Revenue Recognition - Disaggregated Sales Analysis (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 3,588	$ 3,516
United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	2,643	2,579
International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	945	937
Orthopaedics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	1,222	1,250
Orthopaedics | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	852	850
Orthopaedics | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	370	400
Orthopaedics | Knees
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	432	439
Orthopaedics | Knees | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	322	320
Orthopaedics | Knees | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	110	119
Orthopaedics | Hips
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	316	336
Orthopaedics | Hips | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	201	213
Orthopaedics | Hips | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	115	123
Orthopaedics | Trauma and Extremities
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	392	396
Orthopaedics | Trauma and Extremities | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	260	254
Orthopaedics | Trauma and Extremities | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	132	142
Orthopaedics | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	82	79
Orthopaedics | Other | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	69	63
Orthopaedics | Other | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	13	16
MedSurg
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	1,622	1,527
MedSurg | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	1,294	1,221
MedSurg | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	328	306
MedSurg | Instruments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	513	461
MedSurg | Instruments | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	410	365
MedSurg | Instruments | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	103	96
MedSurg | Endoscopy
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	455	470
MedSurg | Endoscopy | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	364	376
MedSurg | Endoscopy | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	91	94
MedSurg | Medical
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	587	531
MedSurg | Medical | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	454	416
MedSurg | Medical | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	133	115
MedSurg | Sustainability
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	67	65
MedSurg | Sustainability | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	66	64
MedSurg | Sustainability | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	1	1
Neurotechnology and Spine
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	744	739
Neurotechnology and Spine | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	497	508
Neurotechnology and Spine | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	247	231
Neurotechnology and Spine | Neurotechnology
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	483	469
Neurotechnology and Spine | Neurotechnology | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	301	300
Neurotechnology and Spine | Neurotechnology | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	182	169
Neurotechnology and Spine | Spine
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	261	270
Neurotechnology and Spine | Spine | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	196	208
Neurotechnology and Spine | Spine | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 65	$ 62