$IBM
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORP Stock $ibm

$ibm Overview Financials Valuation SEC Filings Company Website

2011 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000104746913001698 Filed on February 26, 2013

Income Statement

Concept	2011 Q4	2010 Q4	2010
Revenue	$29.49B	$29.02B	$99.87B
YoY Change	1.61%	6.56%	4.29%
Cost Of Revenue	$14.76B	$14.79B	$53.86B
YoY Change	-0.19%	5.03%	3.62%
Gross Profit	$14.72B	$14.23B	$46.01B
YoY Change	3.49%	8.2%	5.09%
Gross Profit Margin	49.93%	49.02%	46.07%
Selling, General & Admin	$5.987B	$5.834B	$21.84B
YoY Change	2.62%	8.26%	8.14%
% of Gross Profit	40.67%	41.01%	47.46%
Research & Development	$1.556B	$1.578B	$6.026B
YoY Change	-1.39%	8.08%	3.54%
% of Gross Profit	10.57%	11.09%	13.1%
Depreciation & Amortization	$1.188B	$1.235B	$3.657B
YoY Change	-3.81%	-2.37%	-26.77%
% of Gross Profit	8.07%	8.68%	7.95%
Operating Expenses	$7.318B	$7.114B	$27.86B
YoY Change	2.87%	2.8%	5.93%
Operating Profit	$7.404B	$7.112B	$18.15B
YoY Change	4.11%	14.19%	3.82%
Interest Expense	-$114.0M	-$80.00M	$368.0M
YoY Change	42.5%	-34.96%	-190.42%
% of Operating Profit	-1.54%	-1.12%	2.03%
Other Income/Expense, Net
YoY Change
Pretax Income	$7.272B	$6.993B	$19.72B
YoY Change	3.99%	9.61%	8.74%
Income Tax	$1.785B	$1.698B	$4.890B
% Of Pretax Income	24.55%	24.28%	24.79%
Net Earnings	$5.487B	$5.295B	$14.83B
YoY Change	3.63%	10.04%	10.49%
Net Earnings / Revenue	18.61%	18.25%	14.85%
Basic Earnings Per Share			$11.69
Diluted Earnings Per Share	$4.615M	$4.209M	$11.52
COMMON SHARES
Basic Shares Outstanding			1.269B shares
Diluted Shares Outstanding			1.287B shares

Balance Sheet

Concept	2011 Q4	2010 Q4	2010
SHORT-TERM ASSETS
Cash & Short-Term Investments	$11.92B	$11.65B	$11.65B
YoY Change	2.33%	-16.62%	-16.62%
Cash & Equivalents	$11.92B	$10.66B	$10.66B
Short-Term Investments	$0.00	$990.0M	$990.0M
Other Short-Term Assets	$6.849B	$5.790B	$5.790B
YoY Change	18.29%	2.01%	2.01%
Inventory	$2.595B	$2.450B	$2.450B
Prepaid Expenses
Receivables	$11.18B	$10.83B	$27.43B
Other Receivables	$1.481B	$17.39B	$792.0M
Total Short-Term Assets	$50.93B	$48.12B	$48.12B
YoY Change	5.84%	-1.67%	-1.68%
LONG-TERM ASSETS
Property, Plant & Equipment	$13.88B	$14.10B	$14.10B
YoY Change	-1.51%	-0.49%	-0.48%
Goodwill	$26.21B	$25.14B
YoY Change	4.28%
Intangibles	$3.392B
YoY Change
Long-Term Investments	$131.0M	$5.778B	$5.778B
YoY Change	-97.73%	7.42%	7.42%
Other Assets	$4.895B	$6.288B	$6.288B
YoY Change	-22.15%	-12.62%	-12.62%
Total Long-Term Assets	$65.51B	$65.34B	$65.33B
YoY Change	0.26%	8.73%	8.73%
TOTAL ASSETS
Total Short-Term Assets	$50.93B	$48.12B	$48.12B
Total Long-Term Assets	$65.51B	$65.34B	$65.33B
Total Assets	$116.4B	$113.5B	$113.5B
YoY Change	2.63%	4.06%	4.06%
SHORT-TERM LIABILITIES
YoY Change
Accounts Payable	$8.517B	$7.804B	$7.804B
YoY Change	9.14%	4.95%	4.95%
Accrued Expenses	$9.634B	$10.18B	$10.18B
YoY Change	-5.4%	4.69%	4.69%
Deferred Revenue
YoY Change
Short-Term Debt	$0.00	$0.00	$2.761B
YoY Change			41.88%
Long-Term Debt Due	$4.306B	$6.778B	$4.017B
YoY Change	-36.47%	62.62%	80.78%
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$42.12B	$40.56B	$40.56B
YoY Change	3.85%	12.67%	12.66%
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
Long-Term Debt	$22.86B	$21.85B	$21.85B
YoY Change	4.63%	-0.39%	-0.39%
Other Long-Term Liabilities	$8.996B	$27.87B	$27.49B
YoY Change	-67.72%	-1.64%	-1.34%
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$31.85B	$49.72B	$49.34B
YoY Change	-35.93%	-1.09%	-0.92%
TOTAL LIABILITIES
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$42.12B	$40.56B	$40.56B
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$31.85B	$49.72B	$49.34B
Total Liabilities	$96.20B	$90.28B	$90.40B
YoY Change	6.56%	4.65%	4.65%
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
Retained Earnings	$104.9B
YoY Change
Common Stock
YoY Change
Preferred Stock
YoY Change
Treasury Stock (at cost)	$111.0B
YoY Change
Treasury Stock Shares	1.019B shares
Shareholders Equity	$20.14B	$23.05B	$23.05B
YoY Change
Total Liabilities & Shareholders Equity	$116.4B	$113.5B	$113.5B
YoY Change	2.63%	4.06%	4.06%

Cashflow Statement

Concept	2011 Q4	2010 Q4	2010
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income	$5.487B	$5.295B	$14.83B
YoY Change	3.63%	10.04%	10.49%
Depreciation, Depletion And Amortization	$1.188B	$1.235B	$3.657B
YoY Change	-3.81%	-2.37%	-26.77%
Cash From Operating Activities	$7.097B	$6.795B	$19.55B
YoY Change	4.44%	5.37%	-5.89%
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital Expenditures	-$1.186B	-$1.873B	$4.185B
YoY Change	-36.68%	26.55%	-202.65%
Acquisitions			$5.922B
YoY Change
Other Investing Activities	-$2.318B	-$2.209B	-$3.753B
YoY Change	4.93%	117.64%	41.46%
Cash From Investing Activities	-$3.504B	-$4.082B	-$8.507B
YoY Change	-14.16%	63.61%	26.4%
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash Dividend Paid
YoY Change
Common Stock Issuance & Retirement, Net			$15.38B
YoY Change
Debt Paid & Issued, Net
YoY Change
Cash From Financing Activities	-2.810B	-1.859B	-12.43B
YoY Change	51.16%	54.02%	-15.45%
NET CHANGE
Cash From Operating Activities	7.097B	6.795B	19.55B
Cash From Investing Activities	-3.504B	-4.082B	-8.507B
Cash From Financing Activities	-2.810B	-1.859B	-12.43B
Net Change In Cash	783.0M	854.0M	-1.387B
YoY Change	-8.31%	-68.91%	111.11%
FREE CASH FLOW
Cash From Operating Activities	$7.097B	$6.795B	$19.55B
Capital Expenditures	-$1.186B	-$1.873B	$4.185B
Free Cash Flow	$8.283B	$8.668B	$15.36B
YoY Change	-4.44%	9.32%	-38.17%

Facts In Submission

Frame	Concept Type	Concept / XBRL Key	Value	Unit
CY2011	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Services Net SalesRevenueServicesNet	60721000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Goods Net SalesRevenueGoodsNet	40736000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Financial Services Revenue FinancialServicesRevenue	2132000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Financial Services Revenue FinancialServicesRevenue	2267000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	106916000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	99870000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Cost Of Services CostOfServices	40740000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Cost Of Services CostOfServices	38383000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods Sold CostOfGoodsSold	14973000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods Sold CostOfGoodsSold	14374000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Financial Services Costs FinancialServicesCosts	1065000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Financial Services Costs FinancialServicesCosts	1100000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Cost Of Revenue CostOfRevenue	56778000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Cost Of Revenue CostOfRevenue	53857000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	50138000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	46014000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	23594000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	21837000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	6258000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	6026000000	USD
CY2011	ibm	Intellectual Property And Custom Development Income IntellectualPropertyAndCustomDevelopmentIncome	1108000000	USD
CY2010	ibm	Intellectual Property And Custom Development Income IntellectualPropertyAndCustomDevelopmentIncome	1154000000	USD
CY2011	ibm	Other Income And Expense OtherIncomeAndExpense	-20000000	USD
CY2010	ibm	Other Income And Expense OtherIncomeAndExpense	-787000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	411000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	368000000	USD
CY2010	ibm	Expense And Other Income ExpenseAndOtherIncome	26291000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	21003000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	19723000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	5148000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	4890000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	15855000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	14833000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	13.06
CY2010	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	11.52
CY2011	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	13.25
CY2010	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	11.69
CY2011	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	1213767985	shares
CY2012	us-gaap	Financial Services Revenue FinancialServicesRevenue	2040000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods Sold CostOfGoodsSold	13956000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	23553000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Other Income And Expense OtherIncomeAndExpense	-843000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	1287355388	shares
CY2011	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	1196951006	shares
CY2010	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Services Net SalesRevenueServicesNet	56868000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Goods Net SalesRevenueGoodsNet	44063000000	USD
CY2011	ibm	Expense And Other Income ExpenseAndOtherIncome	29135000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesContinuingOperations	-9004000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Pension And Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans Liabilities Noncurrent PensionAndOtherPostretirementDefinedBenefitPlansLiabilitiesNoncurrent	18374000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	1268789202	shares
CY2012	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	16604000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	21902000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Expense And Other Income ExpenseAndOtherIncome	28396000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	50298000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Cost Of Revenue CostOfRevenue	54209000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	104507000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	14.37
CY2012	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	14.53
CY2012	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	1155449317	shares
CY2012	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	1142508521	shares
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodBeforeTax	-14000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodBeforeTax	70000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Reclassification Adjustment For Sale Of Securities Included In Net Income Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentForSaleOfSecuritiesIncludedInNetIncomeBeforeTax	-231000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Reclassification Adjustment For Sale Of Securities Included In Net Income Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentForSaleOfSecuritiesIncludedInNetIncomeBeforeTax	0	USD
CY2011	ibm	Other Comprehensive Income Available For Sale Securities Subsequent Changes In Previously Impaired Securities Arising During Period Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeAvailableForSaleSecuritiesSubsequentChangesInPreviouslyImpairedSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodBeforeTax	4000000	USD
