Taxes on Earnings (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2023	Mar. 31, 2022
Significant Change in Unrecognized Tax Benefits is Reasonably Possible [Line Items]
Excess tax benefits associated with share-based compensation	$ 3	$ 30
Tax expense from prior year tax positions	22	$ 30
Minimum
Significant Change in Unrecognized Tax Benefits is Reasonably Possible [Line Items]
Decrease reasonably possible in gross unrecognized tax benefits	75
Maximum
Significant Change in Unrecognized Tax Benefits is Reasonably Possible [Line Items]
Decrease reasonably possible in gross unrecognized tax benefits	$ 80

Amount of tax benefits related to deductible compensation cost reported on the entity's tax return for equity instruments in excess of the compensation cost for those instruments recognized for financial reporting purposes.

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	abt_ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensation
Namespace Prefix:	abt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of decrease reasonably possible in the next twelve months for the unrecognized tax benefit.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (d)(3)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121826272&loc=d3e32718-109319

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DecreaseInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIsReasonablyPossible
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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_SignificantChangeInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIsReasonablyPossibleLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) to previously recorded tax expense. Includes, but is not limited to, significant settlements of income tax disputes, and unusual tax positions or infrequent actions taken by the entity, including tax assessment reversal, and IRS tax settlement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 25
-Paragraph 10
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126928070&loc=d3e28511-109314

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 25
-Paragraph 8
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126928070&loc=d3e28446-109314

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TaxAdjustmentsSettlementsAndUnusualProvisions
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: