Name:	cvs_AcceleratedShareRepurchasesAgreementAmount
Namespace Prefix:	cvs_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Accelerated Share Repurchases, Maximum Number of Shares to be Received

No definition available.

Name:	cvs_AcceleratedShareRepurchasesMaximumNumberofSharestobeReceived
Namespace Prefix:	cvs_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the number of shares of common stock repurchased under the entity's fixed dollar accelerated share repurchase agreement with Barclays Bank PLC.

No definition available.

Name:	cvs_AcceleratedShareRepurchasesNumberOfSharesRepurchased
Namespace Prefix:	cvs_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Represents the percentage of agreement amount under the entity's fixed dollar accelerated share repurchase agreement with Barclays Bank PLC.

No definition available.

Name:	cvs_AcceleratedShareRepurchasesPercentageOfNotionalPurchasePrice
Namespace Prefix:	cvs_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Final price paid per share for the purchase of the targeted number of shares, determined by an average market price over a fixed period of time.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 30

-Section 25

-Paragraph 5

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6405686&loc=d3e22802-112653

Name:	us-gaap_AcceleratedShareRepurchasesFinalPricePaidPerShare
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

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

Number of shares that have been repurchased during the period and have not been retired and are not held in treasury. Some state laws may govern the circumstances under which an entity may acquire its own stock and prescribe the accounting treatment therefore. This element is used when state law does not recognize treasury stock.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 29, 30

-Article 5

Name:	us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Equity impact of the value of stock that has been repurchased during the period and has not been retired and is not held in treasury. Some state laws may mandate the circumstances under which an entity may acquire its own stock and prescribe the accounting treatment therefore. This element is used when state law does not recognize treasury stock.

Name:	us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of a stock repurchase plan authorized by an entity's Board of Directors.

No definition available.

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

Amount remaining of a stock repurchase plan authorized by an entity's Board of Directors.

No definition available.

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

Name:	us-gaap_AcceleratedShareRepurchasesDateAxis=cvs_NineteenSeptember2012Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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Name:	us-gaap_AcceleratedShareRepurchasesDateAxis=cvs_October012013Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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Name:	us-gaap_AcceleratedShareRepurchasesDateAxis=cvs_SixteenNovember2012Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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Name:	us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis=cvs_RepurchaseProgram2011Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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Name:	us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis=cvs_RepurchaseProgram2012Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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Name:	us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis=cvs_RepurchaseProgram2013Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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Name:	us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis=cvs_RepurchaseProgram2014and2013Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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Name:	us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis=cvs_RepurchaseProgram2014Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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Name:	us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis=cvs_RepurchasePrograms2013and2012Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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Name:	us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis=cvs_ShareRepurchaseProgramMember
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