Name:	abt_EmployeeBenefitPlanConversionOfVestedAccountNumberOfLoans
Namespace Prefix:	abt_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the maximum term of loan.

No definition available.

Name:	abt_EmployeeBenefitPlanNoteReceivableFromParticipantMaximumTerm
Namespace Prefix:	abt_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the maximum term of loan if proceeds are used for the purchase of principal residence.

No definition available.

Name:	abt_EmployeeBenefitPlanNoteReceivableFromParticipantMaximumTermIfProceedsUsedToPurchasePrimaryResidence
Namespace Prefix:	abt_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

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.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 205
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478416/962-205-50-1

Name:	us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap-ebp_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount of maximum account balance that participant in employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)) can borrow.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 325
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 17
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478873/962-325-55-17

Name:	us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNoteReceivableFromParticipantAccountMaximumBorrowingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap-ebp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Percentage of maximum account balance that participant in employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)) can borrow to total participant account balance.

Name:	us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNoteReceivableFromParticipantAccountMaximumBorrowingToTotalAccountPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap-ebp_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=abt_EBP334Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

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

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