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Acquisitions and Divestitures - Acquisitions (Details) - Scott Safety - USD ($) $ in Millions | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Oct. 31, 2017 | Mar. 31, 2018
Supplemental information: |  |
Cash paid, net of cash acquired | $ 2,000 |
Adjustments to purchase price allocation |  | $ 20

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- Definition This element represents the amount of any measurement period adjustment (as defined) realized during the reporting period to various assets acquired in connection with a business combination for which the initial accounting was incomplete. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mmm_BusinessCombinationProvisionalInformationInitialAccountingIncompleteAdjustmentVariousAssets
Namespace Prefix: | mmm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of a business, net of the cash acquired from the purchase. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3213-108585 + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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- Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=mmm_ScottSafetyMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |