Revenue - Disaggregated Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales	$ 8,583	$ 8,350	$ 7,176	$ 8,075	$ 8,111	$ 7,991	$ 8,171	$ 7,863	$ 32,184	$ 32,136	$ 32,765
Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									(1)	110	50
Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									(2,090)	(1,661)	(1,751)
Americas
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									16,525	16,124	15,864
Americas | Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									(1)	109	51
Americas | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									(1,000)	(735)	(745)
Asia Pacific
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									9,569	9,796	10,254
Asia Pacific | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									(750)	(711)	(768)
Europe, Middle East and Africa
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									6,109	6,226	6,654
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales										1
Europe, Middle East and Africa | Elimination of Dual Credit
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									(340)	(215)	(238)
Other Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									(19)	(10)	(7)
Other Unallocated | Corporate and Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales											(1)
United States
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									13,900	13,200	12,800
China/Hong Kong
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									3,500	3,300	3,600
Safety and Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									11,767	11,514	12,414
Safety and Industrial | Americas
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									6,177	6,008	6,345
Safety and Industrial | Asia Pacific
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									2,805	2,844	3,076
Safety and Industrial | Europe, Middle East and Africa
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									2,791	2,666	2,996
Safety and Industrial | Other Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									(6)	(4)	(3)
Safety and Industrial | Abrasives
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									1,180	1,387	1,512
Safety and Industrial | Automotive Aftermarket
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									1,102	1,229	1,356
Safety and Industrial | Closure and Masking Systems
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									993	1,111	1,224
Safety and Industrial | Communication Markets
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales											175
Safety and Industrial | Electrical Markets
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									1,121	1,200	1,244
Safety and Industrial | Industrial Adhesives and Tapes
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									2,562	2,689	2,841
Safety and Industrial | Personal Safety
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									4,433	3,504	3,601
Safety and Industrial | Roofing Granules
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									390	366	353
Safety and Industrial | Other Safety and Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									(14)	28	108
Transportation and Electronics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									8,827	9,591	10,104
Transportation and Electronics | Americas
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									2,455	2,901	3,015
Transportation and Electronics | Asia Pacific
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									5,097	5,221	5,513
Transportation and Electronics | Europe, Middle East and Africa
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									1,282	1,472	1,577
Transportation and Electronics | Other Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									(7)	(3)	(1)
Transportation and Electronics | Advanced Materials
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									1,036	1,245	1,236
Transportation and Electronics | Automotive and Aerospace
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									1,612	1,913	2,074
Transportation and Electronics | Commercial Solutions
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									1,529	1,785	1,863
Transportation and Electronics | Electronics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									3,767	3,711	3,971
Transportation and Electronics | Transportation Safety
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									890	943	951
Transportation and Electronics | Other Transportation and Electronics
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									(7)	(6)	9
Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									8,345	7,431	6,821
Health Care | Americas
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									5,062	4,200	3,636
Health Care | Asia Pacific
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									1,478	1,490	1,453
Health Care | Europe, Middle East and Africa
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									1,809	1,743	1,733
Health Care | Other Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									(4)	(2)	(1)
Health Care | Drug Delivery
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									146	372	407
Health Care | Food Safety
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									342	341	328
Health Care | Health Information Systems
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									1,140	1,177	837
Health Care | Medical Solutions
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									4,787	3,439	3,073
Health Care | Oral Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									1,076	1,321	1,353
Health Care | Separation and Purification Sciences
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									853	791	817
Health Care | Other Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									1	(10)	6
Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									5,336	5,151	5,127
Consumer | Americas
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									3,832	3,641	3,562
Consumer | Asia Pacific
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									939	952	980
Consumer | Europe, Middle East and Africa
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									567	559	586
Consumer | Other Unallocated
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									(2)	(1)	(1)
Consumer | Consumer Health Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									366	379	389
Consumer | Home Care
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									1,066	991	1,013
Consumer | Home Improvement
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									2,527	2,297	2,216
Consumer | Stationery and Office
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									1,223	1,378	1,399
Consumer | Other Consumer
Disaggregation of Revenue
Net Sales									$ 154	$ 106	$ 110