Segment Information - Income Statement Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019		Dec. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues			$ 6,675	$ 6,260		$ 5,825
Net gain on sale of assets			19	20	[1]	40	[1]
Employee termination costs/(reversals)			8	33		26
Employee Severance
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Employee termination costs/(reversals)	[2],[3]		8	33		25
CHINA
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues			266	200		211
Net Gain on Relocation				18
Europe | Employee Severance
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Severance Costs				7
Employee termination costs/(reversals)						7
Segment Reconciling Items | Zoetis Initiatives
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring and Other Cost Productivity Charges			7	9
Agribusiness Products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net gain on sale of assets	[4]	$ 42		42
International Segment | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	[5]		3,035	2,972		2,890
International Segment | Euro Member Countries, Euro | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues			$ 718	$ 742		$ 745

[1] For 2018, represents a gain on the divestiture of certain agribusiness products within our International segment, and a net loss related to sales of certain manufacturing sites and products as part of our supply network strategy initiative.     

[2] The restructuring charges are associated with the following: •For the year ended December 31, 2020, Manufacturing/research/corporate of $8 million. •For the year ended December 31, 2019, International of $2 million, and Manufacturing/research/corporate of $31 million. •For the year ended December 31, 2018, International of $7 million, and Manufacturing/research/corporate of $19 million.

[3] The restructuring charges for the year ended December 31, 2020 are primarily related to CEO transition-related costs and other cost-reduction and productivity initiatives.     The restructuring charges for the year ended December 31, 2019 are primarily related to the acquisition of Abaxis and CEO transition-related costs.     The restructuring charges for the year ended December 31, 2018 are primarily related to: •employee termination costs of $7 million in Europe as a result of initiatives to better align our organizational structure; •employee termination costs of $21 million related to the acquisition of Abaxis; and •a net reversal of employee termination costs of $3 million, and exit costs of $1 million as a result of our operational efficiency initiative and supply network strategy initiative launched in 2015.

[4] Includes adjustments for foreign currency translation.

[5] Revenue denominated in euros was $718 million in 2020, $742 million in 2019, and $745 million in 2018.