Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Cash Provided by Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 2,289	$ 2,809
Cash Used in Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(38)	(34)
Investment in Cronos common shares and warrant	(1,831)
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries	0
Other, net	(81)	(7)
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,950)	(41)
Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities
Repayment of short-term borrowings	(12,800)	0
Long-term debt issued	16,265	0
Repurchases of common stock	(151)	(513)
Dividends paid on common stock	(1,502)	(1,257)
Changes in amounts due to/from Altria and subsidiaries	0	0
Cash dividends paid to parent	0	0
Other	(129)	(23)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	1,683	(1,793)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Increase (decrease)	2,022	975
Balance at beginning of period	1,433	1,314
Balance at end of period	3,455	2,289
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Altria Group, Inc. [Member]
Cash Provided by Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,642	648
Cash Used in Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	0	0
Investment in Cronos common shares and warrant	0
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries	(1,947)
Other, net	(3)	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,950)	0
Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities
Repayment of short-term borrowings	(12,800)
Long-term debt issued	16,265
Repurchases of common stock	(151)	(513)
Dividends paid on common stock	(1,502)	(1,257)
Changes in amounts due to/from Altria and subsidiaries	657	2,091
Cash dividends paid to parent	0	0
Other	(120)	(20)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	2,349	301
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Increase (decrease)	2,041	949
Balance at beginning of period	1,277	1,203
Balance at end of period	3,318	2,152
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Cash Provided by Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities	2,520	2,923
Cash Used in Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(9)	(1)
Investment in Cronos common shares and warrant	0
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries	0
Other, net	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(9)	(1)
Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities
Repayment of short-term borrowings	0
Long-term debt issued	0
Repurchases of common stock	0	0
Dividends paid on common stock	0	0
Changes in amounts due to/from Altria and subsidiaries	(771)	(2,439)
Cash dividends paid to parent	(1,737)	(446)
Other	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(2,508)	(2,885)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Increase (decrease)	3	37
Balance at beginning of period	100	62
Balance at end of period	103	99
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash Provided by Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities	166	189
Cash Used in Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(29)	(33)
Investment in Cronos common shares and warrant	(1,831)
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries	0
Other, net	(78)	(7)
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,938)	(40)
Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities
Repayment of short-term borrowings	0
Long-term debt issued	0
Repurchases of common stock	0	0
Dividends paid on common stock	0	0
Changes in amounts due to/from Altria and subsidiaries	2,061	348
Cash dividends paid to parent	(302)	(505)
Other	(9)	(3)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	1,750	(160)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Increase (decrease)	(22)	(11)
Balance at beginning of period	56	49
Balance at end of period	34	38
Total Consolidating Adjustments [Member]
Cash Provided by Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities	(2,039)	(951)
Cash Used in Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	0	0
Investment in Cronos common shares and warrant	0
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries	1,947
Other, net	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	1,947	0
Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities
Repayment of short-term borrowings	0
Long-term debt issued	0
Repurchases of common stock	0	0
Dividends paid on common stock	0	0
Changes in amounts due to/from Altria and subsidiaries	(1,947)	0
Cash dividends paid to parent	2,039	951
Other	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	92	951
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Increase (decrease)	0	0
Balance at beginning of period	0	0
Balance at end of period	$ 0	$ 0