Debt (Schedule Of Notes Payable And Long-Term Debt) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Notes payable
Weighted Average Rate	0.10%		0.10%
Long-term debt
Weighted Average Rate	3.40%		3.40%
Total Notes Payable [Member]
Notes payable
Outstanding	$ 32		$ 65
Total Long-Term Debt [Member]
Long-term debt
Outstanding	300		300
Commercial Paper [Member]
Notes payable
Outstanding	32	[1]	65	[1]
Weighted Average Rate	0.10%	[1]	0.10%	[1]
Sigma-Aldrich Korea Limited Credit Facility, Due June 30, 2014 [Member]
Notes payable
Outstanding	0	[2]	0	[2]
Weighted Average Rate	0.00%	[2]	0.00%	[2]
Sigma-Aldrich Japan Credit Facility [Member]
Notes payable
Outstanding	0	[3]	0	[3]
Weighted Average Rate	0.00%	[3]	0.00%	[3]
Other Short-Term Credit Facilities [Member]
Notes payable
Outstanding	0	[4]	0	[4]
Weighted Average Rate	0.00%	[4]	0.00%	[4]
Senior Notes, Due November 1, 2020 [Member]
Long-term debt
Weighted Average Rate	3.40%	[5]	3.40%	[5]
Senior Notes, Due November 1, 2020 [Member] | Long-Term Debt [Member]
Long-term debt
Outstanding	$ 300	[5]	$ 300	[5]

[1] The Company has a $600 five-year revolving credit facility with a syndicate of banks in the U.S. that supports the Company's commercial paper program. The facility matures on May 10, 2018. At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company did not have any borrowings outstanding under the facility. However, the amount available under the facility is reduced by the amount of commercial paper outstanding. The facility contains financial covenants that require the maintenance of a ratio of consolidated debt to total capitalization of no more than 65.0 percent and an aggregate amount of subsidiary debt plus consolidated secured debt of no more than 25.0 percent of total net worth. The Company's total consolidated debt as a percentage of total capitalization and aggregate amount of subsidiary debt plus consolidated secured debt as a percentage of total net worth, as defined in the underlying credit agreement, was 10.6 percent and 0.0 percent, respectively, at March 31, 2014.

[2] There were no outstanding borrowings under this facility, which had a total commitment of 20 billion Korean Won ($19), at March 31, 2014.

[3] Sigma-Aldrich Japan GK has two credit facilities with a total commitment of 2 billion Japanese Yen ($19), with one facility expiring April 30, 2014 and the other representing a line of credit with no expiration. There were no borrowings under the facilities at March 31, 2014.

[4] There were no borrowings under these facilities, which have total commitments in U.S. Dollar equivalents of $3, at March 31, 2014.

[5] The Company has $300 of 3.375 percent Senior Notes due November 1, 2020. Interest on the notes is payable May 1 and November 1 of each year. The notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part at the Company’s option, (i) at any time at specific redemption prices plus accrued interest or (ii) three months prior to the maturity date at a redemption price equal to 100 percent of the principal amount plus accrued interest.