Name:	mrk_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAmortizationOfPurchaseAccountingAdjustments
Namespace Prefix:	mrk_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Business Combination

No definition available.

Name:	mrk_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationBusinessCombination
Namespace Prefix:	mrk_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Business Combination, Percent

No definition available.

Name:	mrk_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationBusinessCombinationPercent
Namespace Prefix:	mrk_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Business Combination Three

No definition available.

Name:	mrk_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationBusinessCombinationThree
Namespace Prefix:	mrk_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Business Combination Three, Percent

No definition available.

Name:	mrk_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationBusinessCombinationThreePercent
Namespace Prefix:	mrk_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Business Combination Two

No definition available.

Name:	mrk_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationBusinessCombinationTwo
Namespace Prefix:	mrk_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Business Combination Two, Percent

No definition available.

Name:	mrk_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationBusinessCombinationTwoPercent
Namespace Prefix:	mrk_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Differential Arising From, Amount [Abstract]

No definition available.

Name:	mrk_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDifferentialArisingFromAmountAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	mrk_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Differential Arising From, Percent [Abstract]

No definition available.

Name:	mrk_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDifferentialArisingFromPercentAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	mrk_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Global Intangible Low Taxed Income Foreign Derived Intangible Income Deduction, Amount

No definition available.

Name:	mrk_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationGlobalIntangibleLowTaxedIncomeForeignDerivedIntangibleIncomeDeductionAmount
Namespace Prefix:	mrk_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Global Intangible Low Taxed Income Foreign Derived Intangible Income Deduction, Percent

No definition available.

Name:	mrk_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationGlobalIntangibleLowTaxedIncomeForeignDerivedIntangibleIncomeDeductionPercent
Namespace Prefix:	mrk_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The portion of the difference between total income tax expense or benefit as reported in the Income Statement for the period and the expected income tax expense or benefit computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations attributable to amortization of purchase accounting adjustments.

No definition available.

Name:	mrk_IncomeTaxReconciliationAmortizationOfPurchaseAccountingAdjustments
Namespace Prefix:	mrk_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Percentage of current income tax expense (benefit) and deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 12
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32687-109319

Name:	us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

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

Percentage of domestic federal statutory tax rate applicable to pretax income (loss).

Name:	us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Percentage of the difference between reported income tax expense (benefit) and expected income tax expense (benefit) computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to changes in the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 6.I.Fact.4)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116825942&loc=d3e330036-122817

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 12
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32687-109319

Name:	us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Percentage of the difference between reported income tax expense (benefit) and expected income tax expense (benefit) computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income (loss) from continuing operations applicable to statutory income tax expense (benefit) outside of the country of domicile.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 12
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32687-109319

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 6.I.Fact.4)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116825942&loc=d3e330036-122817

Name:	us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Name:	us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseRestructuringCharges
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Name:	us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Percentage of the difference between reported income tax expense (benefit) and expected income tax expense (benefit) computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income (loss) from continuing operations applicable to state and local income tax expense (benefit), net of federal tax expense (benefit).

Name:	us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Name:	us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCreditsResearch
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount of reported income tax expense (benefit) in excess of (less than) expected income tax expense (benefit) computed by applying domestic federal statutory income tax rate to pretax income (loss) from continuing operations, attributable to Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Name:	us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017Amount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Percentage of reported income tax expense (benefit) in excess of (less than) expected income tax expense (benefit) computed by applying domestic federal statutory income tax rate to pretax income (loss) from continuing operations, attributable to Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Name:	us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017Percent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Percentage of the difference between reported income tax expense (benefit) and expected income tax expense (benefit) computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to income tax settlements. Including, but not limited to, domestic tax settlement, foreign tax settlement, state and local tax settlement, and other tax settlements.

Name:	us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxSettlements
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount of current income tax expense (benefit) and deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 6.I.7)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116825942&loc=d3e330036-122817

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32672-109319

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 22
-Subparagraph (h)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120311839&loc=d3e8736-108599

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08(h))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120395691&loc=d3e23780-122690

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 250
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109234566&loc=d3e22663-107794

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120385591&loc=d3e38679-109324

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 220
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04(9))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120400993&loc=SL114874131-224263

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 250
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109234566&loc=d3e22658-107794

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

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

Amount of the difference between reported income tax expense (benefit) and expected income tax expense (benefit) computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to increase (decrease) in the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets.

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

The amount of income tax expense or benefit for the period computed by applying the domestic federal statutory tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations.

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseRestructuringCharges
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxCreditsResearch
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of the difference between reported income tax expense (benefit) and expected income tax expense (benefit) computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to income tax settlements. Including, but not limited to, domestic tax settlement, foreign tax settlement, state and local tax settlement, and other tax settlements.