Name:	ibm_OperatingLeasesUnguaranteedResidualValuesOfLeasedProperty
Namespace Prefix:	ibm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_LessorLeaseDescriptionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_LessorOperatingLeasePaymentsFiscalYearMaturityAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount of lease payments to be received by lessor for operating lease.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 12
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77888428&loc=SL77919396-209981

Name:	us-gaap_LessorOperatingLeasePaymentsToBeReceived
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of lease payments to be received by lessor in fifth fiscal year following latest fiscal year for operating lease. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest statement of financial position date.

Name:	us-gaap_LessorOperatingLeasePaymentsToBeReceivedFiveYears
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of lease payments to be received by lessor in fourth year following latest fiscal year for operating lease. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on rolling approach, from latest statement of financial position date.

Name:	us-gaap_LessorOperatingLeasePaymentsToBeReceivedFourYears
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of lease payments to be received by lessor in remainder of fiscal year following latest fiscal year for operating lease. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on rolling approach, from latest statement of financial position date.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 12
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77888428&loc=SL77919396-209981

Name:	us-gaap_LessorOperatingLeasePaymentsToBeReceivedRemainderOfFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of lease payments to be received by lessor after fifth fiscal year following latest statement of financial position date for operating lease. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on rolling approach, from latest statement of financial position date.

Name:	us-gaap_LessorOperatingLeasePaymentsToBeReceivedThereafter
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of lease payments to be received by lessor in third fiscal year following latest fiscal year for operating lease. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on rolling approach, from latest statement of financial position date.

Name:	us-gaap_LessorOperatingLeasePaymentsToBeReceivedThreeYears
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of lease payments to be received by lessor in second fiscal year following latest fiscal year for operating lease. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on rolling approach, from latest statement of financial position date.

Name:	us-gaap_LessorOperatingLeasePaymentsToBeReceivedTwoYears
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Term of lessor's operating lease, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77888428&loc=SL77919359-209981