| **Segment, Geographic and Other Revenue Information - Narrative (Detail) (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified** | 3 Months Ended                                                                                                        |     |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----|
||
| **Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]**                                                                            |                                                                                                                  |     |   |  |
| Number of businesses                                                                                                      | 2pfe_NumberofBusinesses                                                                                               |     |   |  |
| Number of operating segments (in operating segments)                                                                      | 3us-gaap_NumberOfOperatingSegments                                                                                    |     |   |  |
| Total assets                                                                                                              | $ 160,640us-gaap_Assets                                                                                               | [1] | $ 169,274us-gaap_Assets | [1] |
| Innovative Products [Member]                                                                                              |                                                                                                                  |     |   |  |
| **Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]**                                                                            |                                                                                                                  |     |   |  |
| Number of operating segments (in operating segments)                                                                      | 2us-gaap_NumberOfOperatingSegments/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis= pfe_InnovativeProductsMember                        |     |   |  |
| Global Vaccines, Oncology and Consumer Healthcare [Member]                                                                |                                                                                                                  |     |   |  |
| **Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]**                                                                            |                                                                                                                  |     |   |  |
| Number of businesses                                                                                                      | 3pfe_NumberofBusinesses/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis= pfe_GlobalVaccinesOncologyandConsumerHealthcareMember |     |   |  |
|                                                                                                                           |
| [1]Amounts may not add due to rounding.                                                                                   |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Number of Businesses
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**pfe_NumberofBusinesses**Namespace Prefix:**pfe_**Data Type:**xbrli:integerItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.18) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 12 -Article 7
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_Assets**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Number of operating segments. An operating segment is a component of an enterprise: (a) that engages in business activities from which it may earn revenues and incur expenses (including revenues and expenses relating to transactions with other components of the same enterprise), (b) whose operating results are regularly reviewed by the enterprise's chief operating decision maker to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and assess its performance, and (c) for which discrete financial information is available. An operating segment may engage in business activities for which it has yet to earn revenues, for example, start-up operations may be operating segments before earning revenues.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_NumberOfOperatingSegments**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:integerItemType**Balance Type:**na**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_ProductOrServiceAxis=pfe_InnovativeProductsMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=pfe_GlobalVaccinesOncologyandConsumerHealthcareMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |