Cover Document - $ / shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Apr. 23, 2019
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2019
Entity File Number	1-11083
Entity Registrant Name	BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
Entity Incorporation, State Country Name	DELAWARE
Entity Tax Identification Number	042695240
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Listing, Description	Common Stock
Entity Listing, Par Value Per Share	$ 0.01
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,390,652,506
Principal Address [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Address, Address Description	300 BOSTON SCIENTIFIC WAY, MARLBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS 01752-1234
General Phone [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Phone Fax Number Description	(508) 683-4000