Revenue (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2022 USD ($) units	Jun. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2022 USD ($) units	Jun. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 3,244	$ 3,077	$ 6,270	$ 5,829
Emerging Markets total countries | units	20		20
Net sales	$ 3,244	3,077	$ 6,270	5,829
Contract with Customer, Liability [Abstract]
Contract with Customer, Liability	501		501		$ 484
Change in Contract with Customer, Liability [Abstract]
Contract with Customer, Liability, Revenue Recognized	35			76
United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	1,933	1,800	3,711	3,386
Net sales	1,933	1,800	3,711	3,386
International [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	1,311	1,277	2,559	2,443
Net sales	1,311	1,277	2,559	2,443
Emerging Markets [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	427	359	817	676
Net sales	427	359	817	676
Endoscopy [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	560	551	1,091	1,050
Net sales	560	551	1,091	1,050
Endoscopy [Member] | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	338	316	650	596
Net sales	338	316	650	596
Endoscopy [Member] | International [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	221	235	441	454
Net sales	221	235	441	454
Urology and Pelvic Health [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	450	397	863	758
Net sales	450	397	863	758
Urology and Pelvic Health [Member] | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	320	285	606	542
Net sales	320	285	606	542
Urology and Pelvic Health [Member] | International [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	130	112	257	216
Net sales	130	112	257	216
Neuromodulation [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	239	247	448	444
Net sales	239	247	448	444
Neuromodulation [Member] | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	186	194	346	345
Net sales	186	194	346	345
Neuromodulation [Member] | International [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	53	53	101	99
Net sales	53	53	101	99
Interventional Cardiology Therapies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	574	574	1,118	1,100
Net sales	574	574	1,118	1,100
Interventional Cardiology Therapies | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	192	206	378	400
Net sales	192	206	378	400
Interventional Cardiology Therapies | International [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	382	369	740	699
Net sales	382	369	740	699
Watchman
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	250	216	476	386
Net sales	250	216	476	386
Watchman | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	225	192	428	341
Net sales	225	192	428	341
Watchman | International [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	25	24	48	45
Net sales	25	24	48	45
Cardiac Rhythm Management [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	541	524	1,061	993
Net sales	541	524	1,061	993
Cardiac Rhythm Management [Member] | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	342	314	667	590
Net sales	342	314	667	590
Cardiac Rhythm Management [Member] | International [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	199	210	394	403
Net sales	199	210	394	403
Electrophysiology [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	152	95	270	179
Net sales	152	95	270	179
Electrophysiology [Member] | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	73	34	123	64
Net sales	73	34	123	64
Electrophysiology [Member] | International [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	79	62	147	115
Net sales	79	62	147	115
Cardiology [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	1,517	1,410	2,925	2,658
Net sales	1,517	1,410	2,925	2,658
Cardiology [Member] | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	832	746	1,596	1,395
Net sales	832	746	1,596	1,395
Cardiology [Member] | International [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	685	664	1,329	1,263
Net sales	685	664	1,329	1,263
Peripheral Interventions [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	478	473	944	906
Net sales	478	473	944	906
Peripheral Interventions [Member] | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	257	260	513	498
Net sales	257	260	513	498
Peripheral Interventions [Member] | International [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	221	213	430	407
Net sales	221	213	430	407
Specialty Pharmaceuticals [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0	0	0	13
Net sales	0	0	0	13
Specialty Pharmaceuticals [Member] | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0	0	0	10
Net sales	0	0	0	10
Specialty Pharmaceuticals [Member] | International [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0	0	0	4
Net sales	0	0	0	4
BSX Reportable Segments [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	3,244	3,077	6,270	5,816
Net sales	3,244	3,077	6,270	5,816
BSX Reportable Segments [Member] | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	1,933	1,800	3,711	3,376
Net sales	1,933	1,800	3,711	3,376
BSX Reportable Segments [Member] | EMEA [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	660	662	1,284	1,266
Net sales	660	662	1,284	1,266
BSX Reportable Segments [Member] | APAC [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	530	520	1,047	994
Net sales	530	520	1,047	994
BSX Reportable Segments [Member] | Latin America and Canada [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	120	95	228	180
Net sales	120	95	228	180
MedSurg [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	1,248	1,195	2,402	2,252
Net sales	1,248	1,195	2,402	2,252
MedSurg [Member] | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	844	794	1,602	1,483
Net sales	844	794	1,602	1,483
MedSurg [Member] | International [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	404	400	799	769
Net sales	404	400	799	769
Cardiovascular [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	1,996	1,883	3,868	3,564
Net sales	1,996	1,883	3,868	3,564
Cardiovascular [Member] | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	1,089	1,005	2,109	1,893
Net sales	1,089	1,005	2,109	1,893
Cardiovascular [Member] | International [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	906	877	1,760	1,670
Net sales	$ 906	$ 877	$ 1,760	$ 1,670