Amount of write-down of assets recognized in the income statement. Includes, but is not limited to, losses from tangible assets, intangible assets and goodwill.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118932676&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109226348&loc=d3e2420-110228

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionContingentConsiderationLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of liability recognized arising from contingent consideration in a business combination, expected to be settled beyond one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 25
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911189&loc=d3e6408-128476

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 35
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph b
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116859824&loc=d3e6819-128478

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiabilityNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) recognized in income from liability measured at fair value on recurring basis using unobservable input (level 3).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=117815213&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisLiabilityGainLossIncludedInEarnings
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of settlements of financial instrument classified as a liability measured using unobservable inputs that reflect the entity's own assumption about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=117815213&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisLiabilitySettlements
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) in fair value from changes in the inputs, assumptions, or model used to calculate the fair value of the contract to service financial assets under which the benefits of servicing are expected to more than adequately compensate the servicer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 860
-SubTopic 50
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(4)(i)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116651436&loc=d3e122625-111746

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ServicingAssetAtFairValueChangesInFairValueResultingFromChangesInValuationInputsOrChangesInAssumptions
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=biib_SeniorNotesTwoPointNinePercentDueTwentyTwentyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=biib_SeniorNotesThreePointSixTwoFivePercentDueTwentyTwentyTwoMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=biib_SeniorNotesFourPointZeroFivePercentDueTwentyTwentyFiveMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=biib_SeniorNotesFivePointTwoPercentDueTwentyFortyFiveMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	biib_ResearchanddevelopmentassetAxis=biib_BG00011Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Fair Value Measurements (Details Textual) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
Fair Value Measurements (Details Textual) - USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]
Asset impairment charges				$ 0
Fair value measurements, changes in valuation inputs				0
Contingent consideration obligations	$ 196,000,000.0	$ 265,000,000.0		196,000,000.0
Contingent consideration impairment	57,800,000		$ 87,900,000	66,300,000	$ 91,600,000
Future payment	$ 0	$ 81,500,000	$ 0	$ 0	$ 20,000,000.0
2.900% Senior Notes due 2020
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]
Senior Notes interest rate	2.90%			2.90%
3.625% Senior Notes due 2022
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]
Senior Notes interest rate	3.625%			3.625%
4.050% Senior Notes due 2025
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]
Senior Notes interest rate	4.05%			4.05%
5.200% Senior Notes due 2045
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]
Senior Notes interest rate	5.20%			5.20%
BG00011
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]
Contingent consideration impairment	$ 61,200,000