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Acquisitions/Divestitures (Divestiture) (Details 6) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 0 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Divestiture
Apr. 17, 2012
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
Sep. 10, 2013
Divestitures          
Number of divestitures 2ibm_BusinessDivestituresNumberOfDivestituresCompleted        
Retail Stores Solutions business          
Divestitures          
Pre-tax gain on sale of business     $ 6us-gaap_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposal
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= ibm_RetailStoreSolutionsBusinessMember
   
Cumulative pre-tax gain/(loss) on sale of business       511ibm_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationCumulativeTotalGainLossOnDisposal
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= ibm_RetailStoreSolutionsBusinessMember
 
Ownership retention period   3 years      
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 on sale of business       202us-gaap_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposal
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= ibm_CustomerCareBusinessProcessOutsourcingServicesMember
 
Pre-tax gain on sale of business adjustment       10ibm_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationGainlossOnDisposalAdjustment
/ 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
= ibm_CustomerCareBusinessProcessOutsourcingServicesMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
Estimated | Retail Stores Solutions business          
Divestitures          
Pre-tax gain on sale of business       $ 517us-gaap_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposal
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= ibm_RetailStoreSolutionsBusinessMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ProFormaMember