This element represents the carrying value of the extinguished debt.

No definition available.

Name:	bmy_ExtinguishmentOfDebtCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Extinguishment of Debt, Principal Value

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bmy_ExtinguishmentOfDebtPrincipalValue
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the payment made to extinguish outstanding debt.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bmy_ExtinguishmentOfDebtRepurchasePrice
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

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

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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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Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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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Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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

Name:	bmy_SwapTerminationProceeds
Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- 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_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of unamortized bond discount and issuance costs.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value portion of debt instrument payable, including, but not limited to, notes payable and loans payable.

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

- Definition

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.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Nominal or face amount used to calculate payments on the derivative liability.

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

- Definition

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

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

- Definition

The cash inflow from a debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer.

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

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- Details

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Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bmy_A1.750EuroNotesDue2035Member
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FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Debt) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal value		$ 6,353		$ 6,339
Adjustments to Principal Value, Fair value of interest rate swaps		14		30
Adjustments to Principal Value, Unamortized basis adjustment from swap terminations		301		272
Unamortized bond discount and issuance costs		(87)		(91)
Total Long-term debt		6,581		6,550
Long-term debt, fair value		7,455		$ 6,909
Interest payments		$ 102	$ 124
Proceeds from Issuance of Debt			1,268
Extinguishment of debt, principal amount			1,624
Extinguishment of debt, carrying value			1,795
Extinguishment of debt, redemption price			1,957
Extinguishment of debt, notional amount of terminated swap contracts			735
Extinguishment of debt, interest rate swap termination payments			11
Loss on debt redemption	$ 180		180
Euro Member Countries, Euro
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal value	1,150		1,150
Proceeds from Issuance of Debt			1,133
Euro Member Countries, Euro \| 1.000% Euro Notes Due 2025 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal value	575		575
Euro Member Countries, Euro \| 1.750% Euro Notes Due 2035 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal value	575		575
United States of America, Dollars
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal value	1,286		1,286
Proceeds from Issuance of Debt			1,268
United States of America, Dollars \| 1.000% Euro Notes Due 2025 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal value	643		643
United States of America, Dollars \| 1.750% Euro Notes Due 2035 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal value	643		643
Forward Starting Interest Rate Swap Contracts [Member] \| Euro Member Countries, Euro
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Notional Amount	500		500
Forward starting interest rate swap termination unrealized loss			(16)
Forward Starting Interest Rate Swap Contracts [Member] \| United States of America, Dollars
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Notional Amount	$ 559		559
Forward starting interest rate swap termination unrealized loss			$ (18)