| **Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Narrative (Detail) (USD $)In Billions, unless otherwise specified** | 3 Months Ended |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|
||
| **Finite Lived and Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]**                                         |           |   |
| Amortization expense for finite-lived intangible assets                                                      | $ 1.3          | $ 1.5 |
| Indefinite Lived Brands [Member] | Established Products [Member]                                             |           |   |
| **Finite Lived and Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]**                                         |           |   |
| Percentage of indefinite-lived intangible asset unamortized costs by segment                                 | 31.00%         |   |
| Indefinite Lived Brands [Member] | Zoetis [Member]                                                           |           |   |
| **Finite Lived and Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]**                                         |           |   |
| Percentage of finite-lived intangible asset amortized cost by segment                                        | 1.00%          |   |
| Indefinite Lived Brands [Member] | Consumer Healthcare [Member]                                              |           |   |
| **Finite Lived and Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]**                                         |           |   |
| Percentage of indefinite-lived intangible asset unamortized costs by segment                                 | 68.00%         |   |
| In Process Research And Development [Member] | Specialty Care [Member]                                       |           |   |
| **Finite Lived and Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]**                                         |           |   |
| Percentage of indefinite-lived intangible asset unamortized costs by segment                                 | 11.00%         |   |
| In Process Research And Development [Member] | Established Products [Member]                                 |           |   |
| **Finite Lived and Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]**                                         |           |   |
| Percentage of indefinite-lived intangible asset unamortized costs by segment                                 | 20.00%         |   |
| In Process Research And Development [Member] | Primary Care [Member]                                         |           |   |
| **Finite Lived and Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]**                                         |           |   |
| Percentage of indefinite-lived intangible asset unamortized costs by segment                                 | 12.00%         |   |
| In Process Research And Development [Member] | Zoetis [Member]                                               |           |   |
| **Finite Lived and Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]**                                         |           |   |
| Percentage of indefinite-lived intangible asset unamortized costs by segment                                 | 2.00%          |   |
| In Process Research And Development [Member] | Worldwide Research and Development [Member]                   |           |   |
| **Finite Lived and Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]**                                         |           |   |
| Percentage of indefinite-lived intangible asset unamortized costs by segment                                 | 55.00%         |   |
| Developed Technology Rights [Member] | Specialty Care [Member]                                               |           |   |
| **Finite Lived and Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]**                                         |           |   |
| Percentage of finite-lived intangible asset amortized cost by segment                                        | 66.00%         |   |
| Developed Technology Rights [Member] | Established Products [Member]                                         |           |   |
| **Finite Lived and Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]**                                         |           |   |
| Percentage of finite-lived intangible asset amortized cost by segment                                        | 19.00%         |   |
| Developed Technology Rights [Member] | Primary Care [Member]                                                 |           |   |
| **Finite Lived and Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]**                                         |           |   |
| Percentage of finite-lived intangible asset amortized cost by segment                                        | 13.00%         |   |
| Developed Technology Rights [Member] | Zoetis [Member]                                                       |           |   |
| **Finite Lived and Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]**                                         |           |   |
| Percentage of finite-lived intangible asset amortized cost by segment                                        | 1.00%          |   |
| Developed Technology Rights [Member] | Oncology [Member]                                                     |           |   |
| **Finite Lived and Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]**                                         |           |   |
| Percentage of finite-lived intangible asset amortized cost by segment                                        | 1.00%          |   |
| Finite Lived Brands [Member] | Established Products [Member]                                                 |           |   |
| **Finite Lived and Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]**                                         |           |   |
| Percentage of finite-lived intangible asset amortized cost by segment                                        | 24.00%         |   |
| Finite Lived Brands [Member] | Zoetis [Member]                                                               |           |   |
| **Finite Lived and Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]**                                         |           |   |
| Percentage of finite-lived intangible asset amortized cost by segment                                        | 12.00%         |   |
| Finite Lived Brands [Member] | Consumer Healthcare [Member]                                                  |           |   |
| **Finite Lived and Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]**                                         |           |   |
| Percentage of finite-lived intangible asset amortized cost by segment                                        | 64.00%         |   |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**pfe_FiniteLivedAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems**Namespace Prefix:**pfe_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The percentage of amortized cost of finite-lived intangible assets by segment.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**pfe_PercentageOfFinitelivedIntangibleAssetAmortizedCostBySegment**Namespace Prefix:**pfe_**Data Type:**num:percentItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The percentage of unamortized cost of indefinite-lived intangible assets by segment.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**pfe_PercentageOfIndefinitelivedIntangibleAssetUnamortizedCostsBySegment**Namespace Prefix:**pfe_**Data Type:**num:percentItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 45 -Subparagraph a(2) -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.  This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388964&loc=d3e16225-109274Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7658586&loc=d3e16323-109275
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**duration |