SALES REBATES AND RETURN ACCRUALS (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Sales Rebates And Return Accruals [Abstract]
Charge-backs related to government programs	$ 41	$ 37
Cash discounts	15bmy_CashDiscounts	12bmy_CashDiscounts
Reductions to trade receivables	56bmy_ReductionsToTradeReceivables	49bmy_ReductionsToTradeReceivables
Managed healthcare rebates and other contract discounts	148	147
Medicaid rebates	193bmy_MedicaidRebates	227bmy_MedicaidRebates
Sales returns	232bmy_SalesReturns	279bmy_SalesReturns
Other adjustments	278bmy_OtherAdjustments	236bmy_OtherAdjustments
Accrued rebates and returns	$ 851bmy_AccruedRebatesAndReturns	$ 889bmy_AccruedRebatesAndReturns

- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred and payable pertaining to rebates to government programs and sales returns.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bmy_AccruedRebatesAndReturns
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of reductions to trade receivables incurred during the period attributable to cash discounts.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bmy_CashDiscounts
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of reductions to trade receivables incurred during the period attributable to charge-backs related to government programs.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bmy_ChargebacksRelatedToGovernmentPrograms
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred and payable pertaining to rebates to managed healthcare organizations and other contract discounts.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bmy_ManagedHealthcareRebatesAndOtherContractDiscounts
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred and payable pertaining to Medicaid rebates.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bmy_MedicaidRebates
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred and payable pertaining to other adjustments.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bmy_OtherAdjustments
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of reductions to trade accounts receivables, including charge-backs related government programs and cash discounts, during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bmy_ReductionsToTradeReceivables
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	bmy_SalesRebatesAndReturnAccrualsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred and payable pertaining to sales return accruals.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bmy_SalesReturns
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant