| **Impairment and Restructuring Charges - Schedule of Restructuring and Related Costs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions** | 12 Months Ended |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|
||
| **Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]**                                                                          |            |   |
| Impaired machinery and equipment                                                                                         | $ 1,160         | $ 1,320 |
| Combined long-lived and intangible asset impairment charges                                                              | $ 567           | $ 1,160 |
| Europe                                                                                                                   |            |   |
| **Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]**                                                                          |            |   |
| Weighted average cost of capital (percent)                                                                               | 10.50%          |   |
| Africa                                                                                                                   |            |   |
| **Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]**                                                                          |            |   |
| Weighted average cost of capital (percent)                                                                               | 19.50%          |   |
| Russia/Caspian                                                                                                           |            |   |
| **Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]**                                                                          |            |   |
| Weighted average cost of capital (percent)                                                                               | 15.00%          |   |
| Middle East                                                                                                              |            |   |
| **Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]**                                                                          |            |   |
| Weighted average cost of capital (percent)                                                                               | 14.00%          |   |
| Asia Pacific                                                                                                             |            |   |
| **Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]**                                                                          |            |   |
| Weighted average cost of capital (percent)                                                                               | 13.50%          |   |
| North America                                                                                                            |            |   |
| **Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]**                                                                          |            |   |
| Weighted average cost of capital (percent)                                                                               |            | 9.80% |
| Intangible Assets                                                                                                        |            |   |
| **Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]**                                                                          |            |   |
| Impaired intangible assets                                                                                               | $ 114           | $ 116 |
| Carrying amount of intangible finite-lived assets                                                                        | 243             |   |
| Machinery, Equipment and Other                                                                                           |            |   |
| **Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]**                                                                          |            |   |
| Impaired machinery and equipment                                                                                         | 453             | 1,050 |
| Carrying amount of impaired long-live assets                                                                             | 1,337           | $ 1,640 |
| North America                                                                                                            |            |   |
| **Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]**                                                                          |            |   |
| Combined long-lived and intangible asset impairment charges                                                              | $ 169           |   |
| Weighted average cost of capital (percent)                                                                               | 10.00%          |   |
| North America | Intangible Assets                                                                                        |            |   |
| **Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]**                                                                          |            |   |
| Impaired intangible assets                                                                                               | $ 85            |   |
| Carrying amount of intangible finite-lived assets                                                                        | 125             |   |
| North America | Machinery, Equipment and Other                                                                           |            |   |
| **Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]**                                                                          |            |   |
| Impaired machinery and equipment                                                                                         | 84              |   |
| Carrying amount of impaired long-live assets                                                                             | 241             |   |
| Latin America                                                                                                            |            |   |
| **Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]**                                                                          |            |   |
| Combined long-lived and intangible asset impairment charges                                                              | $ 71            |   |
| Weighted average cost of capital (percent)                                                                               | 16.00%          |   |
| Latin America | Intangible Assets                                                                                        |            |   |
| **Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]**                                                                          |            |   |
| Impaired intangible assets                                                                                               | $ 5             |   |
| Carrying amount of intangible finite-lived assets                                                                        | 17              |   |
| Latin America | Machinery, Equipment and Other                                                                           |            |   |
| **Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]**                                                                          |            |   |
| Impaired machinery and equipment                                                                                         | 66              |   |
| Carrying amount of impaired long-live assets                                                                             | 245             |   |
| Europe/ Africa/ Russia Caspian                                                                                           |            |   |
| **Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]**                                                                          |            |   |
| Combined long-lived and intangible asset impairment charges                                                              | 128             |   |
| Europe/ Africa/ Russia Caspian | Intangible Assets                                                                       |            |   |
| **Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]**                                                                          |            |   |
| Impaired intangible assets                                                                                               | 4               |   |
| Carrying amount of intangible finite-lived assets                                                                        | 8               |   |
| Europe/ Africa/ Russia Caspian | Machinery, Equipment and Other                                                          |            |   |
| **Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]**                                                                          |            |   |
| Impaired machinery and equipment                                                                                         | 124             |   |
| Carrying amount of impaired long-live assets                                                                             | 222             |   |
| Middle East/ Asia Pacific                                                                                                |            |   |
| **Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]**                                                                          |            |   |
| Combined long-lived and intangible asset impairment charges                                                              | 183             |   |
| Middle East/ Asia Pacific | Intangible Assets                                                                            |            |   |
| **Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]**                                                                          |            |   |
| Impaired intangible assets                                                                                               | 17              |   |
| Carrying amount of intangible finite-lived assets                                                                        | 49              |   |
| Middle East/ Asia Pacific | Machinery, Equipment and Other                                                               |            |   |
| **Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]**                                                                          |            |   |
| Impaired machinery and equipment                                                                                         | 166             |   |
| Carrying amount of impaired long-live assets                                                                             | 433             |   |
| Industrial Services                                                                                                      |            |   |
| **Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]**                                                                          |            |   |
| Combined long-lived and intangible asset impairment charges                                                              | $ 16            |   |
| Weighted average cost of capital (percent)                                                                               | 10.00%          |   |
| Industrial Services | Intangible Assets                                                                                  |            |   |
| **Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]**                                                                          |            |   |
| Impaired intangible assets                                                                                               | $ 3             |   |
| Carrying amount of intangible finite-lived assets                                                                        | 44              |   |
| Industrial Services | Machinery, Equipment and Other                                                                     |            |   |
| **Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]**                                                                          |            |   |
| Impaired machinery and equipment                                                                                         | 13              |   |
| Carrying amount of impaired long-live assets                                                                             | $ 196           |   |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Carrying Amount of Impaired Long-Lived Assets, Held-for-use
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**bhi_CarryingAmountofImpairedLongLivedAssetsHeldforuse**Namespace Prefix:**bhi_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Carrying Amount of Intangible Assets, Finite-Lived
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**bhi_CarryingAmountofIntangibleAssetsFiniteLived**Namespace Prefix:**bhi_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Combined Long-Lived and Intangible Asset Charges
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**bhi_CombinedLongLivedandIntangibleAssetImpairmentCharges**Namespace Prefix:**bhi_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Fair Value Assumptions, Weighted Average Cost of Capital
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**bhi_FairValueAssumptionsWeightedAverageCostofCapital**Namespace Prefix:**bhi_**Data Type:**num:percentItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The amount of impairment loss recognized in the period resulting from the write-down of the carrying amount of a finite-lived intangible asset to fair value.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16373-109275
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsFinitelived**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The aggregate amount of write-downs for impairments recognized during the period for long lived assets held for use (including those held for disposal by means other than sale).
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 958 -SubTopic 225 -Section 45 -Paragraph 11 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68048823&loc=d3e92212-112881Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Impairment -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6515133Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64862545&loc=d3e2921-110230Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68055307&loc=d3e2420-110228
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
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.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveLineItems**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=us-gaap_EuropeMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=us-gaap_AfricaMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                    |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=bhi_RussiaAndCaspianMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                  |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=us-gaap_MiddleEastMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=us-gaap_AsiaPacificMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                    |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=us-gaap_NorthAmericaMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=bhi_CustomerRelationshipsandTechnologyMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_ImpairedLongLivedAssetsHeldAndUsedByTypeAxis=us-gaap_MachineryAndEquipmentMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                           |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=bhi_NorthAmericaSegmentMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                           |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=bhi_LatinAmericaSegmentMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                 |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=bhi_EuropeAfricaRussiaCaspianMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                             |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=bhi_MiddleEastAsiaPacificMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                          |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=bhi_IndustrialServicesMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |