Document Information [Line Items] Document type Amendment flag Document period end date Amendment description Entity common stock shares outstanding Entity Listings [Line Items] Entity Listings, Instrument [Axis] Instrument [Domain] Entity Listings [Table] Entity [Text Block] Entities [Table] Entity Information [Line Items] Entity registrant name Entity central index key Current fiscal year end date Entity well known seasoned issuer Entity voluntary filers Entity current reporting status Entity filer category Entity public float Income Statement [Abstract] Statement [Table] Statement Scenario [Axis] Statement [Line Items] Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract] Basis of Presentation [Abstract] Adoption of New Accounting Policies [Abstract] Financial Instruments [Abstract] Inventories [Abstract] Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Abstract] Earnings Per Share Attributable to Common Shareholders [Abstract] Segment Information [Abstract] Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] Costs and expenses: Revenues [Abstract] Cost of sales [1] Restructuring charges and acquisition related costs Other Income Expense Net Selling, informational and administrative expenses [1] Research and development expenses [1] Amortization of intangible assets Acquisition-related in-process research and development charges Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests Net income attributable to Pfizer Inc. Net income before allocation to noncontrolling interests Discontinued operations - net of tax, total Income from continuing operations Provision for taxes on income Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Earnings per common share - diluted: Earnings per common share - basic: Earnings Per Share Other Disclosures [Abstract] Diluted Basic Cash dividends paid per common share Income from continuing operations attributable to Pfizer Inc. common shareholders Discontinued operations - net of tax Net income attributable to Pfizer Inc. common shareholders Net income attributable to Pfizer Inc. common shareholders [Diluted] Discontinued operations - net of tax [Diluted] Income from continuing operations attributable to Pfizer Inc. common shareholders Basis of Presentation [Text Block] Adoption of New Accounting Policies [Text Block] Comprehensive Income (Expense) [Text Block] Inventories [Text Block] Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Text Block] Pension and Postretirement Benefit Plans [Text Block] Earnings Per Share Attributable to Common Shareholders [Text Block] Segment Information [Text Block] Assets Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Total liabilities and shareholders' equity Liabilities [Abstract] Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] Total assets Total liabilities Inventories Short-term loans Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts Short-term investments Cash and cash equivalents Total current assets Long-term investments and loans Property, plant and equipment, less accumulated depreciation Goodwill Identifiable intangible assets, less accumulated amortization Short-term borrowings, including current portion of long-term debt Accounts payable Dividends payable Income taxes payable Accrued compensation and related items Total current liabilities Long-term debt Pension benefit obligations Postretirement benefit obligations Noncurrent deferred tax liabilities Other noncurrent liabilities Total Pfizer Inc shareholders' equity Common stock Additional paid-in capital Employee benefit trust, at fair value Treasury stock Retained earnings Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) Preferred stock Equity attributable to noncontrolling interests Total shareholders' equity Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) [Abstract] Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents at end of period Revenues This element represents (i) the total amount of other operating income, not previously categorized, from items that are associated with the entity's normal revenue producing operation; and (ii) recurring costs associated with normal operations except for the portion of these expenses which can be clearly related to production and included in cost of sales, as well as excludes research and development expenses and selling, informational and administrative expenses. Income from continuing operations before provision for taxes on income Assets held for sale Acquisition of Wyeth [Text Block] Financial Instruments Disclosure [Text Block] Income taxes Interest Supplemental Cash Flow Information: Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents Operating Activities: Investing Activities: Financing Activities: Adjustments To Reconcile Net Income Loss Before Allocation To Noncontrolling Interests To Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Abstract Share-based compensation expense Depreciation and amortization Deferred taxes from continuing operations Other non-cash adjustments Net cash provided by operating activities Purchases of property, plant and equipment Purchases of short-term investments Purchases of long-term investments Other investing activities Net cash used in investing activities Proceeds From Issuances Of Short Term Debt Net Of Proceeds From Repayments Of Short Term Debt Maturing In Three Months Or Less The cash inflow from a borrowing having initial term of repayment of more than three months but less than one year or one operating cycle (if the normal cycle is more than one year) and may include the cash inflow from a borrowing having initial term of repayment within three months net of the cash outflow from repayment of a borrowing having initial term of repayment within three months. Proceeds from issuances of long-term debt Principal payments on long-term debt Cash dividends paid Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activities Effect of exchange-rate changes on cash and cash equivalents Income from continuing operations attributable to Pfizer Inc. common shareholders [Dilluted] Discontinued operations - net of tax Net income attributable to Pfizer Inc. common shareholders Treasury stock Accumulated other comprehensive expense Purchases of property, plant and equipment Purchases of short-term investments Purchases of long-term investments Other investing activities Increase in short-term borrowings, net Principal payments on long-term debt Cash dividends paid Other taxes payable Repayments Of Short Term Debt Maturing In More Than Three Months Net Of Repayments Of Short Term Debt Maturing In Three Months Or Less Principal payments on short-term borrowings Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions and divestitures The cash outflow from a repayment of a borrowing having initial term of repayment of more than three months but less than one year or one operating cycle (if the normal cycle is more than one year) and may include the cash outflow from a repayment of a borrowing having initial term of repayment within three months net of the cash inflow of a borrowing having initial term of repayment within three months. Proceeds From Sale And Maturity Of Long Term Marketable Securities Discontinued operations - net of tax The cash inflow associated with the aggregate amount received by the entity through sale or maturity of short term marketable securities (trading, held-to-maturity, or available-for-sale) during the period. The cash inflow associated with the aggregate amount received by the entity through sale or maturity of long-term marketable securities (trading, held-to-maturity, or available-for-sale) during the period. This element represents the complete disclosure related to financial instruments, which may include i) selected financial assets and liabilities; ii) investments in debt and equity securities; iii) short-term borrowings; iv) long-term