Business Segments - Business Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2025	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2025		Sep. 30, 2024		Dec. 31, 2024
Business Segment Information
Net sales	$ 6,517	$ 6,294	$ 18,815		$ 18,565
Selling, general and administrative expenses	820	1,062	3,032		3,322
Research, development and related expenses	297	269	870		803
Operating income	1,447	1,316	3,833		3,737
Loss on business divestitures	(161)	0	(164)	[1]	0	[1]
Total operating expenses	5,070	4,978	14,982		14,828
Other expense (income), net	300	(405)	378		(323)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	1,147	1,721	3,455		4,060
Depreciation and amortization	298	310	878		902
Capital expenditures	218	246	662		813
All other current assets	2,673		2,673				$ 771
Total assets	37,611		37,611				39,868
Operating Segments
Business Segment Information
Net sales	6,420	6,205	18,536		18,346
Operating income	1,527	1,349	4,245		3,962
Inventories	3,694		3,694				3,497
All other current assets	12,395		12,395				12,387
Total non-current assets	21,522		21,522				23,984
Operating Segments | Safety and Industrial
Business Segment Information
Net sales	2,917	2,767	8,519		8,258
Cost of sales	1,586	1,493	4,593		4,442
Selling, general and administrative expenses	445	506	1,371		1,537
Research, development and related expenses	132	118	384		360
Operating income	754	650	2,171		1,919
Depreciation and amortization	142	150	422		422
Capital expenditures	84	99	239		256
Inventories	1,688		1,688				1,509
Operating Segments | Transportation and Electronics
Business Segment Information
Net sales	2,191	2,139	6,311		6,386
Cost of sales	1,322	1,270	3,842		3,770
Selling, general and administrative expenses	264	316	810		931
Research, development and related expenses	123	117	363		340
Operating income	482	436	1,296		1,345
Depreciation and amortization	113	109	332		329
Capital expenditures	68	95	221		370
Inventories	1,245		1,245				1,269
Operating Segments | Consumer
Business Segment Information
Net sales	1,312	1,299	3,706		3,702
Cost of sales	776	758	2,193		2,187
Selling, general and administrative expenses	213	245	640		720
Research, development and related expenses	32	33	95		97
Operating income	291	263	778		698
Depreciation and amortization	41	39	116		116
Capital expenditures	14	18	41		62
Inventories	761		761				$ 719
Corporate and Other
Business Segment Information
Net sales	97	89	279		219
Net costs for significant litigation	78	(25)	(323)		(96)
Divestiture costs	0	0	0		(20)
Loss on business divestitures	(161)	0	(164)		0
Transformation Costs	(14)	0	(14)		0
Total corporate special items	(97)	(25)	(501)		(116)
Other corporate (expense) income - net	17	(8)	89		(109)
Total operating expenses	(80)	(33)	(412)		(225)
Depreciation and amortization	2	12	8		35
Capital expenditures	$ 52	$ 34	$ 161		$ 125

[1] The Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows include the results of continuing and discontinued operations and, therefore, also include cash and cash equivalents associated with Solventum through its April 2024 separation from 3M that were presented in current assets of discontinued operations in the 3M Consolidated Balance Sheet.