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Significant Accounting Policies (Narratives) (Details 1) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Significant Accounting Policies      
Noncontrolling interest amounts in income, net of tax $ 6us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest $ 7us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest $ 11us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest
Deferred services transition and setup costs 2,230ibm_DeferredServicesTransitionAndSetupCosts 2,402ibm_DeferredServicesTransitionAndSetupCosts  
Estimated amortization of deferred services transition and setup costs for 2015 738ibm_FutureAmortizationExpenseOfDeferredServicesTransitionAndSetupCostsYearOne    
Estimated amortization of deferred services transition and setup costs for 2016 525ibm_FutureAmortizationExpenseOfDeferredServicesTransitionAndSetupCostsYearTwo    
Estimated amortization of deferred transition and setup costs for 2017 388ibm_FutureAmortizationExpenseOfDeferredServicesTransitionAndSetupCostsYearThree    
Estimated amortization of deferred transition and setup costs for 2018 250ibm_FutureAmortizationExpenseOfDeferredServicesTransitionAndSetupCostsYearFour    
Estimated amortization of deferred transition and setup costs thereafter 329ibm_FutureAmortizationExpenseOfDeferredServicesTransitionAndSetupCostsThereafter    
Deferred amounts paid to clients in excess of the fair value of acquired assets used in outsourcing arrangements 64ibm_DeferredPaymentsInExcessOfFairValueOfAcquiredAssets 89ibm_DeferredPaymentsInExcessOfFairValueOfAcquiredAssets  
Estimated amortization of deferred amounts paid to clients in excess of the fair value of acquired assets for 2015 27ibm_FutureAmortizationExpenseOfPaymentsInExcessOfFairValueOfAcquiredAssetsYearOne    
Estimated amortization of deferred amounts paid to clients in excess of the fair value of acquired assets for 2016 15ibm_FutureAmortizationExpenseOfPaymentsInExcessOfFairValueOfAcquiredAssetsYearTwo    
Estimated amortization of deferred amounts paid to clients in excess of the fair value of acquired assets for 2017 7ibm_FutureAmortizationExpenseOfPaymentsInExcessOfFairValueOfAcquiredAssetsYearThree    
Estimated amortization of deferred amounts paid to clients in excess of the fair value of acquired assets for 2018 6ibm_FutureAmortizationExpenseOfPaymentsInExcessOfFairValueOfAcquiredAssetsYearFour    
Estimated amortization of deferred amounts paid to clients in excess of the fair value of acquired assets thereafter 8ibm_FutureAmortizationExpenseOfPaymentsInExcessOfFairValueOfAcquiredAssetsThereafter    
Description of reclassification of Cash Flow Hedge Gain (Loss) to earnings When a cash flow hedging relationship is discontinued, the net gain or loss in AOCI must generally remain in AOCI until the item that was hedged affects earnings. However, when it is probable that a forecasted transaction will not occur by the end of the originally specified time period or within an additional two-month period thereafter, the net gain or loss in AOCI must be reclassified into earnings immediately.    
Marketing and advertising expense:      
Advertising and promotional expense $ 1,307us-gaap_MarketingAndAdvertisingExpense $ 1,294us-gaap_MarketingAndAdvertisingExpense $ 1,339us-gaap_MarketingAndAdvertisingExpense
Minimum      
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]      
Product warranty term 1 year    
Maximum      
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]      
Product warranty term 3 years