1.0.0.3 false Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (USD $) In Millions false 1 $ false false shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 usd Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 usdPerShare Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 false 2 $ false false shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 usd Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 usdPerShare Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 6 Cash flow from operating activities: 4 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesContinuingOperationsAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 7 Net income 5 us-gaap_ProfitLoss us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 true true 8612000000 8612 false false 2 true true 7907000000 7907 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 8 Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided from operating activities: 5 us-gaap_AdjustmentsNoncashItemsToReconcileNetIncomeLossToCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 9 Depreciation 6 us-gaap_Depreciation us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 2806000000 2806 false false 2 false true 3144000000 3144 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 10 Amortization of intangibles 6 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 923000000 923 false false 2 false true 985000000 985 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 11 Stock-based compensation 6 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 416000000 416 false false 2 false true 501000000 501 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 12 Net gain on asset sales and other 6 us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfOtherAssets us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -350000000 -350 false false 2 false true -353000000 -353 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 13 Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions/divestitures 6 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOperatingCapital us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 1917000000 1917 false false 2 false true 7000000 7 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 14 Net cash provided by operating activities 5 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesContinuingOperations us-gaap true na duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 14325000000 14325 [1] false false 2 false true 12191000000 12191 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 15 Cash flow from investing activities: 4 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesContinuingOperationsAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 16 Payments for plant, rental machines and other property, net of proceeds from dispositions 5 us-gaap_PaymentsForProceedsFromProductiveAssets us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -2121000000 -2121 false false 2 false true -2951000000 -2951 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 17 Investment in software 5 us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireSoftware us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -476000000 -476 false false 2 false true -555000000 -555 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 18 Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired 5 us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -125000000 -125 false false 2 false true -6017000000 -6017 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 19 Divestiture of businesses, net of cash transferred 5 us-gaap_ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinessesNetOfCashDivested us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 406000000 406 false false 2 false true 71000000 71 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 20 Non-operating finance receivables - net 5 ibm_NonOperatingFinanceReceivablesNet ibm false debit duration monetary The net cash flow from short-term commercial financing arrangements (terms generally 30 to 90 days) with dealers and... false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 490000000 490 false false 2 false true 203000000 203 false false The net cash flow from short-term commercial financing arrangements (terms generally 30 to 90 days) with dealers and remarketers of predominantly non-IBM products. No authoritative reference available. false 21 Purchases of marketable securities and other investments 5 us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireInvestments us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -4491000000 -4491 false false 2 false true -4260000000 -4260 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 22 Proceeds from disposition of marketable securities and other investments 5 us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleMaturityAndCollectionsOfInvestments us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 2082000000 2082 false false 2 false true 5103000000 5103 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 23 Net cash used in investing activities 5 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesContinuingOperations us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -4234000000 -4234 [1] false false 2 false true -8405000000 -8405 [1] false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 24 Cash flow from financing activities: 4 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesContinuingOperationsAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 25 Proceeds from new debt 5 us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebtAndCapitalSecuritiesNet us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 2414000000 2414 false false 2 false true 8251000000 8251 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 26 Payments to settle debt 5 us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebtAndCapitalSecurities us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -10760000000 -10760 false false 2 false true -7597000000 -7597 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 27 Short-term repayments less than 90 days - net 5 us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfShortTermDebt us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -151000000 -151 false false 2 false true -1523000000 -1523 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 28 Common stock repurchases 5 us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -4365000000 -4365 false false 2 false true -9838000000 -9838 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 29 Common stock transactions - other 5 us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOrSaleOfEquity us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 1502000000 1502 false false 2 false true 3658000000 3658 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 30 Cash dividends paid 5 us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -2133000000 -2133 false false 2 false true -1916000000 -1916 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 31 Net cash used in financing activities 5 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesContinuingOperations us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -13494000000 -13494 [1] false false 2 false true -8964000000 -8964 [1] false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 32 Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 4 us-gaap_EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 193000000 193 false false 2 false true -58000000 -58 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 33 Net change in cash and cash equivalents 4 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease us-gaap true na duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -3210000000 -3210 false false 2 false true -5236000000 -5236 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 34 Cash and cash equivalents at January 1 3 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false true false false 1 false true 12741000000 12741 false false 2 false true 14991000000 14991 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 35 Cash and cash equivalents at September 30 3 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false true false 1 true true 9532000000 9532 false false 2 true true 9755000000 9755 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 1 Amounts may not add due to rounding. false 2 30 false Millions UnKnown UnKnown false true