| **Business Combinations (Tables)**    | 12 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|---------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
||
| **Business Acquisition [Line Items]** |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| Schedule of Business Acquisitions     | The following table summarizes the final purchase price allocation of the fair values of the net assets as a result of the Company's acquisitions of Endosense and Nanostim and the initial consolidations of Spinal Modulation and CardioMEMS as variable interest entities for which St. Jude Medical, Inc. was the primary beneficiary (in millions):  EndosenseNanostimSpinal ModulationCardioMEMSCash and cash equivalents $—$—$41$33Current assets 2193Goodwill 2581494683In-process research and development (IPR&D) 33274563Other intangible assets 20347—Other assets 1112Current liabilities (11)(2)(6)(13)Deferred income tax assets/(liabilities) ——(19)(23)Other liabilities ———(5)Net assets $303$210$124$143      Cash paid $180$124$—$—Less: Cash acquired (9)(3)——Net cash consideration $171$121$—$—Contingent consideration 13256——Fair value of St. Jude Medical, Inc.'s previously held interest —33—31Acquisition of controlling ownership interest ——40—Debt financing ———28Additions in noncontrolling ownership interest ——8484Total purchase consideration $303$210$124$143 |
| Thoratec [Member]                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| **Business Acquisition [Line Items]** |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| Schedule of Business Acquisitions     | The following table summarizes the preliminary purchase price allocation of the values of net assets as a result of the Company's acquisition of Thoratec in October 2015 (in millions):  ThoratecAccounts receivable $76Inventories 150Other current and noncurrent assets 44Property, plant and equipment 57Goodwill 2,142Intangible assets 1,490Accounts payable (22)Other current and noncurrent liabilities (69)Contingent consideration liabilities (33)Deferred income tax assets/(liabilities) (548)Net assets $3,287   Cash consideration paid to Thoratec shareholders $3,484Cash consideration paid for vested Thoratec share awards 30Total cash paid $3,514Less: cash acquired (262)Net cash consideration $3,252Fair value of equity awards exchanged in business combination 35Total purchase consideration $3,287                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| Schedule of Pro Forma Information     | The following unaudited pro forma information provides the effect of the Company's acquisition of Thoratec as if the acquisition had occurred on December 29, 2013 (in millions):(unaudited) 2015 2014Pro forma net sales $5,919 $6,099Pro forma net earnings attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc. $970 $767                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| NeuroTherm, Inc. [Member]             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| **Business Acquisition [Line Items]** |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| Schedule of Business Acquisitions     | The following table summarizes the final purchase price allocation of the fair values of net assets as a result of the Company's acquisition of NeuroTherm in August 2014 (in millions):  NeuroThermCurrent assets $22Property, plant and equipment 2Goodwill 125Intangible assets 89Current liabilities (13)Deferred income tax assets/(liabilities) (28)Long-term debt (50)Net assets $147   Cash paid $148Less: Cash acquired (1)Net cash consideration $147                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |

| 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_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of pro forma results of operations for a material business acquisition or series of individually immaterial business acquisitions that are material in the aggregate.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (h)(2)-(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56956515&loc=d3e1392-128463
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionProFormaInformationTextBlock**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**nonnum:textBlockItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of a material business combination completed during the period, including background, timing, and recognized assets and liabilities. This table  does not include leveraged buyouts.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56956515&loc=d3e1486-128463Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56956515&loc=d3e1392-128463
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTextBlock**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**nonnum:textBlockItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                     |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=stj_ThoratecCorporationMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=stj_NeuroThermInc.Member**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |