Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Aug. 09, 2012 2.85% Notes due 2022 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Issued From 2008 To 2009 [Member]	Aug. 09, 2012 4.25% Notes due 2042 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 9.70% Notes Due 2018 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 9.250% Notes Due 2019 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Change Of Control And Loss Of Investment Grade Rating [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 UST [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate fair value of Altria's total debt	$ 17,600,000,000				$ 17,600,000,000	$ 17,700,000,000
Carrying value of Altria's total debt	13,900,000,000				13,900,000,000	13,700,000,000
Long-term debt issued					2,787,000,000	1,494,000,000	1,007,000,000	1,900,000,000		900,000,000
Aggregate principal amount									8,225,000,000
Stated interest rate								2.85%		4.25%	9.70%	9.25%
Maturity date								Aug. 09, 2022		Aug. 09, 2042
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount		2,000,000,000									1,151,000,000	849,000,000
Required purchase price as percentage of aggregate principal amount													101.00%
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt	0	(874,000,000)	0	0	(874,000,000)	0	0
Debt Tender Fees		864,000,000
Unamortized Debt Discounts and Debt Issuance Costs Written Off		10,000,000
Repayments of Long-term Debt					$ 2,600,000,000	$ 0	$ 775,000,000							$ 600,000,000