Background and Basis of Presentation (Details)	Jan. 01, 2013
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Percentage of outstanding common stock distributed to Abbott shareholders	100.00%

Represents the percentage of outstanding common stock distributed to shareholders.

No definition available.

Name:	abbv_PercentageOfOutstandingCommonStockDistributed
Namespace Prefix:	abbv_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration