Other reconciling items in noncurrent debt account.

No definition available.

Name:	abt_DebtOtherReconcilingItems
Namespace Prefix:	abt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Period of time between issuance and maturity of debt instrument, in PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTerm
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (b)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120520924&loc=SL6031897-161870

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120400017&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120398452&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt, classified as current. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19,20)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs of long-term debt classified as noncurrent and excluding amounts to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The remaining balance of debt issuance expenses that were capitalized and are being amortized against income over the lives of the respective bond issues. This does not include the amounts capitalized as part of the cost of the utility plant or asset.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.17)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Debt and Lines of Credit - Schedule (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
	Nov. 12, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 28, 2020	Jun. 24, 2020	Oct. 31, 2018	Oct. 28, 2018
Debt and Lines of Credit
Unamortized debt issuance costs		$ (87)	$ (90)
Other, including fair value adjustments relating to interest rate hedge contracts designated as fair value hedges		144	(6)
Total carrying amount of long-term debt		18,534	17,938
Less: Current portion		7	1,277
Total long-term portion		18,527	16,661
2020 Five Year Credit Agreement
Debt and Lines of Credit
Credit agreement term	5 years
0.00% Notes, due 2020
Debt and Lines of Credit
Total long-term portion			$ 1,272
Interest rate percentage			0.00%	0.00%
2.55% Notes, due 2022
Debt and Lines of Credit
Total long-term portion		$ 750	$ 750
Interest rate percentage		2.55%	2.55%
0.875% Notes, due 2023
Debt and Lines of Credit
Total long-term portion		$ 1,398	$ 1,272
Interest rate percentage		0.875%	0.875%
3.40% Notes, due 2023
Debt and Lines of Credit
Total long-term portion		$ 1,050	$ 1,050
Interest rate percentage		3.40%	3.40%			3.40%	3.40%
5-year term loan due 2024
Debt and Lines of Credit
Total long-term portion		$ 577	$ 546
Credit agreement term		5 years	5 years
0.10% Notes, due 2024
Debt and Lines of Credit
Total long-term portion		$ 724	$ 658
Interest rate percentage		0.10%	0.10%
3.875% Notes, due 2025
Debt and Lines of Credit
Total long-term portion		$ 500	$ 500
Interest rate percentage		3.875%	3.875%
2.95% Notes, due 2025
Debt and Lines of Credit
Total long-term portion		$ 1,000	$ 1,000
Interest rate percentage		2.95%	2.95%
1.50% Notes, due 2026
Debt and Lines of Credit
Total long-term portion		$ 1,398	$ 1,272
Interest rate percentage		1.50%	1.50%
3.75% Notes, due 2026
Debt and Lines of Credit
Total long-term portion		$ 1,700	$ 1,700
Interest rate percentage		3.75%	3.75%			3.75%	3.75%
0.375% Notes, due 2027
Debt and Lines of Credit
Total long-term portion		$ 724	$ 658
Interest rate percentage		0.375%	0.375%
1.150% Notes due 2028
Debt and Lines of Credit
Total long-term portion		$ 650
Interest rate percentage		1.15%			1.15%
1.400% Notes due 2030
Debt and Lines of Credit
Total long-term portion		$ 650
Interest rate percentage		1.40%			1.40%
4.75% Notes, due 2036
Debt and Lines of Credit
Total long-term portion		$ 1,650	$ 1,650
Interest rate percentage		4.75%	4.75%
6.15% Notes, due 2037
Debt and Lines of Credit
Total long-term portion		$ 547	$ 547
Interest rate percentage		6.15%	6.15%
6.00% Notes, due 2039
Debt and Lines of Credit
Total long-term portion		$ 515	$ 515
Interest rate percentage		6.00%	6.00%
5.30% Notes, due 2040
Debt and Lines of Credit
Total long-term portion		$ 694	$ 694
Interest rate percentage		5.30%	5.30%
4.75% Notes, due 2043
Debt and Lines of Credit
Total long-term portion		$ 700	$ 700
Interest rate percentage		4.75%	4.75%
4.90% Notes, due 2046
Debt and Lines of Credit
Total long-term portion		$ 3,250	$ 3,250
Interest rate percentage		4.90%	4.90%