CY2010	ibm	Other Comprehensive Income Available For Sale Securities Subsequent Changes In Previously Impaired Securities Arising During Period Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeAvailableForSaleSecuritiesSubsequentChangesInPreviouslyImpairedSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodBeforeTax	8000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentBeforeTax	-241000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentBeforeTax	78000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodBeforeTax	-266000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodBeforeTax	371000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Reclassification Adjustment On Derivatives Included In Net Income Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentOnDerivativesIncludedInNetIncomeBeforeTax	511000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Reclassification Adjustment On Derivatives Included In Net Income Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentOnDerivativesIncludedInNetIncomeBeforeTax	203000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesBeforeTax	245000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesBeforeTax	573000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Defined Benefit Plan Net Prior Service Cost Credit Arising During Period Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlanNetPriorServiceCostCreditArisingDuringPeriodBeforeTax	28000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Defined Benefit Plan Net Prior Service Cost Credit Arising During Period Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlanNetPriorServiceCostCreditArisingDuringPeriodBeforeTax	-28000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Net Unamortized Gain Loss Arising During Period Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansNetUnamortizedGainLossArisingDuringPeriodBeforeTax	-5463000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Net Unamortized Gain Loss Arising During Period Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansNetUnamortizedGainLossArisingDuringPeriodBeforeTax	-2728000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Finalization Of Pension And Non Pension Postretirement Plan Valuation Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossFinalizationOfPensionAndNonPensionPostretirementPlanValuationBeforeTax	11000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Finalization Of Pension And Non Pension Postretirement Plan Valuation Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossFinalizationOfPensionAndNonPensionPostretirementPlanValuationBeforeTax	10000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Amortization Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Net Prior Service Cost Recognized In Net Periodic Benefit Cost Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAmortizationPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansNetPriorServiceCostRecognizedInNetPeriodicBenefitCostBeforeTax	157000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Amortization Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Net Prior Service Cost Recognized In Net Periodic Benefit Cost Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAmortizationPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansNetPriorServiceCostRecognizedInNetPeriodicBenefitCostBeforeTax	183000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification Of Defined Benefit Plans Net Gain Loss Recognized In Net Periodic Benefit Cost Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationOfDefinedBenefitPlansNetGainLossRecognizedInNetPeriodicBenefitCostBeforeTax	1847000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification Of Defined Benefit Plans Net Gain Loss Recognized In Net Periodic Benefit Cost Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationOfDefinedBenefitPlansNetGainLossRecognizedInNetPeriodicBenefitCostBeforeTax	1249000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Adjustment Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAdjustmentBeforeTax	3790000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Adjustment Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAdjustmentBeforeTax	1624000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTax	-4479000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTax	-260000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax	-1339000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax	-348000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-3142000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	87000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	12713000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	14920000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentBeforeTax	-693000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentBeforeTax	712000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentBeforeTax	-14000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesBeforeTax	-220000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	3589000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	3657000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	1226000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	1174000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	697000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	629000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	1212000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	1294000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Other Assets GainLossOnSaleOfOtherAssets	342000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Other Assets GainLossOnSaleOfOtherAssets	801000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Receivables IncreaseDecreaseInReceivables	1279000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Receivables IncreaseDecreaseInReceivables	489000000	USD
CY2011	ibm	Increase Decrease In Retirement Related Assets And Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInRetirementRelatedAssetsAndLiabilities	1371000000	USD
CY2010	ibm	Increase Decrease In Retirement Related Assets And Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInRetirementRelatedAssetsAndLiabilities	1963000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	163000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	-92000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Capital Net IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingCapitalNet	28000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Capital Net IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingCapitalNet	-949000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayable	451000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayable	174000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesContinuingOperations	19846000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesContinuingOperations	19549000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	4108000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	4185000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Property Plant And Equipment ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment	608000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Property Plant And Equipment ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment	770000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Software PaymentsToAcquireSoftware	559000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Software PaymentsToAcquireSoftware	569000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Investments PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	1594000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Investments PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	6129000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Maturity And Collections Of Investments ProceedsFromSaleMaturityAndCollectionsOfInvestments	3345000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	797000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	-280000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	4082000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Maturity And Collections Of Investments ProceedsFromSaleMaturityAndCollectionsOfInvestments	3142000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Maturity And Collections Of Investments ProceedsFromSaleMaturityAndCollectionsOfInvestments	7877000000	USD
CY2011	ibm	Non Operating Finance Receivables Net NonOperatingFinanceReceivablesNet	-291000000	USD
CY2010	ibm	Non Operating Finance Receivables Net NonOperatingFinanceReceivablesNet	-405000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	1811000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	5922000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Divestiture Of Businesses Net Of Cash Divested ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinessesNetOfCashDivested	14000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Proceeds From Divestiture Of Businesses Net Of Cash Divested ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinessesNetOfCashDivested	55000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesContinuingOperations	-4396000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesContinuingOperations	-8507000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesContinuingOperations	19586000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt And Capital Securities Net ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebtAndCapitalSecuritiesNet	9996000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt And Capital Securities Net ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebtAndCapitalSecuritiesNet	8055000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt And Capital Securities RepaymentsOfLongTermDebtAndCapitalSecurities	8947000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt And Capital Securities RepaymentsOfLongTermDebtAndCapitalSecurities	6522000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Repayments Of Short Term Debt ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfShortTermDebt	1321000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Proceeds From Repayments Of Short Term Debt ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfShortTermDebt	817000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	15046000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	15375000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Or Sale Of Equity ProceedsFromIssuanceOrSaleOfEquity	2453000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Or Sale Of Equity ProceedsFromIssuanceOrSaleOfEquity	3774000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends Common Stock PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock	3473000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends Common Stock PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock	3177000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesContinuingOperations	-13696000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesContinuingOperations	-12429000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash And Cash Equivalents Continuing Operations EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalentsContinuingOperations	-493000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash And Cash Equivalents Continuing Operations EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalentsContinuingOperations	-135000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInContinuingOperations	1262000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	116433000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	18984000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	119213000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInContinuingOperations	-1522000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInContinuingOperations	-1511000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	4168000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	3238000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	956000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	951000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Capital Lease Obligations Incurred CapitalLeaseObligationsIncurred	39000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Capital Lease Obligations Incurred CapitalLeaseObligationsIncurred	30000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	10661000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	12183000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	11922000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	10412000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Marketable Securities Current MarketableSecuritiesCurrent	0	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Marketable Securities Current MarketableSecuritiesCurrent	717000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt And Capital Securities Net ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebtAndCapitalSecuritiesNet	12242000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Or Sale Of Equity ProceedsFromIssuanceOrSaleOfEquity	1540000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	11179000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Notes And Loans Receivable Net Current NotesAndLoansReceivableNetCurrent	16901000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Other Receivables Net Current OtherReceivablesNetCurrent	1481000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	2595000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net Current DeferredTaxAssetsNetCurrent	1601000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense And Other Assets Current PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent	5249000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Assets Current AssetsCurrent	50928000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Taxes Payable Current TaxesPayableCurrent	3313000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Debt Current DebtCurrent	8463000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	40124000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	26241000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	13883000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Notes And Loans Receivable Net Noncurrent NotesAndLoansReceivableNetNoncurrent	10776000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Pension Costs PrepaidPensionCosts	2843000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net Noncurrent DeferredTaxAssetsNetNoncurrent	3503000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	26213000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Net Excluding Goodwill IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill	3392000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	4895000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	116433000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Payable Current AccountsPayableCurrent	8517000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Compensation Liability Current DeferredCompensationLiabilityCurrent	5099000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue Current DeferredRevenueCurrent	12197000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Current OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	4535000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Current LiabilitiesCurrent	42123000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Noncurrent LongTermDebtNoncurrent	22857000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue Noncurrent DeferredRevenueNoncurrent	3847000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	8996000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Liabilities	96197000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Commitments And Contingencies CommitmentsAndContingencies		USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Commitments And Contingencies CommitmentsAndContingencies		USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Including Additional Paid In Capital CommonStockIncludingAdditionalPaidInCapital	48129000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	104857000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value TreasuryStockValue	110963000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-21885000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	20138000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Minority Interest MinorityInterest	97000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	20236000000	USD
CY2010	ibm	Common Stock Issued Under Employee Plan Value CommonStockIssuedUnderEmployeePlanValue	3579000000	USD
CY2010	ibm	Sales Treasury Stock Under Employee Plans Shares SalesTreasuryStockUnderEmployeePlansShares	7929318	shares
CY2012	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Shares Acquired TreasuryStockSharesAcquired	61246371	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense And Other Assets Current PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent	4024000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Pension Costs PrepaidPensionCosts	945000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Taxes Payable Current TaxesPayableCurrent	4948000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Pension And Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans Liabilities Noncurrent PensionAndOtherPostretirementDefinedBenefitPlansLiabilitiesNoncurrent	20418000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	117641000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	18860000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Liabilities	100229000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Current LiabilitiesCurrent	43625000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	119213000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	13996000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Assets Current AssetsCurrent	49433000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Current AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent	256000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Current AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent	255000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Notes And Loans Receivable Current AllowanceForNotesAndLoansReceivableCurrent	311000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Notes And Loans Receivable Current AllowanceForNotesAndLoansReceivableCurrent	288000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Other Receivables Current AllowanceForDoubtfulOtherReceivablesCurrent	11000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Other Receivables Current AllowanceForDoubtfulOtherReceivablesCurrent	17000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Notes And Loans Receivable Noncurrent AllowanceForNotesAndLoansReceivableNoncurrent	38000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Notes And Loans Receivable Noncurrent AllowanceForNotesAndLoansReceivableNoncurrent	66000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.20
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.20
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	4687500000	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	4687500000	shares
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	2182469838	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	2197561159	shares
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Shares TreasuryStockShares	1019287274	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Shares TreasuryStockShares	1080193483	shares
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	22755000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	23172000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Dividends Common Stock Cash DividendsCommonStockCash	3177000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Dividends Common Stock Cash DividendsCommonStockCash	3473000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Dividends Common Stock Cash DividendsCommonStockCash	3773000000	USD
CY2011	ibm	Common Stock Issued Under Employee Plan Value CommonStockIssuedUnderEmployeePlanValue	2394000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Common Stock Issued Under Employee Plan Value CommonStockIssuedUnderEmployeePlanValue	1532000000	USD
CY2010	ibm	Purchases Sales Treasury Stock Under Employee Plans Net PurchasesSalesTreasuryStockUnderEmployeePlansNet	477000000	USD
CY2011	ibm	Purchases Sales Treasury Stock Under Employee Plans Net PurchasesSalesTreasuryStockUnderEmployeePlansNet	175000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value Acquired Cost Method TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod	15419000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Purchases Sales Treasury Stock Under Employee Plans Net PurchasesSalesTreasuryStockUnderEmployeePlansNet	-208000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value Acquired Cost Method TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod	15034000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value Acquired Cost Method TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod	12008000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Other StockholdersEquityOther	-28000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Other StockholdersEquityOther	-317000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Minority Interest Period Increase Decrease MinorityInterestPeriodIncreaseDecrease	8000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Minority Interest Period Increase Decrease MinorityInterestPeriodIncreaseDecrease	-29000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Minority Interest Period Increase Decrease MinorityInterestPeriodIncreaseDecrease	27000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Common Stock Issued Under Employee Plan Shares CommonStockIssuedUnderEmployeePlanShares	15091320	shares
CY2011	ibm	Common Stock Issued Under Employee Plan Shares CommonStockIssuedUnderEmployeePlanShares	20669785	shares
CY2010	ibm	Common Stock Issued Under Employee Plan Shares CommonStockIssuedUnderEmployeePlanShares	34783386	shares
CY2012	ibm	Purchases Treasury Stock Under Employee Plans Shares PurchasesTreasuryStockUnderEmployeePlansShares	2406007	shares
CY2011	ibm	Purchases Treasury Stock Under Employee Plans Shares PurchasesTreasuryStockUnderEmployeePlansShares	1717246	shares
CY2010	ibm	Purchases Treasury Stock Under Employee Plans Shares PurchasesTreasuryStockUnderEmployeePlansShares	2334932	shares
CY2012	ibm	Sales Treasury Stock Under Employee Plans Shares SalesTreasuryStockUnderEmployeePlansShares	2746169	shares
CY2011	ibm	Sales Treasury Stock Under Employee Plans Shares SalesTreasuryStockUnderEmployeePlansShares	4920198	shares
CY2011	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Shares Acquired TreasuryStockSharesAcquired	88683716	shares
CY2010	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Shares Acquired TreasuryStockSharesAcquired	117721650	shares
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Goodwill Amount BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationGoodwillAmount	1291000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Current Liabilities BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationCurrentLiabilities	191000000	USD
CY2012	dei	Entity Registrant Name EntityRegistrantName	INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORP
CY2012	dei	Entity Central Index Key EntityCentralIndexKey	0000051143
CY2012	dei	Document Type DocumentType	10-K
CY2012	dei	Document Period End Date DocumentPeriodEndDate	2012-12-31
CY2012	dei	Amendment Flag AmendmentFlag	false
CY2012	dei	Current Fiscal Year End Date CurrentFiscalYearEndDate	--12-31
CY2012	dei	Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer EntityWellKnownSeasonedIssuer	Yes
CY2012	dei	Entity Voluntary Filers EntityVoluntaryFilers	No
CY2012	dei	Entity Current Reporting Status EntityCurrentReportingStatus	Yes
CY2012	dei	Entity Filer Category EntityFilerCategory	Large Accelerated Filer
CY2012Q2	dei	Entity Public Float EntityPublicFloat	223400000000	USD
CY2013Q1	dei	Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding EntityCommonStockSharesOutstanding	1114509771	shares
CY2012	dei	Document Fiscal Year Focus DocumentFiscalYearFocus	2012
CY2012	dei	Document Fiscal Period Focus DocumentFiscalPeriodFocus	FY
CY2012	us-gaap	Use Of Estimates UseOfEstimates	<div style='font-size:10.0pt;FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;'> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><b><font style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2">Use of Estimates</font></b></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2"> </font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2">The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, costs, expenses and other comprehensive income/(loss) (OCI) that are reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying disclosures. These estimates are based on management’s best knowledge of current events, historical experience, actions that the company may undertake in the future and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. As a result, actual results may be different from these estimates. See “Critical Accounting Estimates” on pages 59 to 61 for a discussion of the company’s critical accounting estimates.</font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2"> </font></p></div>
CY2012	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Preexisting Increase Decrease StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPreexistingIncreaseDecrease	-15000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Preexisting Increase Decrease StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPreexistingIncreaseDecrease	18000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Payments StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPayments	392000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Payments StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPayments	420000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Marketing And Advertising Expense MarketingAndAdvertisingExpense	1339000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Marketing And Advertising Expense MarketingAndAdvertisingExpense	1373000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Noncurrent Liabilities BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationNoncurrentLiabilities	150000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Liabilities Assumed BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationLiabilitiesAssumed	341000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Revenue Recognition Multiple Element Arrangements RevenueRecognitionMultipleElementArrangements	<div style='font-size:10.0pt;FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;'> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><b><font style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2">Multiple-Deliverable Arrangements</font></b></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2"> </font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2">The company enters into revenue arrangements that may consist of multiple deliverables of its products and services based on the needs of its clients. These arrangements may include any combination of services, software, hardware and/or financing. For example, a client may purchase a server that includes operating system software. In addition, the arrangement may include post-contract support for the software and a contract for post-warranty maintenance service for the hardware. These types of arrangements can also include financing provided by the company. These arrangements consist of multiple deliverables, with the hardware and software delivered in one reporting period and the software support and hardware maintenance services delivered across multiple reporting periods. In another example, a client may outsource the running of its datacenter operations to the company on a long-term, multiple-year basis and periodically purchase servers and/or software products from the company to upgrade or expand its facility. The outsourcing services are provided on a continuous basis across multiple reporting periods and the hardware and software products are delivered in one reporting period. To the extent that a deliverable in a multiple-deliverable arrangement is subject to specific accounting guidance that deliverable is accounted for in accordance with such specific guidance. Examples of such arrangements may include leased hardware which is subject to specific leasing guidance or software which is subject to specific software revenue recognition guidance on whether and/or how to separate multiple-deliverable arrangements into separate units of accounting (separability) and how to allocate the arrangement consideration among those separate units of accounting (allocation). For all other deliverables in multiple-deliverable arrangements, the guidance below is applied for separability and allocation. A multiple-deliverable arrangement is separated into more than one unit of accounting if the following criteria are met:</font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2"> </font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol" size="2">·</font><font style="FONT-SIZE: 3pt" size="1">                 </font> <font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt" size="2">The delivered item(s) has value to the client on a stand-alone basis; and</font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol" size="2">·</font><font style="FONT-SIZE: 3pt" size="1">                 </font> <font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt" size="2">If the arrangement includes a general right of return relative to the delivered item(s), delivery or performance of the undelivered item(s) is considered probable and substantially in the control of the company.</font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2"> </font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2">If these criteria are not met, the arrangement is accounted for as one unit of accounting which would result in revenue being recognized ratably over the contract term or being deferred until the earlier of when such criteria are met or when the last undelivered element is delivered. If these criteria are met for each element and there is a relative selling price for all units of accounting in an arrangement, the arrangement consideration is allocated to the separate units of accounting based on each unit’s relative selling price. The following revenue policies are then applied to each unit of accounting, as applicable.</font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2"> </font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 16pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2">Revenue from the company’s business analytics, Smarter Planet and cloud offerings follow the specific revenue recognition policies for multiple deliverable arrangements and for each major category of revenue depending on the type of offering which can be comprised of services, hardware and/or software.</font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2"> </font></p></div>
CY2012	us-gaap	Revenue Recognition Sales Of Services RevenueRecognitionSalesOfServices	<div style='font-size:10.0pt;FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;'> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><b><font style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2">Services</font></b></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2"> </font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2">The company’s primary services offerings include information technology (IT) datacenter and business process outsourcing, application management services, consulting and systems integration, technology infrastructure and system maintenance, Web hosting and the design and development of complex IT systems to a client’s specifications (design and build). These services are provided on a time-and-material basis, as a fixed-price contract or as a fixed-price per measure of output contract and the contract terms range from less than one year to over 10 years.</font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2"> </font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 16pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2">Revenue from IT datacenter and business process outsourcing contracts is recognized in the period the services are provided using either an objective measure of output or on a straight-line basis over the term of the contract. Under the output method, the amount of revenue recognized is based on the services delivered in the period.</font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2"> </font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 16pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2">Revenue from application management services, technology infrastructure and system maintenance and Web hosting contracts is recognized on a straight-line basis over the terms of the contracts. Revenue from time-and-material contracts is recognized as labor hours are delivered and direct expenses are incurred. Revenue related to extended warranty and product maintenance contracts is recognized on a straight-line basis over the delivery period.</font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2"> </font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 16pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2">Revenue from fixed-price design and build contracts is recognized under the percentage-of-completion (POC) method. Under the POC method, revenue is recognized based on the labor costs incurred to date as a percentage of the total estimated labor costs to fulfill the contract. If circumstances arise that change the original estimates of revenues, costs, or extent of progress toward completion, revisions to the estimates are made. These revisions may result in increases or decreases in estimated revenues or costs, and such revisions are reflected in income in the period in which the circumstances that gave rise to the revision become known by the company.</font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2"> </font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 16pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2">The company performs ongoing profitability analyses of its services contracts accounted for under the POC method in order to determine whether the latest estimates of revenues, costs and profits require updating. If at any time these estimates indicate that the contract will be unprofitable, the entire estimated loss for the remainder of the contract is recorded immediately. For non-POC method services contracts, any losses are recorded as incurred.</font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2"> </font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 16pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2">In some services contracts, the company bills the client prior to recognizing revenue from performing the services. Deferred income of $7,281 million and $7,363 million at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, is included in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position. In other services contracts, the company performs the services prior to billing the client. Unbilled accounts receivable of $1,998 million and $2,166 million at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, is included in notes and accounts receivable-trade in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position.</font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2"> </font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 16pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2">Billings usually occur in the month after the company performs the services or in accordance with specific contractual provisions. Unbilled receivables are expected to be billed within four months.</font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2"> </font></p></div>
CY2010	us-gaap	Marketing And Advertising Expense MarketingAndAdvertisingExpense	1337000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Minimum Percentage Of Tax Positions Expected To Be Realized Upon Settlement MinimumPercentageOfTaxPositionsExpectedToBeRealizedUponSettlement	0.50	pure
CY2012	ibm	Maturity Period Of Derivatives Used In Determining Its Nature MaturityPeriodOfDerivativesUsedInDeterminingItsNature	P12M
CY2012	ibm	Realization Period For Debt Securities Classified As Current Assets RealizationPeriodForDebtSecuritiesClassifiedAsCurrentAssets	P1Y
CY2012	ibm	Days After Which Receivables Considered Past Due DaysAfterWhichReceivablesConsideredPastDue	P90D
CY2012	ibm	Business Acquisition Number Of Acquisitions Completed BusinessAcquisitionNumberOfAcquisitionsCompleted	11	item
