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.

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Face (par) amount of the original debt instrument that was repurchased.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRepurchasedFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 50
-Section 40
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=117329964&loc=d3e12355-112629

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 50
-Section 40
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=117329964&loc=d3e12317-112629

Reference 3: 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=121586364&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

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

- Definition

The cash outflow for debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121586364&loc=d3e3291-108585

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhc_SeniorNotes5875DueMay2023Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhc_SeniorNotes550DueMarch2023Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS - Maturities and Mandatory Payments, Narrative (Details) - USD ($)					3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 29, 2020	May 26, 2020	Jan. 16, 2020	Mar. 08, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	May 23, 2019
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of long-term debt							$ 3,162,000,000	$ 3,956,000,000
Gain on extinguishment of debt		$ (27,000,000)			$ 0	$ 0	(51,000,000)	$ (40,000,000)
Senior Unsecured Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repurchased debt, aggregate par value					$ 27,000,000		27,000,000
Repayments of long-term debt							26,000,000
Gain on extinguishment of debt							$ 1,000,000
Senior Unsecured Notes \| 5.875% Senior Notes Due May 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repurchased debt, aggregate par value									$ 1,118,000,000
Repayments of long-term debt			$ 1,240,000,000	$ 584,000,000
Senior Unsecured Notes \| 5.875% Senior Notes Due May 2023 \| Subsequent Event
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of long-term debt	$ 99,000,000
Senior Unsecured Notes \| 5.50% Senior Notes Due March 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repurchased debt, aggregate par value									$ 382,000,000
Repayments of long-term debt				$ 216,000,000
Senior Unsecured Notes \| 5.50% Senior Notes Due March 2023 \| Subsequent Event
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of long-term debt	$ 51,000,000