| **Restructuring Charges and Other Costs Associated with Acquisitions and Cost-Reduction/Productivity Initiatives (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified** | 99 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 99 Months Ended |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|----------------|-----------------|
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| **Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                            |            |           |            |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| Estimated Employee Terminations                                                                                                                                                            |            |           |            |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | 62,000 |
| Restructuring and Related Activities, Initiation Date                                                                                                                                      |            |           |            |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | Jan.        01,         2005 |
| Restructuring and Related Activities, Current Date                                                                                                                                         |            |           |            |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | Mar. 31,         2013 |
| Actual Employees Terminated                                                                                                                                                                |            |           |            |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | 54,000 |
| Restructuring charges                                                                                                                                                                      | $ 15,700        | $ (5)          | $ 3             | $ 6 | $ 3 | $ 11 | $ 3 | $ 2 | $ 6 | $ 2 | $ 12 | $ 4 | $ 152 | $ 79 | $ 318 |   |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Item represents the number of employees terminated to date resulting from cost-reduction initiatives.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**pfe_ActualEmployeesTerminatedToDate**Namespace Prefix:**pfe_**Data Type:**xbrli:integerItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Item represents the expected reduction of the workforce due to cost-reduction initiatives.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**pfe_EstimatedEmployeeTerminations**Namespace Prefix:**pfe_**Data Type:**xbrli:integerItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Reporting date through which cumulative restructuring and related activities are reported.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**pfe_RestructuringAndRelatedActivitiesCurrentDate**Namespace Prefix:**pfe_**Data Type:**xbrli:dateItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
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| - Definition
Date the restructuring activities were initiated or are expected to be initiated, in CCYY-MM-DD format.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) -Number 95-3 -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 SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 5 -Section P -Subsection 4Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 146 -Paragraph 20 -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.
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount charged against earnings in the period for incurred and estimated costs associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructurings pursuant to a duly authorized plan, excluding asset retirement obligations.
+ References
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| X                                                                                                                                                                        |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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