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Retirement-Related Benefits (Pensions Expected Payments) (Details 11) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Total Expected Benefit Payments, Defined Benefit Pension Plan    
Expected Benefit Payments    
Expected benefit payments, 2015 $ 5,758us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsNextTwelveMonths
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2016 5,790us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearTwo
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2017 5,837us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearThree
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2018 5,887us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFour
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2019 5,901us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFive
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2020-2024 30,523us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsFiveFiscalYearsThereafter
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Qualified U.S. Plan Payments, Defined Benefit Pension Plan    
Expected Benefit Payments    
Expected benefit payments, 2015 3,449us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsNextTwelveMonths
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= ibm_QualifiedUnitedStatesPensionPlanOfUsEntityDefinedBenefitMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2016 3,476us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearTwo
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= ibm_QualifiedUnitedStatesPensionPlanOfUsEntityDefinedBenefitMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2017 3,492us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearThree
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= ibm_QualifiedUnitedStatesPensionPlanOfUsEntityDefinedBenefitMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2018 3,501us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFour
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= ibm_QualifiedUnitedStatesPensionPlanOfUsEntityDefinedBenefitMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2019 3,458us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFive
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= ibm_QualifiedUnitedStatesPensionPlanOfUsEntityDefinedBenefitMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2020-2024 17,566us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsFiveFiscalYearsThereafter
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= ibm_QualifiedUnitedStatesPensionPlanOfUsEntityDefinedBenefitMember
 
Nonqualified U.S. Plans Payments, Defined Benefit Pension Plan    
Expected Benefit Payments    
Expected benefit payments, 2015 113us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsNextTwelveMonths
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= ibm_NonqualifiedUnitedStatesPensionPlanOfUsEntityDefinedBenefitMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2016 115us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearTwo
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= ibm_NonqualifiedUnitedStatesPensionPlanOfUsEntityDefinedBenefitMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2017 117us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearThree
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= ibm_NonqualifiedUnitedStatesPensionPlanOfUsEntityDefinedBenefitMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2018 118us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFour
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= ibm_NonqualifiedUnitedStatesPensionPlanOfUsEntityDefinedBenefitMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2019 120us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFive
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= ibm_NonqualifiedUnitedStatesPensionPlanOfUsEntityDefinedBenefitMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2020-2024 607us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsFiveFiscalYearsThereafter
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= ibm_NonqualifiedUnitedStatesPensionPlanOfUsEntityDefinedBenefitMember
 
Qualified Non-U.S. Plans Payments, Defined Benefit Pension Plan    
Expected Benefit Payments    
Expected benefit payments, 2015 1,849us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsNextTwelveMonths
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= ibm_QualifiedForeignPensionPlanDefinedBenefitMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2016 1,854us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearTwo
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= ibm_QualifiedForeignPensionPlanDefinedBenefitMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2017 1,880us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearThree
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= ibm_QualifiedForeignPensionPlanDefinedBenefitMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2018 1,911us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFour
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= ibm_QualifiedForeignPensionPlanDefinedBenefitMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2019 1,949us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFive
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= ibm_QualifiedForeignPensionPlanDefinedBenefitMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2020-2024 10,290us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsFiveFiscalYearsThereafter
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= ibm_QualifiedForeignPensionPlanDefinedBenefitMember
 
Nonqualified Non-U.S. Plans Payments, Defined Benefit Pension Plan    
Expected Benefit Payments    
Expected benefit payments, 2015 348us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsNextTwelveMonths
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= ibm_NonqualifiedForeignPensionPlanDefinedBenefitMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2016 344us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearTwo
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= ibm_NonqualifiedForeignPensionPlanDefinedBenefitMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2017 348us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearThree
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= ibm_NonqualifiedForeignPensionPlanDefinedBenefitMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2018 357us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFour
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= ibm_NonqualifiedForeignPensionPlanDefinedBenefitMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2019 374us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFive
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= ibm_NonqualifiedForeignPensionPlanDefinedBenefitMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2020-2024 2,060us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsFiveFiscalYearsThereafter
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= ibm_NonqualifiedForeignPensionPlanDefinedBenefitMember
 
Total Expected Benefit Payments, Nonpension Postretirement Benefit Plan    
Expected Benefit Payments    
Expected benefit payments, 2015 465us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsNextTwelveMonths
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2016 448us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearTwo
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2017 457us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearThree
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2018 463us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFour
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2019 466us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFive
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2020-2024 2,187us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsFiveFiscalYearsThereafter
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
U.S. Plan Payments, Nonpension Postretirement Benefit Plan    
Expected Benefit Payments    
Expected benefit payments, 2015 426us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsNextTwelveMonths
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPostretirementBenefitPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2016 405us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearTwo
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPostretirementBenefitPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2017 410us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearThree
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPostretirementBenefitPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2018 412us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFour
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPostretirementBenefitPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2019 412us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFive
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPostretirementBenefitPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2020-2024 1,871us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsFiveFiscalYearsThereafter
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPostretirementBenefitPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember
 
Postretirement Medical Plans with Prescription Drug Benefits    
Total Subsidy received by the company under Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 23ibm_PrescriptionDrugSubsidyActualReceipts
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPostretirementBenefitPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember
30ibm_PrescriptionDrugSubsidyActualReceipts
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPostretirementBenefitPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember
Qualified Non-U.S. Plans Payments, Nonpension Postretirement Benefit Plan    
Expected Benefit Payments    
Expected benefit payments, 2015 8us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsNextTwelveMonths
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= ibm_QualifiedNonPensionPostretirementPlansMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2016 8us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearTwo
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= ibm_QualifiedNonPensionPostretirementPlansMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2017 9us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearThree
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= ibm_QualifiedNonPensionPostretirementPlansMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2018 9us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFour
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= ibm_QualifiedNonPensionPostretirementPlansMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2019 10us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFive
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= ibm_QualifiedNonPensionPostretirementPlansMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2020-2024 59us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsFiveFiscalYearsThereafter
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= ibm_QualifiedNonPensionPostretirementPlansMember
 
Nonqualified Non-U.S. Plans Payments, Nonpension Postretirement Benefit Plan    
Expected Benefit Payments    
Expected benefit payments, 2015 31us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsNextTwelveMonths
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= ibm_NonQualifiedNonPensionPostretirementPlansMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2016 35us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearTwo
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= ibm_NonQualifiedNonPensionPostretirementPlansMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2017 38us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearThree
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= ibm_NonQualifiedNonPensionPostretirementPlansMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2018 41us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFour
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= ibm_NonQualifiedNonPensionPostretirementPlansMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2019 44us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFive
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= ibm_NonQualifiedNonPensionPostretirementPlansMember
 
Expected benefit payments, 2020-2024 $ 257us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsFiveFiscalYearsThereafter
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= ibm_NonQualifiedNonPensionPostretirementPlansMember