Stockholders' Equity - Changes in Common Shares and Treasury Stock (Details) - USD ($)		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Common stock, shares authorized		6,000,000,000		6,000,000,000
Preferred stock, authorized (in shares)		1,000,000,000		1,000,000,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	[1]	501,808,229		501,342,000		500,008,000.000
Beginning Balance	[1]	4,408,116		14,743		0
Stock-based compensation	[1],[2]			466,000		104,000.000
Share repurchase program	[1]	0	[3]	0	[3]	1,230,000.000
Stock-based compensation	[1],[2]	83,000
Treasury Stock	[1],[2]			57,273		14,743
Ending Balance	[1]	501,891,243		501,808,229		501,342,000
Ending Balance	[1]	9,035,946.000		4,408,116		14,743
November 2014 Share Repurchase Program
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Shares authorized under repurchase program		$ 500,000,000
Share repurchases under program						0
December 2016 Share Repurchase Program
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Shares authorized under repurchase program		$ 1,500,000,000.0
Share repurchases under program		0
Share Repurchase Program
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Treasury Stock	[1],[3]	6,344,000		4,336,100		0
Stock Compensation Plan
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Treasury Stock	[1],[2]	(1,716,000)

[1] Shares may not add due to rounding.

[2] Includes the issuance of shares of common stock and, beginning in the first quarter of 2016, the reissuance of shares from treasury stock in connection with the vesting of employee share-based awards. Treasury stock also includes the reacquisition of shares associated with the vesting of employee share-based awards to satisfy tax withholding requirements. For additional information regarding share-based compensation, see Note 14. Share-Based Payments.

[3] In November 2014, the company's Board of Directors authorized a $500 million share repurchase program. This program was substantially completed as of December 31, 2016. There were no share repurchases under this program during the year ended December 31, 2014. In December 2016, the company's Board of Directors authorized an additional $1.5 billion share repurchase program. There were no share repurchases under this program as of December 31, 2016.Purchases of Zoetis shares may be made at the discretion of management, depending on market conditions and business needs.