Consolidated Statements of Earnings - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 6,114	$ 6,837	$ 6,305	$ 6,108	$ 6,101	$ 6,729	$ 6,663	$ 6,083	$ 25,364	$ 25,576	$ 25,744
Cost of sales									7,373	7,531	7,765
Excise taxes on products									5,737	6,082	6,407
Gross profit	2,922	3,255	3,141	2,936	2,902	3,171	3,114	2,776	12,254	11,963	11,572
Marketing, administration and research costs									2,756	2,338	2,662
Asset impairment and exit costs									383	32	149
Operating (expense) income									9,115	9,593	8,761
Interest and other debt expense, net									665	705	747
Loss on early extinguishment of debt									0	0	823
Net periodic benefit (income) cost, excluding service cost									(34)	37	(1)
Earnings from equity investment in AB InBev/SABMiller									(890)	(532)	(795)
Loss (gain) on AB InBev/SABMiller business combination	0	0	0	33	0	(37)	(408)	0	33	(445)	(13,865)
Earnings before income taxes									9,341	9,828	21,852
Provision (benefit) for income taxes									2,374	(399)	7,608
Net earnings	1,251	1,944	1,877	1,895	4,968	1,867	1,990	1,402	6,967	10,227	14,244
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests									(4)	(5)	(5)
Net earnings attributable to Altria	$ 1,250	$ 1,943	$ 1,876	$ 1,894	$ 4,966	$ 1,866	$ 1,989	$ 1,401	$ 6,963	$ 10,222	$ 14,239
Per share data:
Basic earnings per share attributable to Altria (in usd per share)	$ 0.67	$ 1.03	$ 0.99	$ 1.00					$ 3.69	$ 5.31	$ 7.28
DIluted earnings per share attributable to Altria (in usd per share)	$ 0.66	$ 1.03	$ 0.99	$ 1.00					$ 3.68	$ 5.31	$ 7.28