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Goodwill and intangible assets (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Dec. 31, 2019
Dec. 31, 2018
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items]      
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period $ 55,311    
Additions 1,425 $ 767  
Reversal of impairment charge   37 $ 0
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period 66,808 55,311  
Goodwill      
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items]      
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period 26,524    
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period 29,999 26,524  
Intangible Assets other than Goodwill      
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items]      
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period 28,787    
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period 36,809 28,787  
Acquired research and development [member]      
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items]      
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period 5,424    
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period 4,700 5,424  
Technologies      
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items]      
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period 163    
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period 230 163  
Currently marketed products      
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items]      
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period 22,579    
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period 30,767 22,579  
Other intangible assets      
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items]      
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period 621    
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period 1,112 621  
Gross carrying amount      
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items]      
Additions included in disposal group to the date of reclassification 0    
Gross carrying amount | Goodwill      
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items]      
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period 26,825 35,700  
Cost of assets related to discontinued operations   (9,000)  
Impact of business combinations 2,580 186  
Currency translation effects 916 (61)  
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period 30,321 26,825 35,700
Gross carrying amount | Intangible Assets other than Goodwill      
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items]      
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period 53,419 69,025  
Cost of assets related to disposal group held for sale 1,400 3  
Cost of assets related to discontinued operations   (19,570)  
Impact of business combinations 9,014 3,914  
Additions 1,425 767  
Disposals and derecognitions (572) (1,055)  
Currency translation effects 3,039 335  
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period 67,725 53,419 69,025
Gross carrying amount | Acquired research and development [member]      
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items]      
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period 7,429 16,167  
Cost of assets related to disposal group held for sale 10 (1)  
Cost of assets related to discontinued operations   (249)  
Impact of business combinations 8,600 342  
Reclassifications (9,272) (9,069)  
Additions 339 265  
Disposals and derecognitions (421) (75)  
Currency translation effects 208 49  
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period 6,893 7,429 16,167
Gross carrying amount | Alcon brand name [member]      
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items]      
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period   2,980  
Cost of assets related to discontinued operations   (2,980)  
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period     2,980
Gross carrying amount | Technologies      
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items]      
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period 884 6,253  
Cost of assets related to disposal group held for sale 276    
Cost of assets related to discontinued operations   (5,369)  
Reclassifications (2)    
Disposals and derecognitions (101)    
Currency translation effects 58    
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period 1,115 884 6,253
Gross carrying amount | Currently marketed products      
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items]      
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period 43,548 35,412  
Cost of assets related to disposal group held for sale 1,112 4  
Cost of assets related to discontinued operations   (4,440)  
Impact of business combinations 196 3,550  
Reclassifications 9,274 9,069  
Additions 674 243  
Disposals and derecognitions (39) (544)  
Currency translation effects 2,568 254  
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period 57,333 43,548 35,412
Gross carrying amount | Marketing know-how      
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items]      
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period   5,960  
Cost of assets related to discontinued operations   (5,960)  
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period     5,960
Gross carrying amount | Other intangible assets      
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items]      
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period 1,558 2,253  
Cost of assets related to disposal group held for sale 2    
Cost of assets related to discontinued operations   (572)  
Impact of business combinations 218 22  
Additions 412 259  
Disposals and derecognitions (11) (436)  
Currency translation effects 205 32  
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period 2,384 1,558 2,253
Accumulated depreciation, amortisation and impairment | Assets and liabilities classified as held for sale [member]      
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items]      
Amortization prior to classification to assets held for sale 102    
Accumulated depreciation, amortisation and impairment | Goodwill      
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items]      
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period (301) (406)  
Accumulated amortization/impairments on assets related to discontinued operations   101  
Currency translation effects (21) 4  
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period (322) (301) (406)
Accumulated depreciation, amortisation and impairment | Intangible Assets other than Goodwill      
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items]      
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period (24,632) (30,306)  
Accumulated amortization/impairments on assets reclassified out of assets of disposal group held for sale (925)    
Amortization charge (3,462) (2,836)  
Accumulated impairments on disposals and derecognition 567 983  
Accumulated amortization/impairments on assets related to discontinued operations   8,813  
Impairment charge (914) (1,175)  
Reversal of impairment charge   37  
Currency translation effects (1,550) (148)  
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period (30,916) (24,632) (30,306)
Accumulated depreciation, amortisation and impairment | Acquired research and development [member]      
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items]      
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period (2,005) (1,120)  
Accumulated amortization/impairments on assets reclassified out of assets of disposal group held for sale (2)    
Accumulated impairments on disposals and derecognition 421 70  
Accumulated amortization/impairments on assets related to discontinued operations   3  
Impairment charge (515) (984)  
Reversal of impairment charge   37  
Currency translation effects (92) (11)  
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period (2,193) (2,005) (1,120)
Accumulated depreciation, amortisation and impairment | Technologies      
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items]      
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period (721) (4,758)  
Accumulated amortization/impairments on assets reclassified out of assets of disposal group held for sale (107)    
Amortization charge (72) (42)  
Accumulated impairments on disposals and derecognition 101    
Accumulated amortization/impairments on assets related to discontinued operations   4,184  
Impairment charge (40) (105)  
Currency translation effects (46)    
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period (885) (721) (4,758)
Accumulated depreciation, amortisation and impairment | Technologies | Assets and liabilities classified as held for sale [member]      
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items]      
Amortization prior to classification to assets held for sale 29    
Accumulated depreciation, amortisation and impairment | Currently marketed products      
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items]      
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period (20,969) (21,218)  
Accumulated amortization/impairments on assets reclassified out of assets of disposal group held for sale (816)    
Amortization charge (3,215) (2,657)  
Accumulated impairments on disposals and derecognition 39 494  
Accumulated amortization/impairments on assets related to discontinued operations   2,592  
Impairment charge (338) (54)  
Currency translation effects (1,267) (126)  
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period (26,566) (20,969) (21,218)
Impairment charges related to disposal group held for sale (42)    
Accumulated depreciation, amortisation and impairment | Currently marketed products | Assets and liabilities classified as held for sale [member]      
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items]      
Amortization prior to classification to assets held for sale 73    
Accumulated depreciation, amortisation and impairment | Marketing know-how      
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items]      
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period   (1,906)  
Accumulated amortization/impairments on assets related to discontinued operations   1,906  
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period     (1,906)
Accumulated depreciation, amortisation and impairment | Other intangible assets      
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items]      
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period (937) (1,304)  
Amortization charge (175) (137)  
Accumulated impairments on disposals and derecognition 6 419  
Accumulated amortization/impairments on assets related to discontinued operations   128  
Impairment charge (21) (32)  
Currency translation effects (145) (11)  
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period $ (1,272) $ (937) $ (1,304)