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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)