Commitments - Extended Warranty Liability (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019
Movement in deferred income
Amortization of deferred revenue	$ (4,200)	$ (8,600)
Current portion	11,681	11,681		$ 12,026
Noncurrent portion	3,820	3,820		$ 3,851
Extended Warranty
Movement in deferred income
Beginning Balance		477	$ 533
Revenue deferred for new extended warranty contracts		115	124
Amortization of deferred revenue		(169)	(194)
Other		(3)	(8)
Ending Balance	419	419	455
Current portion	196	196	226
Noncurrent portion	$ 223	$ 223	$ 230

Increase in contract with customer liability for new contracts.

No definition available.

Name:	ibm_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityAdditions
Namespace Prefix:	ibm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Increase (decrease) in contract with customer liability for other changes not specified in the taxonomy, including foreign currency translation adjustments.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ibm_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityOther
Namespace Prefix:	ibm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of revenue recognized that was previously included in balance of obligation to transfer good or service to customer for which consideration from customer has been received or is due.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121604090&loc=SL49130549-203045

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of deferred income and obligation to transfer product and service to customer for which consideration has been received or is receivable.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(5))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of deferred income and obligation to transfer product and service to customer for which consideration has been received or is receivable, classified as current.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredRevenueCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of deferred income and obligation to transfer product and service to customer for which consideration has been received or is receivable, classified as noncurrent.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredRevenueNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=ibm_ExtendedWarrantyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: