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Financial Instruments, Derivatives and Fair Value Measures (Details) (USD $)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Jan. 02, 2013
Derivative instruments, notional amount and fair value        
Fair Value - Assets $ 358,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset $ 171,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset    
Fair Value - Liabilities 575,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability 580,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability    
Gross unrealized holding gains on available-for-sale equity securities 3,000,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax 22,000,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax 51,000,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax  
Designated as hedging instrument | Short-term borrowings | Net investment hedges        
Derivative instruments, notional amount and fair value        
Fair Value - Liabilities 445,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_ShortTermDebtMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		 505,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_ShortTermDebtMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		 615,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_ShortTermDebtMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		  
Designated as hedging instrument | Interest rate swaps | Fair value hedges        
Derivative instruments, notional amount and fair value        
Notional amount of cash flow hedge instruments 1,500,000,000invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		 1,500,000,000invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		 9,500,000,000invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		  
Amount of hedge ineffectiveness recorded in income 0us-gaap_GainLossOnInterestRateFairValueHedgeIneffectiveness
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		 0us-gaap_GainLossOnInterestRateFairValueHedgeIneffectiveness
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		 0us-gaap_GainLossOnInterestRateFairValueHedgeIneffectiveness
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		  
Contracts transferred to AbbVie       8,000,000,000abt_NotionalAmountOfNetInvestmentHedgingInstrumentsTransferred
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
Designated as hedging instrument | Interest rate swaps | Deferred income taxes and other assets | Fair value hedges        
Derivative instruments, notional amount and fair value        
Fair Value - Assets 101,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= abt_DeferredIncomeTaxesAndOtherAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		 87,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= abt_DeferredIncomeTaxesAndOtherAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		    
Designated as hedging instrument | Foreign currency forward exchange contracts | Cash flow hedges        
Derivative instruments, notional amount and fair value        
Notional amount of cash flow hedge instruments 1,500,000,000invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		 137,000,000invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		    
Contracts transferred to AbbVie       1,000,000,000abt_NotionalAmountOfNetInvestmentHedgingInstrumentsTransferred
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
Designated as hedging instrument | Foreign currency forward exchange contracts | Prepaid expenses, deferred income taxes, and other receivables        
Derivative instruments, notional amount and fair value        
Fair Value - Assets 107,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= abt_PrepaidExpensesDeferredIncomeTaxesAndOtherReceivablesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		 14,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= abt_PrepaidExpensesDeferredIncomeTaxesAndOtherReceivablesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		    
Not designated as hedging instrument | Other accrued liabilities        
Derivative instruments, notional amount and fair value        
Fair Value - Liabilities 445,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember		 505,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember		    
Not designated as hedging instrument | Foreign currency forward exchange contracts        
Derivative instruments, notional amount and fair value        
Notional amount of cash flow hedge instruments 14,100,000,000invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember		 13,800,000,000invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember		 18,200,000,000invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember		  
Contracts transferred to AbbVie       4,300,000,000abt_NotionalAmountOfNetInvestmentHedgingInstrumentsTransferred
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Not designated as hedging instrument | Foreign currency forward exchange contracts | Prepaid expenses, deferred income taxes, and other receivables        
Derivative instruments, notional amount and fair value        
Fair Value - Assets 150,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= abt_PrepaidExpensesDeferredIncomeTaxesAndOtherReceivablesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember		 70,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= abt_PrepaidExpensesDeferredIncomeTaxesAndOtherReceivablesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember		    
Not designated as hedging instrument | Foreign currency forward exchange contracts | Other accrued liabilities        
Derivative instruments, notional amount and fair value        
Fair Value - Liabilities $ 130,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember		 $ 75,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember