Retirement Plans (Schedule of Defined Contribution Retirement Plan) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Defined contribution retirement plan expense	$ 106	$ 102	$ 101
Defined contribution plan expense funded with Stryker common stock	12	11	11
Stryker common stock held by plan, dollar amount	$ 91	$ 96	$ 83
Stryker common stock held by plan, shares	1.8	1.8	1.6
Stryker common stock held by plan, value as a percentage of total plan assets	9.00%	10.00%	11.00%

The noncash expense that accounts for the value of stock or unit options distributed to employees as compensation.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph 64

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph A240

-Subparagraph i

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration