Retirement-Related Benefits (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Retirement-related plans cost
Defined benefit and contribution pension plan - cost	$ 357	$ 246	$ 1,159	$ 801
Nonpension postretirement plans - cost	87	87	261	260
Total	444	333	1,419	1,061
Year-to-year percent change, defined benefit and contribution pension plans cost (as a percent)	45.20%		44.70%
Year-to-year percent change, Nonpension postretirement plans cost (as a percent)	0.00%		0.20%
Year-to-year percent change, total (as a percent)	33.30%		33.80%
Proceeds from Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003	14.5		32.5
Defined Benefit Pension Plans | U.S. Plan(s)
Retirement-related plans cost
Interest cost	614	650	1,842	1,951
Expected return on plan assets	(1,011)	(1,004)	(3,032)	(3,013)
Amortization of prior service costs/(credits)	2	2	7	7
Recognized actuarial losses	205	118	614	353
Total net periodic pension (income)/cost of defined benefit plans	(190)	(234)	(569)	(702)
Cost of defined contribution plans	218	216	698	693
Defined benefit and contribution pension plan - cost	28	(18)	129	(8)
Defined Benefit Pension Plans | Non-U.S. Plans
Retirement-related plans cost
Service cost	128	126	384	377
Interest cost	467	456	1,391	1,369
Expected return on plan assets	(641)	(610)	(1,904)	(1,827)
Amortization of prior service costs/(credits)	(41)	(44)	(121)	(128)
Recognized actuarial losses	240	178	727	527
Curtailments and settlements	0	0	1	27
Multi-employer plan/other costs	21	27	94	79
Total net periodic pension (income)/cost of defined benefit plans	173	132	572	422
Cost of defined contribution plans	156	132	458	387
Defined benefit and contribution pension plan - cost	329	264	1,030	809
Expected current year contributions to non-U.S. defined benefit plans	800		800
Year-to-date contributions to non-U.S. defined benefit plans			611
Nonpension Postretirement Plans | U.S. Plan(s)
Retirement-related plans cost
Service cost	9	8	25	25
Interest cost	59	65	177	196
Amortization of prior service costs/(credits)		(4)		(11)
Curtailments and settlements		1		1
Nonpension postretirement plans - cost	68	71	202	211
Nonpension Postretirement Plans | Non-U.S. Plans
Retirement-related plans cost
Service cost	3	2	8	7
Interest cost	17	15	51	44
Expected return on plan assets	(3)	(2)	(8)	(7)
Amortization of prior service costs/(credits)	(1)	(1)	(3)	(4)
Recognized actuarial losses	4	3	11	9
Nonpension postretirement plans - cost	$ 20	$ 16	$ 59	$ 49