| **Net Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $)In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified**                                             | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|-----------------|
||
| **Net Earnings Per Share [Line Items]**                                                                                                                |           |            |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| Net earnings attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.                                                                                                    | $ 123          | $ 262           | $ 115 | $ 223 | $ 120 | $ 176 | $ 244 | $ 212 | $ 723 | $ 752 | $ 826 |
| Basic weighted average shares outstanding                                                                                                              |           |            |   |   |   |   |   |   | 287.0 | 313.3 | 324.3 |
| Diluted weighted average shares outstanding                                                                                                            |           |            |   |   |   |   |   |   | 290.6 | 314.8 | 327.1 |
| Basic net earnings per share                                                                                                                           | $ 0.42         | $ 0.91          | $ 0.41 | $ 0.78 | $ 0.39 | $ 0.56 | $ 0.78 | $ 0.67 | $ 2.52 | $ 2.40 | $ 2.55 |
| Diluted net earnings per share                                                                                                                         | $ 0.42         | $ 0.90          | $ 0.40 | $ 0.78 | $ 0.39 | $ 0.56 | $ 0.78 | $ 0.67 | $ 2.49 | $ 2.39 | $ 2.52 |
| Common stock subject to stock options, restricted stock awards and restricted stock units excluded from the diluted net earnings per share computation |           |            |   |   |   |   |   |   | 4.8 | 18.9 | 11.5 |
| Employee Stock Options [Member]                                                                                                                        |           |            |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| **Net Earnings Per Share [Line Items]**                                                                                                                |           |            |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| Effect of dilutive securities                                                                                                                          |           |            |   |   |   |   |   |   | 3.2 | 1.3 | 2.6 |
| Restricted Stock Units [Member]                                                                                                                        |           |            |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| **Net Earnings Per Share [Line Items]**                                                                                                                |           |            |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| Effect of dilutive securities                                                                                                                          |           |            |   |   |   |   |   |   | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 |

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| - Definition
Securities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) or earnings per unit (EPU) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS or EPU because to do so would increase EPS or EPU amounts or decrease loss per share or unit amounts for the period presented.
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| - Definition
The amount of net income (loss) for the period per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period.
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|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The amount of net income (loss) for the period available to each share of common stock or common unit outstanding during the reporting period and to each share or unit that would have been outstanding assuming the issuance of common shares or units for all dilutive potential common shares or units outstanding during the reporting period.
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|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent.
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|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The sum of dilutive potential common shares or units used in the calculation of the diluted per-share or per-unit computation.
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|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The average number of shares or units issued and outstanding that are used in calculating diluted EPS or earnings per unit (EPU), determined based on the timing of issuance of shares or units in the period.
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|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Number of [basic] shares or units, after adjustment for contingently issuable shares or units and other shares or units not deemed outstanding, determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that common shares or units have been outstanding to the total time in that period.
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