Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Schedule of Pre-tax Charges or (Gains) Included in Net Earnings Attributable to Altria Group, Inc.) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Asset impairment, exit, implementation and acquisition-related costs	$ 12	$ 17	$ 30	$ 30	$ 73	$ 6	$ 5	$ 122
Settlement Charge, Lump Sum Pension Payment	81	0	0	0
Loss on early extinguishment of debt					0	823	0	0	$ 0	$ 823	$ 228
Gain on AB InBev/SABMiller business combination	0	(37)	(408)	0	(13,660)	(48)	(117)	(40)	$ (445)	$ (13,865)	$ (5)
AB InBev/SABMiller special items	51	34	2	73	(236)	(40)	21	166
Pre-tax charges (gains) included in net earnings	206	19	(359)	103	(13,785)	786	(86)	304
NPM Adjustment [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Litigation settlement amount	0	5	0	(1)	0	0	0	18
Tobacco and Health Litigation Items [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Tobacco and health litigation items, including accrued interest	$ 62	$ 0	$ 17	$ 1	17	45	5	38
Patent Litigation Settlement [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Patent litigation settlement					$ (21)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0