Quarterly Data (Unaudited) - Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions		3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015		Sep. 30, 2015		Jun. 30, 2015		Mar. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract]
Revenue		$ 3,394		$ 3,786		$ 3,968		$ 4,594		$ 6,635	$ 6,250	$ 5,935	$ 5,731	$ 15,742		$ 24,551	$ 22,364
Gross Profit (1)	[1]	146		268		229		114		1,309	984	1,031	868	757		4,192
Impairment and Restructuring Charges (2)		1,246	[2]	98	[2]	76	[2]	573	[2]					1,993	[2]	0	0
Net income attributable to Baker Hughes		$ (1,031)		$ (159)		$ (188)		$ (589)		$ 663	$ 375	$ 353	$ 328	$ (1,967)		$ 1,719	$ 1,096
Basic (loss) earnings per share attributable to Baker Hughes (in US$ per share)		$ (2.35)		$ (0.36)		$ (0.43)		$ (1.35)		$ 1.53	$ 0.86	$ 0.81	$ 0.75	$ (4.49)		$ 3.93	$ 2.47
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Baker Hughes (in US$ per share)		(2.35)		(0.36)		(0.43)		(1.35)		1.52	0.86	0.80	0.74	(4.49)		3.92	$ 2.47
Dividends per share		0.17		0.17		0.17		0.17		0.17	0.17	0.15	0.15	$ 0.68		$ 0.64
Common Stock Market Prices [Abstract]
High		57.33		61.13		69.13		65.04		65.83	75.35	74.63	65.27
Low		$ 43.36		$ 45.76		$ 61.11		$ 53.53		$ 50.02	$ 65.06	$ 63.37	$ 51.82

[1] Represents revenue less cost of sales, cost of services and research and engineering.

[2] Impairment and restructuring charges associated with asset impairments, workforce reductions, facility closures and contract terminations recorded during 2015. See Note 3. "Impairment and Restructuring Charges" for further discussion.