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Stock-Based Compensation (Narratives) (Details 1) (USD $)
12 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 1 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Jun. 30, 2011
Employee
Jul. 31, 2014
Dec. 03, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award            
Shares authorized under existing stock based compensation plans (in shares) 274,000,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized          
Additional shares considered authorized under previous stock based compensation plans (in shares) 66,200,000ibm_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAdditionalAuthorization          
Unused shares available to be granted (in shares) 115,500,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant          
Stock-based compensation cost, unrecognized, related to non-vested awards $ 874,000,000us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized $ 995,000,000us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized        
Stock-based compensation cost, unrecognized, related to non-vested awards, weighted average period of recognition 2 years 6 months          
Capitalized stock-based compensation cost 0us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsCapitalizedAmount 0us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsCapitalizedAmount 0us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsCapitalizedAmount      
Additional stock options and RSU outstanding in connection with acquisitions (in shares) 500,000ibm_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAdditionalOptionsOutstandingNumber          
Additional options outstanding, weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share) $ 56ibm_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAdditionalOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice          
Treasury stock, Shares (in shares) 1,224,685,815us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares 1,153,131,611us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares        
Stock options            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award            
Vesting period 4 years          
Contractual term 10 years          
Total intrinsic value of options exercised 323,000,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
614,000,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
1,005,000,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
     
Cash received from exercises of stock options 364,000,000us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCashReceivedFromExerciseOfStockOptions
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
505,000,000us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCashReceivedFromExerciseOfStockOptions
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
785,000,000us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCashReceivedFromExerciseOfStockOptions
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
     
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options 107,000,000us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitRealizedFromExerciseOfStockOptions
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
199,000,000us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitRealizedFromExerciseOfStockOptions
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
341,000,000us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitRealizedFromExerciseOfStockOptions
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
     
Stock options | Annual tranche            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award            
Percentage of awards vested per year (as a percent) 25.00%us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingRightsPercentage
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
/ us-gaap_VestingAxis
= ibm_ShareBasedCompensationAwardAnnualTrancheMember
         
Restricted Stock Units            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award            
Remaining weighted-average contractual term 3 years          
Fair value of stock units granted 434,000,000ibm_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
481,000,000ibm_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
486,000,000ibm_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
     
Fair value of stock units vested and released 378,000,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
386,000,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
509,000,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
     
Stock-based compensation cost, unrecognized, related to non-vested awards 754,000,000us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
871,000,000us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
938,000,000us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
     
Fair value of stock units granted per non-executive employee, second quarter 2011       1,000ibm_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantedInPeriodFairValueEachEmployee
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
   
Number of non-executive employees to receive equity award grant, second quarter 2011       400,000ibm_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantedInPeriodNumberOfEmployees
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
   
Cash received from exercises of stock options 0us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCashReceivedFromExerciseOfStockOptions
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
0us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCashReceivedFromExerciseOfStockOptions
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
0us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCashReceivedFromExerciseOfStockOptions
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
     
Restricted Stock Units | Minimum            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award            
Vesting period 1 year          
Restricted Stock Units | Maximum            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award            
Vesting period 5 years          
Performance Share Units            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award            
Vesting period 3 years          
Fair value of stock units granted 257,000,000ibm_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
170,000,000ibm_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
186,000,000ibm_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
     
Fair value of stock units vested and released 161,000,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
156,000,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
203,000,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
     
RSUs and PSUs            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award            
Income tax benefits 222,000,000us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= ibm_EquityAwardsOtherThanOptionsMember
312,000,000us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= ibm_EquityAwardsOtherThanOptionsMember
454,000,000us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= ibm_EquityAwardsOtherThanOptionsMember
     
Employee Stock Purchase Plan            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award            
Discount on purchase of common stock (as a percent) 5.00%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardDiscountFromMarketPricePurchaseDate
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember
         
Maximum percentage of payroll deductions on eligible compensation (as a percent) 10.00%ibm_EmployeeStockPurchasePlansPercentageOfPayrollDeductionsOnEligibleCompensation
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember
         
Maximum stock purchases by employees, value $ 25,000ibm_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardMaximumEmployeeStockPurchasePerAnnumValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember
         
Maximum stock purchases by employees (in shares) 1,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardMaximumNumberOfSharesPerEmployee
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember
         
Employees purchased shares under the ESPP (in shares) 1,300,000us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember
1,500,000us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember
1,600,000us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember
     
Shares available for purchase under the ESPP (in shares) 24,400,000ibm_StockAvailableForPurchaseSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember
2,300,000ibm_StockAvailableForPurchaseSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember
      3,800,000ibm_StockAvailableForPurchaseSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember
Employee Stock Purchase Plan | 2014 ESPP Reserve            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award            
Additional shares of authorized common stock that was reserved and approved for issuance under the ESPP (in shares)         25,000,000ibm_StockReservedAndApprovedForIssuanceDuringPeriodSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= ibm_EsppReserve2014Member