Stockholders' Equity (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]

Stockholders' Equity

			Capital					Accumulated
			in Excess					Other
	Common		of		Retained			Comprehensive			Noncontrolling
	Stock		Par Value		Earnings			Loss			Interest			Total
Balance at December 31, 2010	$	432	$	7,005	$	7,083		$	(420	)	$	186		$	14,286
Comprehensive income:
Net income attributable to Baker Hughes						1,425
Foreign currency translation adjustments									(32	)		(1	)
Defined benefit pension plan, net of tax of ($4)									5
Total comprehensive income															1,397
Issuance of common stock pursuant to employee stock plans		4		126											130
Tax benefit on stock plans				17											17
Stock-based compensation costs				85											85
Cash dividends ($0.45 per share)						(195	)								(195	)
Purchase of subsidiary shares of noncontrolling interests				11								(37	)		(26	)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests												(5	)		(5	)
Capital contribution from noncontrolling interest, and other												8			8
Change in noncontrolling interest associated with purchase price adjustment												66			66
Balance at September 30, 2011	$	436	$	7,244	$	8,313		$	(447	)	$	217		$	15,763

			Capital					Accumulated
			in Excess					Other
	Common		of		Retained			Comprehensive			Noncontrolling
	Stock		Par Value		Earnings			Loss			Interest		Total
Balance at December 31, 2009	$	312	$	874	$	6,512		$	(414	)	$	—	$	7,284
Comprehensive income:
Net income						477
Foreign currency translation adjustments									(41	)
Defined benefit pension plans, net of tax of $(5)									18
Total comprehensive income														454
Issuance of common stock pursuant to employee stock plans		1		21										22
Issuance of common stock to acquire BJ Services		118		5,986										6,104
Tax benefit on stock plans				2										2
Stock-based compensation costs				66										66
Cash dividends ($0.45 per share)						(175	)							(175	)
Balance at September 30, 2010	$	431	$	6,949	$	6,814		$	(437	)	$	—	$	13,757

Total accumulated other comprehensive loss

	September 30, 2011			December 31, 2010
Foreign currency translation adjustments	$	(293	)	$	(261	)
Pension and other postretirement benefits		(154	)		(159	)
Total accumulated other comprehensive loss	$	(447	)	$	(420	)