Hedging Transactions and Derivative Financial Instruments (Summary of Notional Values and Pretax Impact in Fair Values) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amounts Reclassified from OCI	$ 112	$ (193)	$ (222)
Net investment hedging \| Foreign currency contracts
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative, original notional amount	3,875	3,875
Derivative, notional amount outstanding	3,000	3,000
Gain (loss) recognized in OCI on derivatives and nonderivatives	(148)	225
Amounts Reclassified from OCI	0	0
Net investment hedging \| Foreign currency denominated debt
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Nonderivative hedging instruments	4,263	5,777
Net investment hedges, gain (loss), recognized in OCI	(102)	248
Amounts Reclassified from OCI	0	0
Cash flow hedging \| Foreign currency contracts
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative, original notional amount	4,000	4,000
Derivative, notional amount outstanding	3,300	3,300
Gain (loss) recognized in OCI on derivatives and nonderivatives	(214)	378
Amounts Reclassified from OCI	107	(238)
Cash flow hedging \| Interest rate swaps
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative, original notional amount	1,600	1,600
Derivative, notional amount outstanding	0	0
Gain (loss) recognized in OCI on derivatives and nonderivatives	0	0
Amounts Reclassified from OCI	3	3
Cash flow and net investment hedges
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Original Notional Amount	13,738	15,252
Notional Amount Outstanding	10,563	12,077
Gain (loss) recognized in OCI on derivatives and nonderivatives	(464)	851
Amounts Reclassified from OCI	$ 110	$ (235)

Derivative, Original Notional Amount

No definition available.

Name:	dhr_DerivativeOriginalNotionalAmount
Namespace Prefix:	dhr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Derivative and Nonderivative, Notional Amount

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dhr_DerivativeandNonderivativeNotionalAmount
Namespace Prefix:	dhr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Derivative and Nonderivative, Original Notional Amount

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dhr_DerivativeandNonderivativeOriginalNotionalAmount
Namespace Prefix:	dhr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives And Nonderivatives Arising During Period Before Tax

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dhr_OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesAndNonderivativesArisingDuringPeriodBeforeTax
Namespace Prefix:	dhr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- 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

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4E
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480434/815-10-50-4E

+ Details

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

- Definition

Nominal or face amount used to calculate payment on derivative.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1B
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480434/815-10-50-1B

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (d)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480434/815-10-50-1A

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeNotionalAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Nominal or face amount used to calculate payments on a nonderivative instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfNonderivativeInstruments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, before tax and reclassification, of gain (loss) from derivative designated and qualifying as net investment hedge.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4CCC
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480434/815-10-50-4CCC

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetInvestmentHedgeGainLossBeforeReclassificationAndTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount before tax of reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss).

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14A
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482790/220-10-45-14A

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482765/220-10-50-5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 830
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481674/830-30-50-1

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 830
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 17
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481694/830-30-45-17

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 830
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 20
-Subparagraph (d)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481694/830-30-45-20

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 220
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04(19))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147483586/944-220-S99-1

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482765/220-10-50-4

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis=us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=dhr_ForeignCurrencyDenominatedDebtMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis=us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis=dhr_CashFlowAndNetInvestmentHedgesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: