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Stockholders' Equity (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
0 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Jul. 26, 2013
Jul. 25, 2013
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Mar. 31, 2013
Apr. 30, 2015
Jan. 31, 2013
Apr. 30, 2012
Sep. 30, 2013
Dividends Payable [Line Items]                  
Cash dividends declared per common share $ 0.24us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared $ 0.20us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared $ 0.96us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared $ 0.92us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared $ 0.80us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared        
Stock repurchase plans approved, shares           $ 500us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1 $ 500us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1 [1] $ 700us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1 [1]  
Treasury stock retired         2us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesRetired        
Treasury stock retired, acquired amount         217us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredParValueMethod        
Treasury stock retired, amount         195us-gaap_TreasuryStockRetiredCostMethodAmount        
OCI foreign currency translation gains (losses) net of tax, NCI portion     (267)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest 21us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest          
Net foreign currency gains (losses), reclassified from AOCI     $ 10us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIRealizedUponSaleOrLiquidationNetOfTax [2] $ (44)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIRealizedUponSaleOrLiquidationNetOfTax [2] $ 0us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIRealizedUponSaleOrLiquidationNetOfTax [2]        
Nadro [Member] | Distribution Solutions [Member]                  
Dividends Payable [Line Items]                  
Equity interest in investee       49.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= mck_NadroMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mck_DistributionSolutionsMember
49.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= mck_NadroMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mck_DistributionSolutionsMember
      49.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= mck_NadroMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mck_DistributionSolutionsMember
[1] This table does not include shares tendered to satisfy the exercise price in connection with cashless exercises of employee stock options or shares tendered to satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with employee equity awards.
[2] 2014 includes net foreign currency translation losses of $44 million reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to other income (loss), net, within our consolidated statement of operations due to the sale of our 49% equity interest in Nadro. Such losses were previously considered in our impairment evaluation of the investment when we committed to a plan to sell the investment during the fourth quarter of 2013 and, accordingly, did not impact earnings in 2014.