This element represents the Company match for all eligible compensation for defined contribution plans.

No definition available.

Name:	mmm_CompanyMatchOfEligibleCompensationForCompanyDefinedContributionPlans
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of company-sponsored worldwide plans aggregated together for disclosures purposes.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mmm_DefinedBenefitPlanNumberOfPlansWorldwideMinimum
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the employer matching contribution of the employee contributions for employees hired prior to January 1, 2009.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mmm_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerMatchHiredBefore2009
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

For a defined contribution postretirement plan, the percentage of eligible compensation which the entity will contribute for employees hired after January 1, 2009.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mmm_DefinedContributionPlanPostretirementPlanHiredAfter2009Percentage
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the number of countries in which company has company-sponsored plans.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mmm_NumberOfCountriesInWhichRetirementPlansSponsored
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, after tax and reclassification adjustment, of (increase) decrease in accumulated other comprehensive income for defined benefit pension plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mmm_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionBenefitPlanAdjustmentNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix:	mmm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of cost for defined contribution plan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 70
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170846&loc=d3e28014-114942

+ Details

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

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Percentage employer matches of the employee's percentage contribution matched.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerMatchingContributionPercentOfMatch
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeAxis=us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RetirementPlanSponsorLocationAxis=country_US
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RetirementPlanSponsorLocationAxis=us-gaap_ForeignPlanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RetirementPlanFundingStatusAxis=us-gaap_FundedPlanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RetirementPlanNameAxis=mmm_UnitedKingdomPensionPlanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Pension and Postretirement Benefit Plans - Narrative (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($) country standardPlan	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Qualified and Non-qualified Pension Benefits
Schedule Of Defined Contribution Plans Disclosures
Company-sponsored retirement plans, minimum number of worldwide plans \| standardPlan		75
Company-sponsored retirement plans, number of countries \| country		28
United States
Schedule Of Defined Contribution Plans Disclosures
Company match of eligible compensation of employee contributions into 401(k)		5.00%
Company cash match of employee contributions for employees hired after January 1, 2009		100.00%
Company contribution to employer retirement income account for employees hired on or after January 1, 2009		3.00%
Expenses related to defined contribution plans		$ 241	$ 231	$ 201
International
Schedule Of Defined Contribution Plans Disclosures
Expenses related to defined contribution plans		$ 108	$ 117	$ 103
International \| Qualified and Non-qualified Pension Benefits
Schedule Of Defined Contribution Plans Disclosures
Company-sponsored retirement plans, number of countries \| country		25
International \| Funded \| United Kingdom Pension Plan \| Other Assets
Schedule Of Defined Contribution Plans Disclosures
Defined benefit pension plan adjustment	$ 80
Minimum \| United States
Schedule Of Defined Contribution Plans Disclosures
Company cash match of employee contributions for employees hired prior to January 1, 2009		45.00%
Maximum \| United States
Schedule Of Defined Contribution Plans Disclosures
Company cash match of employee contributions for employees hired prior to January 1, 2009		60.00%