debt; v) derivative financial instruments and hedging activities; vi) credit risk; and vii) other disclosures related to financial instruments. This element represents (i) restructuring charges, which are amounts charged against earnings in the period for incurred and estimated costs associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructurings pursuant to a program that is planned and controlled by management, and materially changes either the scope of a business undertaken by an entity, or the manner in which that business is conducted; and (ii) acquisition-related costs, which are costs incurred to effect a business combination which costs have been expensed during the period. Such costs can include transaction costs such as banking, legal, accounting and other costs directly related to effect a business combination as well as external, incremental costs of integration planning that are directly related to a business combination, including costs associated with preparing for systems and other integration activities. Income from continuing operations before provision for taxes on income Income from continuing operations Net income before allocation to noncontrolling interests Net income attributable to Pfizer Inc. Net income attributable to Pfizer Inc. common shareholders Total current assets Total assets Total current liabilities Total liabilities Total Pfizer Inc. shareholders' equity Total shareholders' equity Total liabilities and shareholders' equity Net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activities Employee benefit trusts Other financing activities Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions and divestitures Document fiscal year focus Document fiscal period focus Document Information [Table] Legal Entity [Axis] Entity [Domain] Parent Company [Member] Restructuring charges and certain acquisition-related costs Current Deferred Tax Assets And Other Assets Current This element represents (i) carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of payments made in advance for income and other taxes, which will be charged against earnings within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer as well as the current portion of the aggregate tax effects as of the balance sheet date of all future tax deductions arising from temporary differences between tax basis and generally accepted accounting principles basis recognition of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, which can only be deducted for tax purposes when permitted under enacted tax laws; after deducting the allocated valuation allowance, if any, to reduce such amount to net realizable value; and (ii) aggregate carrying amount, as of the balance sheet date, of current assets not separately presented elsewhere in the balance sheet. Current deferred tax assets and other current assets Non Current Deferred Tax Assets And Other Assets Noncurrent This element represents (i)the noncurrent portion as of the balance sheet date of the aggregate carrying amount of all future tax deductions arising from temporary differences between tax basis and generally accepted accounting principles basis recognition of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, which can only be deducted for tax purposes when permitted under enacted tax laws; after the valuation allowance, if any, to reduce such amount to net realizable value. Deferred tax liabilities and assets shall be classified as current or noncurrent based on the classification of the related asset or liability for financial reporting. A deferred tax liability or asset that is not related to an asset or liability for financial reporting, including deferred tax assets related to carryforwards, shall be classified according to the expected reversal date of the temporary difference; and (ii) the aggregate carrying amount, as of the balance sheet date, of noncurrent assets not separately disclosed in the balance sheet due to materiality considerations. Noncurrent assets are expected to be realized or consumed after one year (or the normal operating cycle, if longer). Noncurrent deferred tax assets and other noncurrent assets Proceeds From Sale And Maturity Of Short Term Marketable Securities Proceeds from sales and redemptions of short-term investments Proceeds from redemptions and sales of short-term investments Proceeds from redemptions and sales of long-term investments Current deferred tax liabilities and other current liabilities This element represents (i) the current portion of deferred tax liabilities, which result from applying the applicable tax rate to net taxable temporary differences pertaining to each jurisdiction to which the entity is obligated to pay income tax. A current taxable temporary difference is a difference between the tax basis and the carrying amount of a current asset or liability in the financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. In a classified statement of financial position, an enterprise shall separate deferred tax liabilities and assets into a current amount and a noncurrent amount. Deferred tax liabilities and assets shall be classified as current or noncurrent based on the classification of the related asset or liability for financial reporting. A deferred tax liability or asset that is not related to an asset or liability for financial reporting, including deferred tax assets related to carryforwards, shall be classified according to the expected reversal date of the temporary difference; and (ii) the aggregate carrying amount, as of the balance sheet date, of current obligations not separately disclosed in the balance sheet due to materiality considerations. Current liabilities are expected to be paid within one year (or the normal operating cycle, if longer). Acquisition of Wyeth [Abstract] Cost Reduction Initiatives and Acquisition Related Costs [Abstract] Cost Reduction Initiatives And Acquisition Related Costs Disclosure [Text Block] Cost-Reduction Initiatives and Acquistion-Related Costs [Text Block] Pension and Postretirement Benefit Plans [Abstract] Adjustments to reconcile net income before allocation to noncontrolling interests to net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities: Weighted-average shares used to calculate earnings per common share: Financial Instruments [Text Block] Other (income)/deductions - net Increase in short-term borrowings Supplemental Cash Flow Information Cash Paid During Period For [Abstract] Supplemental Cash Flow Information - Cash paid during the period for: Comprehensive Income/(Loss) [Text Block] Taxes on Income [Abstract] Taxes on Income [Text Block] Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents Description of cost-reduction initiatives associated with a comprehensive plan to integrate acquired operations, generate cost savings and capture synergies across the company; as well as costs incurred in connection with an acquisition. These costs include (i) restructuring activities, including exit and disposal activities, the major types of costs associated with the plan activities and the accrual balance at the end of the period; (ii) integration costs, which represent external, incremental costs directly related to integrating acquired businesses; (iii) implementation costs, which represent external, incremental costs directly related to implementing cost-reduction initiatives prior to the Wyeth acquisition and primarily include expenditures related to system and process standardization and the expansion of shared services; (iv) additional depreciation-asset restructuring, which represents the impact of changes in the estimated useful lives of assets involved in restructuring actions; and (v) transaction costs, representing external costs incurred in connection with an acquisition. Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract]