| **Segment Information - Schedule of Net PP&E by Geographic Location (Details) (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified** | Dec. 31, 2014                                                                                                     | Dec. 31, 2013                                                                                                     | Dec. 31, 2012                                                                                                     |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| **Net Property, plant and equipment by its geographic location**                                                                   |                                                                                                              |                                                                                                              |                                                                                                              |
| Net property, plant and equipment                                                                                                  | $ 9,063us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet                                                                       | $ 9,076us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet                                                                       | $ 8,707us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet                                                                       |
| UNITED STATES                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                              |                                                                                                              |                                                                                                              |
| **Net Property, plant and equipment by its geographic location**                                                                   |                                                                                                              |                                                                                                              |                                                                                                              |
| Net property, plant and equipment                                                                                                  | 4,417us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis= country_US                          | 4,582us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis= country_US                          | 4,627us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis= country_US                          |
| CANADA                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                              |                                                                                                              |                                                                                                              |
| **Net Property, plant and equipment by its geographic location**                                                                   |                                                                                                              |                                                                                                              |                                                                                                              |
| Net property, plant and equipment                                                                                                  | 482us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis= country_CA                            | 571us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis= country_CA                            | 642us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis= country_CA                            |
| North America                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                              |                                                                                                              |                                                                                                              |
| **Net Property, plant and equipment by its geographic location**                                                                   |                                                                                                              |                                                                                                              |                                                                                                              |
| Net property, plant and equipment                                                                                                  | 4,899us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis= us-gaap_NorthAmericaMember          | 5,153us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis= us-gaap_NorthAmericaMember          | 5,269us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis= us-gaap_NorthAmericaMember          |
| Latin America                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                              |                                                                                                              |                                                                                                              |
| **Net Property, plant and equipment by its geographic location**                                                                   |                                                                                                              |                                                                                                              |                                                                                                              |
| Net property, plant and equipment                                                                                                  | 890us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis= us-gaap_LatinAmericaMember            | 887us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis= us-gaap_LatinAmericaMember            | 912us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis= us-gaap_LatinAmericaMember            |
| Europe/Africa/Russia Caspian                                                                                                       |                                                                                                              |                                                                                                              |                                                                                                              |
| **Net Property, plant and equipment by its geographic location**                                                                   |                                                                                                              |                                                                                                              |                                                                                                              |
| Net property, plant and equipment                                                                                                  | 1,805us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis= bhi_EuropeAfricaRussiaCaspianMember | 1,761us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis= bhi_EuropeAfricaRussiaCaspianMember | 1,452us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis= bhi_EuropeAfricaRussiaCaspianMember |
| Middle East/Asia Pacific                                                                                                           |                                                                                                              |                                                                                                              |                                                                                                              |
| **Net Property, plant and equipment by its geographic location**                                                                   |                                                                                                              |                                                                                                              |                                                                                                              |
| Net property, plant and equipment                                                                                                  | $ 1,469us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis= bhi_MiddleEastAsiaPacificMember   | $ 1,275us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis= bhi_MiddleEastAsiaPacificMember   | $ 1,074us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis= bhi_MiddleEastAsiaPacificMember   |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**bhi_ScheduleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentByGeoprahicLocationsLineItems**Namespace Prefix:**bhi_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
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|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount after accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.13) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph a -Article 5Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 8 -Article 7
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| X                                                                                                                                                    |
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