Segment Reporting (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021 USD ($) reportablesegments	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments | reportablesegments	3
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 2,752	$ 2,543
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Amortization expense	(185)	(201)
Operating income (loss)	370	146
Other expense, net	(45)	(124)
Income (loss) before income taxes	325	22
MedSurg [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	860	774
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	$ 332	$ 259
Segment Operating Income as a Percentage of Net Sales	38.60%	33.40%
Rhythm and Neuro [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 750	$ 703
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	$ 148	$ 99
Segment Operating Income as a Percentage of Net Sales	19.70%	14.10%
Cardiovascular [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 1,129	$ 1,026
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	$ 338	$ 199
Segment Operating Income as a Percentage of Net Sales	30.00%	19.40%
BSX Reportable Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 2,739	$ 2,502
Total allocated to reportable segments [Member]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating income (loss)	819	556
Specialty Pharmaceuticals [Member]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating income (loss)	4	26
Corporate expenses and currency exchange [Member]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Unallocated to Segment	(153)	(33)
Intangible asset impairment charges, acquisition/divestiture-related net (charges) credits, restructuring- and restructuring-related net (charges) credits, EU MDR implementation costs and litigation-related net (charges) credits
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Unallocated to Segment	$ (114)	$ (202)