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Cost Of Acquired Entity Purchase Price BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityPurchasePrice	3964000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Revenue Recognition Software RevenueRecognitionSoftware	<div style='font-size:10.0pt;FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;'> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><b><font style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2">Software</font></b></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2"> </font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2">Revenue from perpetual (one-time charge) license software is recognized at the inception of the license term if all revenue recognition criteria have been met. Revenue from term (recurring license charge) license software is recognized on a straight-line basis over the period that the client is entitled to use the license. Revenue from post-contract support, which may include unspecified upgrades on a when-and-if-available basis, is recognized on a straight-line basis over the period such items are delivered. In multiple-deliverable arrangements that include software that is more than incidental to the products or services as a whole (software multiple-deliverable arrangements), software and software-related elements are accounted for in accordance with software revenue recognition guidance. Software-related elements include software products and services for which a software deliverable is essential to its functionality. Tangible products containing software components and non-software components that function together to deliver the tangible product’s essential functionality are not within the scope of software revenue recognition guidance and are accounted for based on other applicable revenue recognition guidance.</font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2"> </font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 16pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2">A software multiple-deliverable arrangement is separated into more than one unit of accounting if all of the following criteria are met:</font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2"> </font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol" size="2">·</font><font style="FONT-SIZE: 3pt" size="1">                 </font> <font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt" size="2">The functionality of the delivered element(s) is not dependent on the undelivered element(s);</font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol" size="2">·</font><font style="FONT-SIZE: 3pt" size="1">                 </font> <font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt" size="2">There is vendor-specific objective evidence (VSOE) of fair value of the undelivered element(s). VSOE of fair value is based on the price charged when the deliverable is sold separately by the company on a regular basis and not as part of the multiple-deliverable arrangement; and</font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol" size="2">·</font><font style="FONT-SIZE: 3pt" size="1">                 </font> <font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt" size="2">Delivery of the delivered element(s) represents the culmination of the earnings process for that element(s).</font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2"> </font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2">If any one of these criteria is not met, the arrangement is accounted for as one unit of accounting which would result in revenue being recognized ratably over the contract term or being deferred until the earlier of when such criteria are met or when the last undelivered element is delivered. If these criteria are met for each element and there is VSOE of fair value for all units of accounting in an arrangement, the arrangement consideration is allocated to the separate units of accounting based on each unit’s relative VSOE of fair value. There may be cases, however, in which there is VSOE of fair value of the undelivered item(s) but no such evidence for the delivered item(s). In these cases, the residual method is used to allocate the arrangement consideration. Under the residual method, the amount of consideration allocated to the delivered item(s) equals the total arrangement consideration less the aggregate VSOE of fair value of the undelivered elements.</font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2"> </font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 16pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2">The company’s multiple-deliverable arrangements may have a stand-alone software deliverable that is subject to the existing software revenue recognition guidance. The revenue for these multiple-deliverable arrangements is allocated to the software deliverable and the non-software deliverables based on the relative selling prices of all of the deliverables in the arrangement using the hierarchy: VSOE, third-party evidence (TPE) or best estimate of selling price (BESP). In the limited circumstances where the company cannot determine VSOE or TPE of the selling price for all of the deliverables in the arrangement, including the software deliverable, BESP is used for the purpose of performing this allocation.</font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2"> </font></p></div>
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Percentage Of Voting Interests Acquired BusinessAcquisitionPercentageOfVotingInterestsAcquired	1.00	pure
CY2011	ibm	Business Acquisition Number Of Acquisitions Completed BusinessAcquisitionNumberOfAcquisitionsCompleted	5	item
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Cost Of Acquired Entity Purchase Price BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityPurchasePrice	1849000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Percentage Of Voting Interests Acquired BusinessAcquisitionPercentageOfVotingInterestsAcquired	1.00	pure
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Current Assets BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationCurrentAssets	251000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Property Plant And Equipment BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	88000000	USD
CY2012Q4	ibm	Deferred Services Transition And Setup Costs DeferredServicesTransitionAndSetupCosts	2424000000	USD
CY2011Q4	ibm	Deferred Services Transition And Setup Costs DeferredServicesTransitionAndSetupCosts	2589000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Future Amortization Expense Of Deferred Services Transition And Setup Costs Year One FutureAmortizationExpenseOfDeferredServicesTransitionAndSetupCostsYearOne	819000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Future Amortization Expense Of Deferred Services Transition And Setup Costs Year Two FutureAmortizationExpenseOfDeferredServicesTransitionAndSetupCostsYearTwo	509000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Future Amortization Expense Of Deferred Services Transition And Setup Costs Year Three FutureAmortizationExpenseOfDeferredServicesTransitionAndSetupCostsYearThree	430000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Future Amortization Expense Of Deferred Services Transition And Setup Costs Year Four FutureAmortizationExpenseOfDeferredServicesTransitionAndSetupCostsYearFour	277000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Future Amortization Expense Of Deferred Services Transition And Setup Costs Thereafter FutureAmortizationExpenseOfDeferredServicesTransitionAndSetupCostsThereafter	390000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Deferred Payments In Excess Of Fair Value Of Acquired Assets DeferredPaymentsInExcessOfFairValueOfAcquiredAssets	51000000	USD
CY2011	ibm	Deferred Payments In Excess Of Fair Value Of Acquired Assets DeferredPaymentsInExcessOfFairValueOfAcquiredAssets	65000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Future Amortization Expense Of Payments In Excess Of Fair Value Of Acquired Assets Year One FutureAmortizationExpenseOfPaymentsInExcessOfFairValueOfAcquiredAssetsYearOne	22000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Future Amortization Expense Of Payments In Excess Of Fair Value Of Acquired Assets Year Two FutureAmortizationExpenseOfPaymentsInExcessOfFairValueOfAcquiredAssetsYearTwo	19000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Future Amortization Expense Of Payments In Excess Of Fair Value Of Acquired Assets Year Three FutureAmortizationExpenseOfPaymentsInExcessOfFairValueOfAcquiredAssetsYearThree	9000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Future Amortization Expense Of Payments In Excess Of Fair Value Of Acquired Assets Year Four FutureAmortizationExpenseOfPaymentsInExcessOfFairValueOfAcquiredAssetsYearFour	2000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Future Amortization Expense Of Payments In Excess Of Fair Value Of Acquired Assets Thereafter FutureAmortizationExpenseOfPaymentsInExcessOfFairValueOfAcquiredAssetsThereafter	1000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Capitalized Software Costs Maximum Amortization Period CapitalizedSoftwareCostsMaximumAmortizationPeriod	P3Y
CY2012	ibm	Capitalized Internal Use Software Costs Amortization Period CapitalizedInternalUseSoftwareCostsAmortizationPeriod	P2Y
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual StandardProductWarrantyAccrual	394000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual StandardProductWarrantyAccrual	407000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual StandardProductWarrantyAccrual	375000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Warranties Issued StandardProductWarrantyAccrualWarrantiesIssued	394000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Warranties Issued StandardProductWarrantyAccrualWarrantiesIssued	435000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	11000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	6000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	9000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Assets Acquired Liabilities Assumed Net BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationAssetsAcquiredLiabilitiesAssumedNet	1849000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Assets Weighted Average Useful Life AcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsWeightedAverageUsefulLife	P6Y10M24D
CY2011	ibm	Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Goodwill Expected Tax Deductible Percent BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationGoodwillExpectedTaxDeductiblePercent	0.25	pure
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Finished Goods Net Of Reserves InventoryFinishedGoodsNetOfReserves	475000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Finished Goods Net Of Reserves InventoryFinishedGoodsNetOfReserves	589000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Work In Process And Raw Materials Net Of Reserves InventoryWorkInProcessAndRawMaterialsNetOfReserves	1812000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Work In Process And Raw Materials Net Of Reserves InventoryWorkInProcessAndRawMaterialsNetOfReserves	2007000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	2287000000	USD
CY2010	ibm	Business Acquisition Number Of Acquisitions Completed BusinessAcquisitionNumberOfAcquisitionsCompleted	17	item
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Cost Of Acquired Entity Purchase Price BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityPurchasePrice	6538000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Fair Value LongTermDebtFairValue	27383000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Noncurrent LongTermDebtNoncurrent	24088000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Fair Value LongTermDebtFairValue	27119000000	USD
CY2011Q4	ibm	Debt Securities Noncurrent Adjusted Cost DebtSecuritiesNoncurrentAdjustedCost	7000000	USD
CY2011Q4	ibm	Debt Securities Noncurrent Gross Unrealized Gains DebtSecuritiesNoncurrentGrossUnrealizedGains	1000000	USD
CY2011Q4	ibm	Available For Sale Equity Investments Adjusted Cost AvailableForSaleEquityInvestmentsAdjustedCost	58000000	USD
CY2011Q4	ibm	Available For Sale Equity Investments Gross Unrealized Gains AvailableForSaleEquityInvestmentsGrossUnrealizedGains	27000000	USD
CY2011Q4	ibm	Available For Sale Equity Investments Gross Unrealized Losses AvailableForSaleEquityInvestmentsGrossUnrealizedLosses	2000000	USD
CY2011Q4	ibm	Available For Sale Equity Investments Fair Value Disclosure AvailableForSaleEquityInvestmentsFairValueDisclosure	83000000	USD
CY2011Q4	ibm	Available For Sale Debt Securities Noncurrent Fair Value Disclosure AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesNoncurrentFairValueDisclosure	8000000	USD
CY2012Q4	ibm	Debt Securities Noncurrent Adjusted Cost DebtSecuritiesNoncurrentAdjustedCost	8000000	USD
CY2012Q4	ibm	Debt Securities Noncurrent Gross Unrealized Gains DebtSecuritiesNoncurrentGrossUnrealizedGains	2000000	USD
