| **Segment Information - Schedule of summarized financial information for Revenue and Profit Before Tax (Details) (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified** | 3 Months Ended                 | 12 Months Ended                |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
||
| **Segment Reporting Information**                                                                                                                                 |                           |                           |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| Revenue                                                                                                                                                           | $ 6,635us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet | $ 6,250us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet | $ 5,935us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet | $ 5,731us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet | $ 5,860us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet | $ 5,787us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet | $ 5,487us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet | $ 5,230us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet | $ 24,551us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet | $ 22,364us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet | $ 21,361us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet |
| Income before income taxes                                                                                                                                        |                           |                           |   |   |   |   |   |   | 2,627us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest | 1,715us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest | 1,982us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest |
| Settled Litigation [Member]                                                                                                                                       |                           |                           |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| **Segment Reporting Information**                                                                                                                                 |                           |                           |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| Revenue                                                                                                                                                           |                           |                           |   |   |   |   |   |   | 0us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet/ us-gaap_NatureOfExpenseAxis= us-gaap_SettledLitigationMember | 0us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet/ us-gaap_NatureOfExpenseAxis= us-gaap_SettledLitigationMember | 0us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet/ us-gaap_NatureOfExpenseAxis= us-gaap_SettledLitigationMember |
| Income before income taxes                                                                                                                                        |                           |                           |   |   |   |   |   |   | (62)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest/ us-gaap_NatureOfExpenseAxis= us-gaap_SettledLitigationMember | 0us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest/ us-gaap_NatureOfExpenseAxis= us-gaap_SettledLitigationMember | 0us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest/ us-gaap_NatureOfExpenseAxis= us-gaap_SettledLitigationMember |
| Interest Expense                                                                                                                                                  |                           |                           |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| **Segment Reporting Information**                                                                                                                                 |                           |                           |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| Revenue                                                                                                                                                           |                           |                           |   |   |   |   |   |   | 0us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet/ us-gaap_NatureOfExpenseAxis= us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember | 0us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet/ us-gaap_NatureOfExpenseAxis= us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember | 0us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet/ us-gaap_NatureOfExpenseAxis= us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember |
| Income before income taxes                                                                                                                                        |                           |                           |   |   |   |   |   |   | (232)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest/ us-gaap_NatureOfExpenseAxis= us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember | (234)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest/ us-gaap_NatureOfExpenseAxis= us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember | (210)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest/ us-gaap_NatureOfExpenseAxis= us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember |
| Corporate and other                                                                                                                                               |                           |                           |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| **Segment Reporting Information**                                                                                                                                 |                           |                           |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| Revenue                                                                                                                                                           |                           |                           |   |   |   |   |   |   | 0us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember | 0us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember | 0us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember |
| Income before income taxes                                                                                                                                        |                           |                           |   |   |   |   |   |   | (250)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember | (268)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember | (303)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember |
| North America                                                                                                                                                     |                           |                           |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| **Segment Reporting Information**                                                                                                                                 |                           |                           |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| Revenue                                                                                                                                                           |                           |                           |   |   |   |   |   |   | 12,078us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis= us-gaap_NorthAmericaMember | 10,878us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis= us-gaap_NorthAmericaMember | 10,836us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis= us-gaap_NorthAmericaMember |
| Income before income taxes                                                                                                                                        |                           |                           |   |   |   |   |   |   | 1,466us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis= us-gaap_NorthAmericaMember | 968us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis= us-gaap_NorthAmericaMember | 1,268us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis= us-gaap_NorthAmericaMember |
| Latin America                                                                                                                                                     |                           |                           |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| **Segment Reporting Information**                                                                                                                                 |                           |                           |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| Revenue                                                                                                                                                           |                           |                           |   |   |   |   |   |   | 2,236us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis= us-gaap_LatinAmericaMember | 2,307us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis= us-gaap_LatinAmericaMember | 2,399us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis= us-gaap_LatinAmericaMember |
| Income before income taxes                                                                                                                                        |                           |                           |   |   |   |   |   |   | 290us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis= us-gaap_LatinAmericaMember | 66us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis= us-gaap_LatinAmericaMember | 197us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis= us-gaap_LatinAmericaMember |
| Europe/Africa/Russia Caspian                                                                                                                                      |                           |                           |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| **Segment Reporting Information**                                                                                                                                 |                           |                           |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| Revenue                                                                                                                                                           |                           |                           |   |   |   |   |   |   | 4,417us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis= bhi_EuropeAfricaRussiaCaspianMember | 4,041us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis= bhi_EuropeAfricaRussiaCaspianMember | 3,810us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis= bhi_EuropeAfricaRussiaCaspianMember |
| Income before income taxes                                                                                                                                        |                           |                           |   |   |   |   |   |   | 621us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis= bhi_EuropeAfricaRussiaCaspianMember | 591us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis= bhi_EuropeAfricaRussiaCaspianMember | 605us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis= bhi_EuropeAfricaRussiaCaspianMember |
| Middle East/Asia Pacific                                                                                                                                          |                           |                           |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| **Segment Reporting Information**                                                                                                                                 |                           |                           |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| Revenue                                                                                                                                                           |                           |                           |   |   |   |   |   |   | 4,456us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis= bhi_MiddleEastAsiaPacificMember | 3,859us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis= bhi_MiddleEastAsiaPacificMember | 3,099us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis= bhi_MiddleEastAsiaPacificMember |
| Income before income taxes                                                                                                                                        |                           |                           |   |   |   |   |   |   | 675us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis= bhi_MiddleEastAsiaPacificMember | 457us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis= bhi_MiddleEastAsiaPacificMember | 294us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis= bhi_MiddleEastAsiaPacificMember |
| Industrial Services                                                                                                                                               |                           |                           |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| **Segment Reporting Information**                                                                                                                                 |                           |                           |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| Revenue                                                                                                                                                           |                           |                           |   |   |   |   |   |   | 1,364us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis= bhi_IndustrialServicesMember | 1,279us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis= bhi_IndustrialServicesMember | 1,217us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis= bhi_IndustrialServicesMember |
| Income before income taxes                                                                                                                                        |                           |                           |   |   |   |   |   |   | 119us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis= bhi_IndustrialServicesMember | 135us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis= bhi_IndustrialServicesMember | 131us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis= bhi_IndustrialServicesMember |
| Total Operations                                                                                                                                                  |                           |                           |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| **Segment Reporting Information**                                                                                                                                 |                           |                           |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| Revenue                                                                                                                                                           |                           |                           |   |   |   |   |   |   | 24,551us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis= us-gaap_SegmentContinuingOperationsMember | 22,364us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis= us-gaap_SegmentContinuingOperationsMember | 21,361us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis= us-gaap_SegmentContinuingOperationsMember |
| Income before income taxes                                                                                                                                        |                           |                           |   |   |   |   |   |   | $ 3,171us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis= us-gaap_SegmentContinuingOperationsMember | $ 2,217us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis= us-gaap_SegmentContinuingOperationsMember | $ 2,495us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis= us-gaap_SegmentContinuingOperationsMember |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to the economic entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses from ongoing operations, after income or loss from equity method investments, but before income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 940 -SubTopic 20 -Section 25 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35710027&loc=d3e41242-110953Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 10 -Article 5
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 1 -Article 5
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                        |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                      |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis=us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                 |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_NatureOfExpenseAxis=us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_NatureOfExpenseAxis=us-gaap_SettledLitigationMember**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_IndustrialServicesMember**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=us-gaap_LatinAmericaMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                        |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=us-gaap_NorthAmericaMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                       |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=us-gaap_SegmentContinuingOperationsMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |