EQUITY (Changes in Equity) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Equity [Abstract]
Common Stock, Shares Issued, Balance at January 1,			2,205,000,000	2,205,000,000
Common Stock, Shares Issued, Balance at June 30,	2,208,000,000	2,205,000,000	2,208,000,000	2,205,000,000
Common Stock, Value, Issued, Balance at January 1,			$ 220,000,000	$ 220,000,000
Common Stock, Value, Issued, Balance at June 30,	221,000,000	220,000,000	221,000,000	220,000,000
Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock, Balance at January 1,			3,114,000,000	3,682,000,000
Employee stock compensation plans, Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock			(331,000,000)	(361,000,000)
Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock, Balance at June 30,	2,783,000,000	3,321,000,000	2,783,000,000	3,321,000,000
Retained Earnings, Balance at January 1,			33,069,000,000	31,636,000,000
Net earnings attributable to Bristol-Myers Squibb Company	645,000,000	902,000,000	1,746,000,000	1,888,000,000
Cash dividends declared			(1,154,000,000)	(1,132,000,000)
Retained Earnings, Balance at June 30,	33,661,000,000	32,392,000,000	33,661,000,000	32,392,000,000
Treasury Stock, Shares, Balance at January 1,			515,000,000	501,000,000
Stock repurchase program, Treasury Stock			27,000,000	14,000,000
Treasury Stock, Shares, Balance at June 30,	530,000,000	500,000,000	530,000,000	500,000,000
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at January 1,			(17,402,000,000)	(17,454,000,000)
Stock repurchase program, Cost of Treasury Stock			(875,000,000)	(386,000,000)
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at June 30,	(17,600,000,000)	(17,191,000,000)	(17,600,000,000)	(17,191,000,000)
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at January 1,			(89,000,000)	(75,000,000)
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest			859,000,000	1,186,000,000
Distributions			(1,056,000,000)	(1,319,000,000)
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at June 30,	(286,000,000)	(208,000,000)	(286,000,000)	(208,000,000)
Authorization to repurchase common stock value			3,000,000,000
Remaining authorized common stock repurchase value			3,300,000,000
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest, tax	91,000,000	204,000,000	320,000,000	400,000,000
Common Stock [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Employee stock compensation plans, Cost			1,000,000
Employee stock compensation plans, Shares			3,000,000
Treasury Stock [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Employee stock compensation plans, Cost			$ 677,000,000	$ 649,000,000
Employee stock compensation plans, Shares			(12,000,000)	(15,000,000)