CY2012Q4	ibm	Available For Sale Equity Investments Adjusted Cost AvailableForSaleEquityInvestmentsAdjustedCost	31000000	USD
CY2012Q4	ibm	Available For Sale Equity Investments Gross Unrealized Gains AvailableForSaleEquityInvestmentsGrossUnrealizedGains	4000000	USD
CY2012Q4	ibm	Available For Sale Equity Investments Gross Unrealized Losses AvailableForSaleEquityInvestmentsGrossUnrealizedLosses	1000000	USD
CY2012Q4	ibm	Available For Sale Debt Securities Noncurrent Fair Value Disclosure AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesNoncurrentFairValueDisclosure	10000000	USD
CY2012Q4	ibm	Available For Sale Equity Investments Fair Value Disclosure AvailableForSaleEquityInvestmentsFairValueDisclosure	34000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Gross Realized Gains Losses Sale Proceeds AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGainsLossesSaleProceeds	112000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Gross Realized Gains AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains	45000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Gross Realized Losses AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedLosses	-1000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Net Of Tax And Subsequent Changes OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTaxAndSubsequentChanges	17000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Gross Realized Gains Losses Sale Proceeds AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGainsLossesSaleProceeds	405000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Gross Realized Gains AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains	232000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Gross Realized Losses AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedLosses	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Gross Realized Gains Losses Sale Proceeds AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGainsLossesSaleProceeds	16000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Gross Realized Gains AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains	6000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Gross Realized Losses AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedLosses	0	USD
CY2011	ibm	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Net Of Tax And Subsequent Changes OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTaxAndSubsequentChanges	-7000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Available For Sale Debt Securities Maximum Maturities AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesMaximumMaturities	P1Y
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Net Liability Position Aggregate Fair Value DerivativeNetLiabilityPositionAggregateFairValue	94000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Net Liability Position Aggregate Fair Value DerivativeNetLiabilityPositionAggregateFairValue	131000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Derivative Credit Risk Related Contingent Features Triggering Circumstances Basis Point Spread DerivativeCreditRiskRelatedContingentFeaturesTriggeringCircumstancesBasisPointSpread	250	basispoint
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Asset DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset	1300000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Asset DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset	918000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Liability Amount Not Offset Against Collateral DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiabilityAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral	262000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Liability Amount Not Offset Against Collateral DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiabilityAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral	324000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Collateral Obligation To Return Cash DerivativeCollateralObligationToReturnCash	69000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Collateral Obligation To Return Cash DerivativeCollateralObligationToReturnCash	466000000	USD
CY2012Q4	ibm	Noncash Collateral Received Not Recorded In Statement Of Financial Position NoncashCollateralReceivedNotRecordedInStatementOfFinancialPosition	31000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Liability DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability	2415000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Liability DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability	4116000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Notes And Loans Receivable Net Current NotesAndLoansReceivableNetCurrent	18038000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Notes And Loans Receivable Net Noncurrent NotesAndLoansReceivableNetNoncurrent	12812000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Loans And Leases Receivable Collateral For Secured Borrowings LoansAndLeasesReceivableCollateralForSecuredBorrowings	650000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Loans And Leases Receivable Collateral For Secured Borrowings LoansAndLeasesReceivableCollateralForSecuredBorrowings	410000000	USD
CY2011Q4	ibm	Financing Receivables Gross FinancingReceivablesGross	20060000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Collectively Evaluated For Impairment FinancingReceivableCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairment	19692000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Individually Evaluated For Impairment FinancingReceivableIndividuallyEvaluatedForImpairment	368000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Allowance For Credit Losses Write Offs FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesWriteOffs	84000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Provision For Loan Lease And Other Losses ProvisionForLoanLeaseAndOtherLosses	-44000000	USD
CY2011	ibm	Financing Receivable Allowance For Credit Losses Other FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesOther	5000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Allowance For Credit Losses FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLosses	307000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Allowance For Credit Losses Collectively Evaluated For Impairment FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairment	96000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Allowance For Credit Losses Individually Evaluated For Impairment1 FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesIndividuallyEvaluatedForImpairment1	211000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Allowance For Credit Losses FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLosses	353000000	USD
CY2012Q4	ibm	Financing Receivables Gross FinancingReceivablesGross	22510000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Collectively Evaluated For Impairment FinancingReceivableCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairment	22254000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Individually Evaluated For Impairment FinancingReceivableIndividuallyEvaluatedForImpairment	256000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Allowance For Credit Losses Write Offs FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesWriteOffs	15000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Provision For Loan Lease And Other Losses ProvisionForLoanLeaseAndOtherLosses	-28000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Financing Receivable Allowance For Credit Losses Other FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesOther	2000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Allowance For Credit Losses FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLosses	318000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Allowance For Credit Losses Collectively Evaluated For Impairment FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairment	98000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Allowance For Credit Losses Individually Evaluated For Impairment1 FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesIndividuallyEvaluatedForImpairment1	220000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Nonaccrual Status FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentNonaccrualStatus	165000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Nonaccrual Status FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentNonaccrualStatus	139000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Impaired Financing Receivable Recorded Investment ImpairedFinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment	172000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Impaired Financing Receivable Related Allowance ImpairedFinancingReceivableRelatedAllowance	123000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Impaired Financing Receivable Average Recorded Investment ImpairedFinancingReceivableAverageRecordedInvestment	232000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Impaired Financing Receivable Interest Income Accrual Method ImpairedFinancingReceivableInterestIncomeAccrualMethod	3000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Impaired Financing Receivable Interest Income Cash Basis Method ImpairedFinancingReceivableInterestIncomeCashBasisMethod	0	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Impaired Financing Receivable Recorded Investment ImpairedFinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment	160000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Impaired Financing Receivable Related Allowance ImpairedFinancingReceivableRelatedAllowance	143000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Impaired Financing Receivable Average Recorded Investment ImpairedFinancingReceivableAverageRecordedInvestment	156000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Impaired Financing Receivable Interest Income Accrual Method ImpairedFinancingReceivableInterestIncomeAccrualMethod	0	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Impaired Financing Receivable Interest Income Cash Basis Method ImpairedFinancingReceivableInterestIncomeCashBasisMethod	0	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Equal To Greater Than90 Days Past Due FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDue	62000000	USD
CY2011Q4	ibm	Financing Receivables Current FinancingReceivablesCurrent	19998000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Recorded Investment90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment90DaysPastDueAndStillAccruing	38000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Equal To Greater Than90 Days Past Due FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDue	82000000	USD
CY2012Q4	ibm	Financing Receivables Current FinancingReceivablesCurrent	22428000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Recorded Investment90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment90DaysPastDueAndStillAccruing	52000000	USD
CY2011Q4	ibm	Deferred Services Transition And Setup Costs Noncurrent DeferredServicesTransitionAndSetupCostsNoncurrent	1784000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Assets Noncurrent DerivativeAssetsNoncurrent	753000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investments EquityMethodInvestments	131000000	USD
CY2011Q4	ibm	Non Equity Method Investment NonEquityMethodInvestment	127000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense Other Noncurrent PrepaidExpenseOtherNoncurrent	233000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deposits Assets Noncurrent DepositsAssetsNoncurrent	307000000	USD
CY2011Q4	ibm	Other Receivables Noncurrent OtherReceivablesNoncurrent	208000000	USD
CY2011Q4	ibm	Other Employee Benefit Related Noncurrent Assets OtherEmployeeBenefitRelatedNoncurrentAssets	493000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Taxes PrepaidTaxes	261000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Miscellaneous Noncurrent OtherAssetsMiscellaneousNoncurrent	598000000	USD
CY2012Q4	ibm	Deferred Services Transition And Setup Costs Noncurrent DeferredServicesTransitionAndSetupCostsNoncurrent	1630000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Assets Noncurrent DerivativeAssetsNoncurrent	585000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investments EquityMethodInvestments	120000000	USD
