SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Investment strategies (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2025	Dec. 31, 2024
Abbott Laboratories Stock Retirement Plan
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Investments, at fair value	$ 17,659,748	$ 15,576,603
Abbott Laboratories Stock Retirement Plan \| Measured at NAV
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Investments, at fair value	11,518,886	9,985,925
Abbott Laboratories Stock Retirement Plan \| Collective trust funds
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Investments, at fair value	11,120,673	9,592,890
Abbott Laboratories Stock Retirement Plan \| Collective trust funds \| Measured at NAV
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Investments, at fair value	11,120,673	9,592,890
Abbott Laboratories Stock Retirement Plan \| Private 40-Act mutual funds
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Investments, at fair value	398,213	393,035
Abbott Laboratories Stock Retirement Plan \| Private 40-Act mutual funds \| Measured at NAV
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Investments, at fair value	398,213	393,035
Abbott Laboratories Stock Retirement Plan \| Funds filing as direct filing entity \| Collective trust funds \| Measured at NAV
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Investments, at fair value	$ 11,120,673	$ 9,592,890
Abbott Laboratories Stock Retirement Plan \| Funds filing as direct filing entity \| Collective trust funds \| Minimum
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Redemption notice period	0 days	0 days
Abbott Laboratories Stock Retirement Plan \| Funds filing as direct filing entity \| Collective trust funds \| Maximum
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Redemption notice period	5 days	5 days
Abbott Laboratories Stock Retirement Plan \| Funds not filing as direct filing entity \| Short-term fixed income \| Measured at NAV
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Investments, at fair value	$ 398,213	$ 393,035
Abbott Laboratories Stock Retirement Plan (Puerto Rico)
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Investments, at fair value	264,892	237,222
Abbott Laboratories Stock Retirement Plan (Puerto Rico) \| Measured at NAV
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Investments, at fair value	105,489	92,029
Abbott Laboratories Stock Retirement Plan (Puerto Rico) \| Collective trust funds
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Investments, at fair value	105,489	92,029
Abbott Laboratories Stock Retirement Plan (Puerto Rico) \| Collective trust funds \| Measured at NAV
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Investments, at fair value	105,489	92,029
Abbott Laboratories Stock Retirement Plan (Puerto Rico) \| Funds filing as direct filing entity \| Collective trust funds \| Measured at NAV
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Investments, at fair value	$ 105,489	$ 92,029
Abbott Laboratories Stock Retirement Plan (Puerto Rico) \| Funds filing as direct filing entity \| Collective trust funds \| Minimum \| Measured at NAV
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Redemption notice period	0 days	0 days
Abbott Laboratories Stock Retirement Plan (Puerto Rico) \| Funds filing as direct filing entity \| Collective trust funds \| Maximum \| Measured at NAV
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Redemption notice period	5 days	5 days

Period for redemption notice required for investment held by employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)), that is measured at net asset value (NAV) per share as practical expedient for estimate of fair value, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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