Name:	ifrs-full_DisclosureOfRiskManagementStrategyRelatedToHedgeAccountingLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The nominal or face amount of a financial instrument, used to calculate payments made on that instrument.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Name IAS
-Number 1
-IssueDate 2022-03-24
-Paragraph 112
-Subparagraph c
-URI https://taxonomy.ifrs.org/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=1&code=ifrs-tx-2022-en-r&anchor=para_112_c&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2022-03-24

Name:	ifrs-full_NotionalAmount
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Percent of exposure the hedge covers.

No definition available.

Name:	snn_AmountOfExposureAsPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	snn_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Period of time for hedge contracts.

No definition available.

Name:	snn_HedgeInstrumentTerm
Namespace Prefix:	snn_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The increase (decrease) in the fair value as a result of an decrease in the relevant risk variable that was reasonably possible at the end of the reporting period.

No definition available.

Name:	snn_IncreaseDecreaseInFairValueDueToReasonablyPossibleDecreaseInRiskVariable
Namespace Prefix:	snn_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

The increase (decrease) in net borrowings, as a result of a decrease in the relevant risk variable that was reasonably possible at the end of the reporting period.

No definition available.

Name:	snn_IncreaseDecreaseInNetBorrowingsDueToReasonablyPossibleDecreaseInRiskVariable
Namespace Prefix:	snn_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Period of time cash flows relating to cash flow hedges are expected to occur.

No definition available.

Name:	snn_PeriodOfTimeCashFlowsOccurForCashFlowHedges
Namespace Prefix:	snn_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Period of time after the cash flows for cash flow hedges occur when the profit or loss will be determined.

No definition available.

Name:	snn_PeriodOfTimeProfitOrLossOnCashFlowHedgesWillBeDetermined
Namespace Prefix:	snn_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The reasonably possible percentage of decrease in the relevant risk variable used to determine the financial impact in a sensitivity analysis.

No definition available.

Name:	snn_SensitivityAnalysisPercentageOfReasonablyPossibleDecreaseInRiskVariable
Namespace Prefix:	snn_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The reasonably possible percentage of increase in the relevant risk variable used to determine the financial impact in a sensitivity analysis.

No definition available.

Name:	snn_SensitivityAnalysisPercentageOfReasonablyPossibleIncreaseInRiskVariable
Namespace Prefix:	snn_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Name:	ifrs-full_ClassesOfFinancialInstrumentsAxis=ifrs-full_ForwardContractMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	ifrs-full_TypesOfRisksAxis=ifrs-full_CurrencyRiskMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	srt_CurrencyAxis=currency_USD
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: