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Goodwill and intangible assets - Summary of movements of goodwill and intangible assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017
Reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [abstract] |  |  |
Intangible assets and goodwill, beginning balance | $ 10,679 |  |
Amortization charge | (1,084) | $ (1,019) | $ (1,033)
Intangible assets and goodwill, ending balance | 10,231 | 10,679 |
Gross carrying amount [member] |  |  |
Reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [abstract] |  |  |
Intangible assets and goodwill, beginning balance | 19,492 | 19,014 |
Impact of business combinations | 505 | 346 |
Additions | 132 | 197 |
Reclassifications | 0 |  |
Disposals, derecognitions, and transfers | (41) | (65) |
Intangible assets and goodwill, ending balance | 20,088 | 19,492 | 19,014
Accumulated depreciation and amortisation [member] |  |  |
Reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [abstract] |  |  |
Intangible assets and goodwill, beginning balance | (8,813) | (7,473) |
Amortization charge | (1,084) | (1,019) |
Disposals, derecognitions, and transfers | 40 | 57 |
Impairment charge |  | (378) |
Intangible assets and goodwill, ending balance | (9,857) | (8,813) | (7,473)
Goodwill [member] |  |  |
Reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [abstract] |  |  |
Intangible assets and goodwill, beginning balance | 8,899 |  |
Intangible assets and goodwill, ending balance | 8,905 | 8,899 |
Goodwill [member] | Gross carrying amount [member] |  |  |
Reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [abstract] |  |  |
Intangible assets and goodwill, beginning balance | 8,899 | 8,895 |
Impact of business combinations | 6 | 4 |
Intangible assets and goodwill, ending balance | 8,905 | 8,899 | 8,895
Alcon brand name [member] |  |  |
Reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [abstract] |  |  |
Intangible assets and goodwill, beginning balance | 2,980 |  |
Intangible assets and goodwill, ending balance | 2,980 | 2,980 |
Alcon brand name [member] | Gross carrying amount [member] |  |  |
Reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [abstract] |  |  |
Intangible assets and goodwill, beginning balance | 2,980 | 2,980 |
Intangible assets and goodwill, ending balance | 2,980 | 2,980 | 2,980
Acquired research & development [member] |  |  |
Reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [abstract] |  |  |
Intangible assets and goodwill, beginning balance | 246 |  |
Intangible assets and goodwill, ending balance | 725 | 246 |
Acquired research & development [member] | Gross carrying amount [member] |  |  |
Reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [abstract] |  |  |
Intangible assets and goodwill, beginning balance | 249 | 242 |
Impact of business combinations | 505 |  |
Additions | 7 | 71 |
Reclassifications | (33) |  |
Disposals, derecognitions, and transfers |  | (64) |
Intangible assets and goodwill, ending balance | 728 | 249 | 242
Acquired research & development [member] | Accumulated depreciation and amortisation [member] |  |  |
Reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [abstract] |  |  |
Intangible assets and goodwill, beginning balance | (3) | (58) |
Disposals, derecognitions, and transfers |  | 57 |
Impairment charge |  | (2) |
Intangible assets and goodwill, ending balance | (3) | (3) | (58)
Technologies [member] |  |  |
Reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [abstract] |  |  |
Intangible assets and goodwill, beginning balance | 1,185 |  |
Intangible assets and goodwill, ending balance | 677 | 1,185 |
Technologies [member] | Gross carrying amount [member] |  |  |
Reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [abstract] |  |  |
Intangible assets and goodwill, beginning balance | 5,369 | 5,368 |
Additions |  | 1 |
Intangible assets and goodwill, ending balance | 5,369 | 5,369 | 5,368
Technologies [member] | Accumulated depreciation and amortisation [member] |  |  |
Reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [abstract] |  |  |
Intangible assets and goodwill, beginning balance | (4,184) | (3,635) |
Amortization charge | (508) | (510) |
Impairment charge |  | (39) |
Intangible assets and goodwill, ending balance | (4,692) | (4,184) | (3,635)
Currently marketed products [member] |  |  |
Reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [abstract] |  |  |
Intangible assets and goodwill, beginning balance | 1,848 |  |
Intangible assets and goodwill, ending balance | 1,598 | 1,848 |
Currently marketed products [member] | Gross carrying amount [member] |  |  |
Reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [abstract] |  |  |
Intangible assets and goodwill, beginning balance | 4,440 | 4,094 |
Impact of business combinations |  | 346 |
Intangible assets and goodwill, ending balance | 4,440 | 4,440 | 4,094
Currently marketed products [member] | Accumulated depreciation and amortisation [member] |  |  |
Reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [abstract] |  |  |
Intangible assets and goodwill, beginning balance | (2,592) | (2,008) |
Amortization charge | (250) | (247) |
Impairment charge |  | (337) |
Intangible assets and goodwill, ending balance | (2,842) | (2,592) | (2,008)
Marketing know-how [member] |  |  |
Reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [abstract] |  |  |
Intangible assets and goodwill, beginning balance | 4,054 |  |
Intangible assets and goodwill, ending balance | 3,814 | 4,054 |
Marketing know-how [member] | Gross carrying amount [member] |  |  |
Reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [abstract] |  |  |
Intangible assets and goodwill, beginning balance | 5,960 | 5,960 |
Intangible assets and goodwill, ending balance | 5,960 | 5,960 | 5,960
Marketing know-how [member] | Accumulated depreciation and amortisation [member] |  |  |
Reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [abstract] |  |  |
Intangible assets and goodwill, beginning balance | (1,906) | (1,668) |
Amortization charge | (240) | (238) |
Intangible assets and goodwill, ending balance | (2,146) | (1,906) | (1,668)
Other intangible assets (including software) [member] |  |  |
Reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [abstract] |  |  |
Intangible assets and goodwill, beginning balance | 366 |  |
Intangible assets and goodwill, ending balance | 437 | 366 |
Other intangible assets (including software) [member] | Gross carrying amount [member] |  |  |
Reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [abstract] |  |  |
Intangible assets and goodwill, beginning balance | 494 | 370 |
Additions | 125 | 125 |
Reclassifications | 33 |  |
Disposals, derecognitions, and transfers | (41) | (1) |
Intangible assets and goodwill, ending balance | 611 | 494 | 370
Other intangible assets (including software) [member] | Accumulated depreciation and amortisation [member] |  |  |
Reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [abstract] |  |  |
Intangible assets and goodwill, beginning balance | (128) | (104) |
Amortization charge | (86) | (24) |
Disposals, derecognitions, and transfers | 40 |  |
Intangible assets and goodwill, ending balance | $ (174) | $ (128) | $ (104)

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- Definition The increase in intangible assets and goodwill resulting from acquisitions through business combinations. [Refer: Business combinations [member]; Intangible assets and goodwill] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 38 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 118 -Subparagraph e -Clause i -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=38&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_118_e_i&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
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- Definition The amount of impairment loss recognised in profit or loss for intangible assets and goodwill. [Refer: Impairment loss recognised in profit or loss; Intangible assets and goodwill] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 38 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 118 -Subparagraph e -Clause iv -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=38&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_118_e_iv&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
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- Definition The increase (decrease) in intangible assets other than goodwill resulting from changes that the entity does not separately disclose in the same statement or note. [Refer: Intangible assets other than goodwill] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 38 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 118 -Subparagraph e -Clause viii -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=38&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_118_e_viii&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
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