| **Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Schedule of Intangible Assets by Type (Details) (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified**                                               | Dec. 31, 2014                                                                                                                                           | Dec. 31, 2013 |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------|
| **Finite lived intangible assets description**                                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                    |               |   |  |
| Definite lived intangible assets, gross                                                                                                                                           | $ 1,501us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross                                                                                                         |               | $ 1,471us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross |  |
| Definite lived intangible assets, accumulated amortization                                                                                                                        | 689us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization                                                                                           |               | 588us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization |  |
| Definite lived intangible assets, net                                                                                                                                             | 812us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet                                                                                                               |               | 883us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet |  |
| **Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets by Major Class**                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                    |               |   |  |
| Indefinite-lived intangible assets (excluding goodwill)                                                                                                                           | 7us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill                                                                                               |               | 27us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill |  |
| Technology                                                                                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                                    |               |   |  |
| **Finite lived intangible assets description**                                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                    |               |   |  |
| Definite lived intangible assets, gross                                                                                                                                           | 870us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis= bhi_TechnologyMember                                  |               | 814us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis= bhi_TechnologyMember |  |
| Definite lived intangible assets, accumulated amortization                                                                                                                        | 393us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis= bhi_TechnologyMember                |               | 337us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis= bhi_TechnologyMember |  |
| Definite lived intangible assets, net                                                                                                                                             | 477us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis= bhi_TechnologyMember                                    |               | 477us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis= bhi_TechnologyMember |  |
| Customer relationships                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                    |               |   |  |
| **Finite lived intangible assets description**                                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                    |               |   |  |
| Definite lived intangible assets, gross                                                                                                                                           | 488us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember                   |               | 494us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember |  |
| Definite lived intangible assets, accumulated amortization                                                                                                                        | 191us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember |               | 157us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember |  |
| Definite lived intangible assets, net                                                                                                                                             | 297us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember                     |               | 337us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember |  |
| Trade names                                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                    |               |   |  |
| **Finite lived intangible assets description**                                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                    |               |   |  |
| Definite lived intangible assets, gross                                                                                                                                           | 120us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis= us-gaap_TradeNamesMember                              |               | 120us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis= us-gaap_TradeNamesMember |  |
| Definite lived intangible assets, accumulated amortization                                                                                                                        | 92us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis= us-gaap_TradeNamesMember             |               | 82us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis= us-gaap_TradeNamesMember |  |
| Definite lived intangible assets, net                                                                                                                                             | 28us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis= us-gaap_TradeNamesMember                                 |               | 38us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis= us-gaap_TradeNamesMember |  |
| Other (1)                                                                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                    |               |   |  |
| **Finite lived intangible assets description**                                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                    |               |   |  |
| Definite lived intangible assets, gross                                                                                                                                           | 23us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis= us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember                    |               | 43us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis= us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember |  |
| Definite lived intangible assets, accumulated amortization                                                                                                                        | 13us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis= us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember  |               | 12us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis= us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember |  |
| Definite lived intangible assets, net                                                                                                                                             | $ 10us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis= us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember                    | [1]           | $ 31us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis= us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember | [1] |
|                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| [1]Includes indefinite-lived intangibles of $7 million and $27 million at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, related to in-process research and development projects. |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Accumulated amount of amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount before amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount after amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance and having a projected indefinite period of benefit.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                            |
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| X                                                                                                                                                                |
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| X                                                                                                                                                                               |
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| X                                                                                                                                                                               |
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| X                                                                                                                                                                    |
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