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Acquisitions and Divestitures - Acquisitions (Details) $ in Millions | 1 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Oct. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) item | Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)
Supplemental information: |  |  |
Cash paid, net of cash acquired |  | $ (13) | $ 12
Number of business combinations completed | item |  | 0 |
Scott Safety |  |  |
Supplemental information: |  |  |
Cash paid, net of cash acquired | $ 2,000 |  |
Adjustments to purchase price allocation |  | $ 7 |

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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
Name: | us-gaap_AdditionalCashFlowElementsAndSupplementalCashFlowInformationAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition The number of businesses acquired by the entity during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NumberOfBusinessesAcquired
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of a business, net of the cash acquired from the purchase. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3213-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired
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: |