| **Halliburton Merger Agreement (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions** | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|----------------|
||
| **Business Combinations [Abstract]**                                          |           |           |
| Baker Hughes to Halliburton share exchange ratio | shares                     | 1.12           | 1.12           |
| Cash consideration per share from Halliburton | $ / shares                    | $ 19.00        | $ 19.00        |
| Revenue divestiture threshold                                                 | $ 7,500        | $ 7,500        |
| Days for DOJ review after certification by BHI & HAL                      | 90 days        |           |
| Number of weeks to extend the DOJ review of merger                            | 3              | 3              |
| Days for DOJ review after final, substantial compliance by BHI & HAL      | 30 days        |           |
| Halliburton merger termination fee maximum                                    | $ 3,500        | $ 3,500        |
| Payments for Merger Related Costs                                             | $ 93           | $ 204          |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Baker Hughes to Halliburton share exchange ratio
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**bhi_BakerHughestoHalliburtonshareexchangeratio**Namespace Prefix:**bhi_**Data Type:**xbrli:sharesItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Cash consideration per share from Halliburton
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**bhi_CashconsiderationpersharefromHalliburton**Namespace Prefix:**bhi_**Data Type:**num:perShareItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Days for DOJ review after certification
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**bhi_DaysforDOJreviewaftercertificationbyBHIHAL**Namespace Prefix:**bhi_**Data Type:**xbrli:durationItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Days for DOJ review after final, substantial compliance by BHI & HAL
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**bhi_DaysforDOJreviewafterfinalsubstantialcompliancebyBHIHAL**Namespace Prefix:**bhi_**Data Type:**xbrli:durationItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Halliburton merger termination fee maximum
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**bhi_Halliburtonmergerterminationfeemaximum**Namespace Prefix:**bhi_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Number of weeks to extend the DOJ review of merger
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**bhi_NumberofweekstoextendtheDOJreviewofmerger**Namespace Prefix:**bhi_**Data Type:**xbrli:pureItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Revenue divestiture threshold
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**bhi_Revenuedivestiturethreshold**Namespace Prefix:**bhi_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_BusinessCombinationsAbstract**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The amount of cash paid during the reporting period for charges associated with the mergers.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 25 -Subparagraph (g) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3536-108585
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_PaymentsForMergerRelatedCosts**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**Period Type:**duration |