesalers	36.00%	40.00%
Allowance for Trade Receivables [Member]
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of year	89	104	147
Provision	773	720	832
Utilization	(769)	(731)	(875)
Assets held-for-sale		(4)
Balance at end of year	$ 93	$ 89	$ 104

Amounts due within one year from alliance or collaboration partners.

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- Definition

The number of the largest pharmaceutical wholesalers used by the company in the territory.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The percentage of aggregate trade receivables due from customers accounting for more than 10% of total trade receivables.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The amount of receivables sold on a nonrecourse basis during the year.

+ References

No definition available.

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Total of the deductions in a given period to allowances and reserves, the valuation and qualifying accounts that are either netted against the cost of an asset (in order to value it at its carrying value) or that reflect a liability established to represent expected future costs, representing allowances related to receivables that are part of a disposal group.

+ References

No definition available.

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Amounts due from customers or clients, within one year of the balance sheet date (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer) for goods or services (including trade receivables) that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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Amount due from customers or clients, within one year of the balance sheet date (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer), for goods or services (including trade receivables) that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business, reduced to the estimated net realizable fair value by an allowance established by the entity of the amount it deems uncertain of collection.

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- Definition

A valuation allowance for trade and other receivables due to an Entity within one year (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer) that are expected to be uncollectible.

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Carrying amount due within one year of the balance sheet date (or one operating cycle, if longer) from tax authorities as of the balance sheet date representing refunds of overpayments or recoveries based on agreed-upon resolutions of disputes.

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Carrying amounts due as of the balance sheet date from parties or arising from transactions not otherwise specified in the taxonomy.

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The total amount due to the entity within one year of the balance sheet date (or one operating cycle, if longer) from outside sources, including trade accounts receivable, notes and loans receivable, as well as any other types of receivables, net of allowances established for the purpose of reducing such receivables to an amount that approximates their net realizable value.

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Total of allowances and reserves, the valuation and qualifying accounts that are either netted against the cost of an asset (in order to value it at its carrying value) or that reflect a liability established to represent expected future costs.

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Total of the deductions in a given period to allowances and reserves, the valuation and qualifying accounts that are either netted against the cost of an asset (in order to value it at its carrying value) or that reflect a liability established to represent expected future costs, representing receivables written off as uncollectible and portions of the reserves utilized, respectively.

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