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Acquisitions/Divestitures (Divestitures) (Details 5) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
0 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended
Jan. 23, 2014
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Sep. 10, 2013
Dec. 31, 2014
Apr. 17, 2012
Industry Standard x86 Server Portfolio            
Divestitures            
Description of continuing involvement after transaction   IBM will continue to provide maintenance delivery on Lenovo’s behalf for an extended period of time. In addition, as part of the transaction agreement, the company will provide Lenovo with certain transition services, including IT and supply chain services. The initial term for these transition services ranges from less than one year to three years. Lenovo can renew certain services for an additional year.        
Adjusted transaction price for sale of business $ 2,100ibm_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationsTransactionPriceAdjusted
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= ibm_IndustryStandardX86ServerPortfolioMember
         
Approximate amount of transaction price received in cash 1,800us-gaap_ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= ibm_IndustryStandardX86ServerPortfolioMember
         
Pre-tax gain/(loss) on sale of business   16us-gaap_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposal
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= ibm_IndustryStandardX86ServerPortfolioMember
       
Pre-tax gain on sale of business, net of transition and performance-based costs     1,100ibm_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposalNetOfAssociatedCosts
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= ibm_IndustryStandardX86ServerPortfolioMember
     
Industry Standard x86 Server Portfolio | Estimated            
Divestitures            
Pre-tax gain/(loss) on sale of business   1,500us-gaap_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposal
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= ibm_IndustryStandardX86ServerPortfolioMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ProFormaMember
       
Pre-tax gain on sale of business, net of transition and performance-based costs   1,200ibm_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposalNetOfAssociatedCosts
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= ibm_IndustryStandardX86ServerPortfolioMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ProFormaMember
       
Industry Standard x86 Server Portfolio | Maximum            
Divestitures            
Equity Ownership percent acquired 5.00%us-gaap_SubsidiaryOrEquityMethodInvesteeCumulativePercentageOwnershipAfterAllTransactions
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= ibm_IndustryStandardX86ServerPortfolioMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
         
Customer Care Business Process Outsourcing Services            
Divestitures            
Transaction price for sale of business       501ibm_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationsTransactionPrice
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= ibm_CustomerCareBusinessProcessOutsourcingServicesMember
   
Approximate amount of transaction price received in cash       430us-gaap_ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= ibm_CustomerCareBusinessProcessOutsourcingServicesMember
   
Noncash consideration received on sale of business       71us-gaap_NoncashOrPartNoncashDivestitureAmountOfConsiderationReceived1
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= ibm_CustomerCareBusinessProcessOutsourcingServicesMember
   
Pre-tax gain/(loss) on sale of business         202us-gaap_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposal
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= ibm_CustomerCareBusinessProcessOutsourcingServicesMember
 
Charge to reflect resolution of final Balance Sheet adjusments     10ibm_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposalAdjustment
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= ibm_CustomerCareBusinessProcessOutsourcingServicesMember
     
Cumulative pre-tax gain/(loss) on sale of business   202ibm_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationCumulativeTotalGainLossOnDisposal
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= ibm_CustomerCareBusinessProcessOutsourcingServicesMember
       
Customer Care Business Process Outsourcing Services | Maximum            
Divestitures            
Equity Ownership percent acquired       5.00%us-gaap_SubsidiaryOrEquityMethodInvesteeCumulativePercentageOwnershipAfterAllTransactions
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
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= us-gaap_MaximumMember
   
Retail Stores Solutions business            
Divestitures            
Pre-tax gain/(loss) on sale of business   (2)us-gaap_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposal
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= ibm_RetailStoreSolutionsBusinessMember
       
Ownership retention period           3 years
Cumulative pre-tax gain/(loss) on sale of business   510ibm_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationCumulativeTotalGainLossOnDisposal
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= ibm_RetailStoreSolutionsBusinessMember
       
Retail Stores Solutions business | Estimated            
Divestitures            
Pre-tax gain/(loss) on sale of business   $ 511us-gaap_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposal
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= ibm_RetailStoreSolutionsBusinessMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ProFormaMember