Name:	abt_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitDecreaseFromOtherExpense
Namespace Prefix:	abt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of increase (decrease) in net asset available for benefit from increase (decrease) in fair value of investment held by employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)).

No definition available.

Name:	abt_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseDecreaseFromChangeInFairValueOfInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	abt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of decrease in net asset available for benefit to participant in employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)).

Name:	us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitDecrease
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap-ebp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

No definition available.

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

Amount of decrease in net asset available for benefit from payment of benefit to participant in employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)), including, but not limited to, withdrawal.

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

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 205
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6A-05(a)(Schedule III))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477804/962-205-S99-1

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 205
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6A-04(5)(b))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477804/962-205-S99-1

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 325
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2B
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477783/962-325-50-2B

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 205
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 7
-Subparagraph (f)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477063/962-205-45-7

Name:	us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitDecreaseForPaymentToParticipant
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap-ebp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of increase in net asset available for benefit to participant in employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)).

Name:	us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncrease
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap-ebp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of increase (decrease) in net asset available for benefit to participant in employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 250
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)(2)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147483443/250-10-50-1

Reference 2: 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

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 205
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6A-05(a)(Schedule III))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477804/962-205-S99-1

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 325
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 8
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477509/962-325-45-8

Name:	us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseDecrease
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap-ebp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

No definition available.

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

Amount, after investment expense, of increase (decrease) in net asset available for benefit from investment income (loss) on investment held by employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 205
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6A-04(1)(c))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477804/962-205-S99-1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 325
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 7
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477783/962-325-50-7

Name:	us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseDecreaseForInvestmentIncomeLossAfterInvestmentExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap-ebp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of increase in net asset available for benefit from contribution to employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)).

Name:	us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForContribution
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap-ebp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

No definition available.

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

Amount of increase in net asset available for benefit from cash contribution from employer of participant in employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)).

Name:	us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForEmployerContributionCash
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap-ebp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of increase in net asset available for benefit from interest and dividend income on investment held by employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 325
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 7
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477783/962-325-50-7

Name:	us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForInterestAndDividendIncomeOnInvestment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap-ebp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of increase in net asset available for benefit from interest income on note receivable from participant in employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)).

Name:	us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForInterestIncomeOnNoteReceivableFromParticipant
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap-ebp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Amount, excluding rollover, of increase in net asset available for benefit from contribution by participant in employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)).

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

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 205
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6A-04(4)(a)(1))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477804/962-205-S99-1

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 205
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6A-04(4)(b))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477804/962-205-S99-1

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/recommendedDisclosureRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 205
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6A-05(a)(Schedule III))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477804/962-205-S99-1

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/recommendedDisclosureRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 325
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2B
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477783/962-325-50-2B

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/recommendedDisclosureRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 205
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 7
-Subparagraph (d)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477063/962-205-45-7

Name:	us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForParticipantContributionExcludingRollover
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap-ebp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of increase in net asset available for benefit from contribution transferred from another qualified plan or from individual retirement account of participant in employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)). Excludes contribution for participant transmitted by employer of participant in EBP.

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

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 205
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6A-04(4)(a)(1))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477804/962-205-S99-1

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 205
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6A-04(4)(b))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477804/962-205-S99-1

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/recommendedDisclosureRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 205
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6A-05(a)(Schedule III))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477804/962-205-S99-1

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/recommendedDisclosureRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 325
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2B
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477783/962-325-50-2B

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/recommendedDisclosureRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 205
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 7
-Subparagraph (d)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477063/962-205-45-7

Name:	us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForParticipantContributionRollover
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap-ebp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of asset less liability available to pay benefit of participant in employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)), including, but not limited to, aggregation of participants' individual account balances.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 325
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 8
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477509/962-325-45-8

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 250
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)(3)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147483443/250-10-50-1

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 325
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 18
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478873/962-325-55-18

Reference 4: 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

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 205
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6A-05(a)(Schedule II))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477804/962-205-S99-1

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 40
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 25
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479750/962-40-25-1

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 205
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6A-04(7))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477804/962-205-S99-1

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 205
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6A-04(6))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477804/962-205-S99-1

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 205
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6A-03(9))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477804/962-205-S99-1

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 205
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (d)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477063/962-205-45-2

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

No definition available.