CY2012Q4	ibm	Non Equity Method Investment NonEquityMethodInvestment	226000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense Other Noncurrent PrepaidExpenseOtherNoncurrent	306000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deposits Assets Noncurrent DepositsAssetsNoncurrent	318000000	USD
CY2012Q4	ibm	Other Receivables Noncurrent OtherReceivablesNoncurrent	204000000	USD
CY2012Q4	ibm	Other Employee Benefit Related Noncurrent Assets OtherEmployeeBenefitRelatedNoncurrentAssets	439000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Taxes PrepaidTaxes	459000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Miscellaneous Noncurrent OtherAssetsMiscellaneousNoncurrent	735000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	5021000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Gross FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	5642000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	2250000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Gross FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	6679000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	2892000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Net Excluding Goodwill IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill	3787000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Increase Decrease FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsIncreaseDecrease	395000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	1284000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Intangible Assets Fully Amortized Retired IntangibleAssetsFullyAmortizedRetired	641000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Two FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo	903000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Three FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree	581000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Four FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour	458000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Five FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive	340000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Goodwill Acquired During Period GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod	1291000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Goodwill Allocation Adjustment GoodwillAllocationAdjustment	2000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Goodwill Written Off Related To Sale Of Business Unit GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit	13000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Goodwill Translation And Purchase Accounting Adjustments GoodwillTranslationAndPurchaseAccountingAdjustments	-203000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Goodwill Acquired During Period GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod	2894000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Goodwill Allocation Adjustment GoodwillAllocationAdjustment	-30000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Goodwill Written Off Related To Sale Of Business Unit GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit	22000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Goodwill Translation And Purchase Accounting Adjustments GoodwillTranslationAndPurchaseAccountingAdjustments	192000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	29247000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	25136000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Debt Current DebtCurrent	9181000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Carrying Amount DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount	29660000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Unamortized Discount DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount	865000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Gain Loss On Discontinuation Of Interest Rate Fair Value Hedge DeferredGainLossOnDiscontinuationOfInterestRateFairValueHedge	886000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt LongTermDebt	29680000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Current LongTermDebtCurrent	5593000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Carrying Amount DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount	26702000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Unamortized Discount DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount	533000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Gain Loss On Discontinuation Of Interest Rate Fair Value Hedge DeferredGainLossOnDiscontinuationOfInterestRateFairValueHedge	994000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt LongTermDebt	27161000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Current LongTermDebtCurrent	4306000000	USD
CY2011Q4	ibm	Long Term Debt Fixed Rate Debt LongTermDebtFixedRateDebt	18547000000	USD
CY2011Q4	ibm	Long Term Debt Floating Rate Debt LongTermDebtFloatingRateDebt	8614000000	USD
CY2011Q4	ibm	Long Term Debt Average Percentage Bearing Fixed Interest Rate LongTermDebtAveragePercentageBearingFixedInterestRate	0.0438	pure
CY2011Q4	ibm	Long Term Debt Average Percentage Bearing Variable Interest Rate LongTermDebtAveragePercentageBearingVariableInterestRate	0.0154	pure
CY2012Q4	ibm	Long Term Debt Fixed Rate Debt LongTermDebtFixedRateDebt	24049000000	USD
CY2012Q4	ibm	Long Term Debt Floating Rate Debt LongTermDebtFloatingRateDebt	5631000000	USD
CY2012Q4	ibm	Long Term Debt Average Percentage Bearing Fixed Interest Rate LongTermDebtAveragePercentageBearingFixedInterestRate	0.0343	pure
CY2012Q4	ibm	Long Term Debt Average Percentage Bearing Variable Interest Rate LongTermDebtAveragePercentageBearingVariableInterestRate	0.0191	pure
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Notional Amount Of Interest Rate Fair Value Hedge Derivatives NotionalAmountOfInterestRateFairValueHedgeDerivatives	5898000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Notional Amount Of Interest Rate Fair Value Hedge Derivatives NotionalAmountOfInterestRateFairValueHedgeDerivatives	4252000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Next Twelve Months LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInNextTwelveMonths	5561000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Two LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearTwo	3791000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Three LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearThree	2677000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Four LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFour	3058000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Five LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFive	4531000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal After Year Five LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalAfterYearFive	10042000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Amortization Of Financing Costs AmortizationOfFinancingCosts	553000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Amortization Of Financing Costs AmortizationOfFinancingCosts	555000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Interest Expense Debt Excluding Amortization InterestExpenseDebtExcludingAmortization	402000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Interest Expense Debt Excluding Amortization InterestExpenseDebtExcludingAmortization	365000000	USD
CY2011	ibm	Interest On Investment Derivative Activity InterestOnInvestmentDerivativeActivity	9000000	USD
CY2010	ibm	Interest On Investment Derivative Activity InterestOnInvestmentDerivativeActivity	3000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Interest Costs Capitalized InterestCostsCapitalized	9000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Interest Costs Capitalized InterestCostsCapitalized	5000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Interest Costs Incurred InterestCostsIncurred	973000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Interest Costs Incurred InterestCostsIncurred	928000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Amortization Of Financing Costs AmortizationOfFinancingCosts	545000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Interest Expense Debt Excluding Amortization InterestExpenseDebtExcludingAmortization	470000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Interest On Investment Derivative Activity InterestOnInvestmentDerivativeActivity	-11000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Interest Costs Capitalized InterestCostsCapitalized	18000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Interest Costs Incurred InterestCostsIncurred	1022000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Liability For Uncertain Tax Positions Noncurrent LiabilityForUncertainTaxPositionsNoncurrent	3989000000	USD
CY2011Q4	ibm	Executive Deferred Compensation Liability Classified Noncurrent ExecutiveDeferredCompensationLiabilityClassifiedNoncurrent	1388000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Supplemental Unemployment Benefits Disability Related Benefits SupplementalUnemploymentBenefitsDisabilityRelatedBenefits	835000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities Noncurrent DerivativeLiabilitiesNoncurrent	166000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Restructuring Reserve Noncurrent RestructuringReserveNoncurrent	347000000	USD
CY2011Q4	ibm	Workforce Reductions Noncurrent WorkforceReductionsNoncurrent	366000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Noncurrent DeferredTaxLiabilitiesNoncurrent	549000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Environmental Loss Contingencies Noncurrent AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesNoncurrent	249000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Noncurrent ProductWarrantyAccrualNoncurrent	163000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligations Noncurrent AssetRetirementObligationsNoncurrent	166000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Other Sundry Liabilities Noncurrent OtherSundryLiabilitiesNoncurrent	777000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Liability For Uncertain Tax Positions Noncurrent LiabilityForUncertainTaxPositionsNoncurrent	2527000000	USD
CY2012Q4	ibm	Executive Deferred Compensation Liability Classified Noncurrent ExecutiveDeferredCompensationLiabilityClassifiedNoncurrent	1542000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Supplemental Unemployment Benefits Disability Related Benefits SupplementalUnemploymentBenefitsDisabilityRelatedBenefits	890000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities Noncurrent DerivativeLiabilitiesNoncurrent	78000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Restructuring Reserve Noncurrent RestructuringReserveNoncurrent	430000000	USD
CY2012Q4	ibm	Workforce Reductions Noncurrent WorkforceReductionsNoncurrent	473000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Noncurrent DeferredTaxLiabilitiesNoncurrent	448000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Environmental Loss Contingencies Noncurrent AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesNoncurrent	216000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Noncurrent ProductWarrantyAccrualNoncurrent	167000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligations Noncurrent AssetRetirementObligationsNoncurrent	127000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Other Sundry Liabilities Noncurrent OtherSundryLiabilitiesNoncurrent	709000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	7607000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Outstanding CommonStockSharesOutstanding	1117367676	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Authorized PreferredStockSharesAuthorized	150000000	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.01
