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Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, net (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Jan. 31, 2009 | Dec. 31, 2007
Goodwill And Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Amortization of intangibles | $ 20,000,000 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets | $ 20,000,000 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets | $ 20,000,000 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets |  |
Estimated future amortization, year 1 | 20,000,000 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths |  |  |  |
Estimated future amortization, year 2 | 20,000,000 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo |  |  |  |
Estimated future amortization, year 3 | 20,000,000 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree |  |  |  |
Estimated future amortization, year 4 | 20,000,000 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour |  |  |  |
Estimated future amortization, year 5 | 20,000,000 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive |  |  |  |
Goodwill and Intangible Asset Impairment | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetImpairment | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetImpairment | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetImpairment |  |
Changes in goodwill | 111,000,000 us-gaap_GoodwillPeriodIncreaseDecrease | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillPeriodIncreaseDecrease | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillPeriodIncreaseDecrease |  |
Changes in other intangible assets | 11,000,000 mo_IntangiblesPeriodIncreaseDecreaseTotal | 0 mo_IntangiblesPeriodIncreaseDecreaseTotal | 0 mo_IntangiblesPeriodIncreaseDecreaseTotal |  |
Accumulated impairment losses related to goodwill and other intangible assets, net | 0 mo_GoodwillandOtherIntangibleAssetsImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss | 0 mo_GoodwillandOtherIntangibleAssetsImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss |  |  |
UST [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill And Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Indefinite-lived trademarks |  |  |  | 9,100,000,000 us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedTrademarks / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = mo_USTMember |
Middleton [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill And Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Indefinite-lived trademarks |  |  |  |  | $ 2,600,000,000 us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedTrademarks / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = mo_MiddletonMember
Definite-Lived Intangible Assets [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill And Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Definite-lived intangible assets amortization period, maximum, in years | 25 years |  |  |  |

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- Definition Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Intangibles, Period Increase (Decrease), Total + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388964&loc=d3e16225-109274 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
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- Definition Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized during the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
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- Definition Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized during the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
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- Definition Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized during the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
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- Definition Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized during the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
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- Definition Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized during the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
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- Definition Useful life of finite-lived intangible assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Total loss recognized during the period from the impairment of goodwill plus the loss recognized in the period resulting from the impairment of the carrying amount of intangible assets, other than goodwill. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267 + Details
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- Definition Carrying amount (original costs adjusted for previously recognized amortization and impairment) as of the balance sheet date for the rights acquired through registration of a trademark to gain or protect exclusive use of a business name, symbol or other device or style for a projected indefinite period of benefit. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
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