CY2012Q4	ibm	Treasury Stocks Acquired Repurchase Authorization TreasuryStocksAcquiredRepurchaseAuthorization	8652000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Gain Loss Recognized In Income Net DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInIncomeNet	880000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Gain Loss Recognized In Income Net DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInIncomeNet	805000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Gain Loss Recognized In Income Net DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInIncomeNet	-81000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Change In Unrealized Gain Loss On Hedged Item In Fair Value Hedge ChangeInUnrealizedGainLossOnHedgedItemInFairValueHedge	-206000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Change In Unrealized Gain Loss On Hedged Item In Fair Value Hedge ChangeInUnrealizedGainLossOnHedgedItemInFairValueHedge	-116000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Change In Unrealized Gain Loss On Hedged Item In Fair Value Hedge ChangeInUnrealizedGainLossOnHedgedItemInFairValueHedge	108000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Gain Loss Recognized In Other Comprehensive Income Effective Portion Net DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeEffectivePortionNet	-221000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Gain Loss Recognized In Other Comprehensive Income Effective Portion Net DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeEffectivePortionNet	549000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Gain Loss Recognized In Other Comprehensive Income Effective Portion Net DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeEffectivePortionNet	6000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Gain Loss Reclassified From Accumulated Oci Into Income Effective Portion Net DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet	-511000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Gain Loss Reclassified From Accumulated Oci Into Income Effective Portion Net DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet	-203000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Gain Loss Reclassified From Accumulated Oci Into Income Effective Portion Net DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet	253000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Gain Loss Recognized In Income Ineffective Portion And Amount Excluded From Effectiveness Testing Net DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInIncomeIneffectivePortionAndAmountExcludedFromEffectivenessTestingNet	-12000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Gain Loss Recognized In Income Ineffective Portion And Amount Excluded From Effectiveness Testing Net DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInIncomeIneffectivePortionAndAmountExcludedFromEffectivenessTestingNet	-7000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Gain Loss Recognized In Income Ineffective Portion And Amount Excluded From Effectiveness Testing Net DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInIncomeIneffectivePortionAndAmountExcludedFromEffectivenessTestingNet	14000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Common Stock Issued Under Employee Plan Stock Option Exercises Acquired And Non Us Employees CommonStockIssuedUnderEmployeePlanStockOptionExercisesAcquiredAndNonUSEmployees	2746169	shares
CY2011	ibm	Common Stock Issued Under Employee Plan Stock Option Exercises Acquired And Non Us Employees CommonStockIssuedUnderEmployeePlanStockOptionExercisesAcquiredAndNonUSEmployees	4920198	shares
CY2010	ibm	Common Stock Issued Under Employee Plan Stock Option Exercises Acquired And Non Us Employees CommonStockIssuedUnderEmployeePlanStockOptionExercisesAcquiredAndNonUSEmployees	7929318	shares
CY2012	ibm	Purchases Treasury Stock Under Employee Plans Value PurchasesTreasuryStockUnderEmployeePlansValue	468000000	USD
CY2011	ibm	Purchases Treasury Stock Under Employee Plans Value PurchasesTreasuryStockUnderEmployeePlansValue	289000000	USD
CY2010	ibm	Purchases Treasury Stock Under Employee Plans Value PurchasesTreasuryStockUnderEmployeePlansValue	297000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentBeforeTax	-44000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodBeforeTax	8000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Reclassification Adjustment For Sale Of Securities Included In Net Income Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentForSaleOfSecuritiesIncludedInNetIncomeBeforeTax	-42000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Other Comprehensive Income Available For Sale Securities Subsequent Changes In Previously Impaired Securities Arising During Period Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeAvailableForSaleSecuritiesSubsequentChangesInPreviouslyImpairedSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodBeforeTax	20000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodBeforeTax	32000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Reclassification Adjustment On Derivatives Included In Net Income Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentOnDerivativesIncludedInNetIncomeBeforeTax	-253000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Net Unamortized Gain Loss Arising During Period Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansNetUnamortizedGainLossArisingDuringPeriodBeforeTax	-7489000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Finalization Of Pension And Non Pension Postretirement Plan Valuation Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossFinalizationOfPensionAndNonPensionPostretirementPlanValuationBeforeTax	-2000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Amortization Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Net Prior Service Cost Recognized In Net Periodic Benefit Cost Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAmortizationPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansNetPriorServiceCostRecognizedInNetPeriodicBenefitCostBeforeTax	148000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification Of Defined Benefit Plans Net Gain Loss Recognized In Net Periodic Benefit Cost Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationOfDefinedBenefitPlansNetGainLossRecognizedInNetPeriodicBenefitCostBeforeTax	2457000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Adjustment Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAdjustmentBeforeTax	5182000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentTax	18000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentTax	69000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentTax	-10000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodTax	-5000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodTax	24000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodTax	4000000	USD
CY2011	ibm	Other Comprehensive Income Available For Sale Securities Subsequent Changes In Previously Impaired Securities Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeAvailableForSaleSecuritiesSubsequentChangesInPreviouslyImpairedSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodTax	-1000000	USD
CY2010	ibm	Other Comprehensive Income Available For Sale Securities Subsequent Changes In Previously Impaired Securities Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeAvailableForSaleSecuritiesSubsequentChangesInPreviouslyImpairedSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodTax	-3000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Other Comprehensive Income Available For Sale Securities Subsequent Changes In Previously Impaired Securities Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeAvailableForSaleSecuritiesSubsequentChangesInPreviouslyImpairedSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodTax	-8000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesTax	27000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesTax	-91000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesTax	-5000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodTax	-105000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodTax	120000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodTax	27000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesTax	188000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesTax	77000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesTax	-59000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Benefit Plan Improvement Tax Effect OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansBenefitPlanImprovementTaxEffect	7000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Benefit Plan Improvement Tax Effect OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansBenefitPlanImprovementTaxEffect	-8000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Defined Benefit Plans Net Unamortized Gain Loss Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansNetUnamortizedGainLossArisingDuringPeriodTax	-2327000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Defined Benefit Plans Net Unamortized Gain Loss Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansNetUnamortizedGainLossArisingDuringPeriodTax	-1016000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Defined Benefit Plans Net Unamortized Gain Loss Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansNetUnamortizedGainLossArisingDuringPeriodTax	-1897000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Finalization Of Pension And Non Pension Postretirement Plan Valuation Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeFinalizationOfPensionAndNonPensionPostretirementPlanValuationTax	0	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Finalization Of Pension And Non Pension Postretirement Plan Valuation Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeFinalizationOfPensionAndNonPensionPostretirementPlanValuationTax	3000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Finalization Of Pension And Non Pension Postretirement Plan Valuation Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeFinalizationOfPensionAndNonPensionPostretirementPlanValuationTax	3000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Amortization Of Defined Benefit Plan Net Prior Service Cost Recognized In Net Periodic Pension Cost Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeAmortizationOfDefinedBenefitPlanNetPriorServiceCostRecognizedInNetPeriodicPensionCostTax	59000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Amortization Of Defined Benefit Plan Net Prior Service Cost Recognized In Net Periodic Pension Cost Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeAmortizationOfDefinedBenefitPlanNetPriorServiceCostRecognizedInNetPeriodicPensionCostTax	67000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Amortization Of Defined Benefit Plan Net Prior Service Cost Recognized In Net Periodic Pension Cost Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeAmortizationOfDefinedBenefitPlanNetPriorServiceCostRecognizedInNetPeriodicPensionCostTax	62000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Reclassification Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Net Gain Loss Recognized In Net Periodic Benefit Cost Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansNetGainLossRecognizedInNetPeriodicBenefitCostTax	874000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Reclassification Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Net Gain Loss Recognized In Net Periodic Benefit Cost Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansNetGainLossRecognizedInNetPeriodicBenefitCostTax	619000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Reclassification Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Net Gain Loss Recognized In Net Periodic Benefit Cost Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansNetGainLossRecognizedInNetPeriodicBenefitCostTax	441000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansTax	1513000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansTax	1343000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansTax	632000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	-34000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	-711000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	643000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	4000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	-9000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	46000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Other Comprehensive Income Available For Sale Securities Subsequent Changes In Previously Impaired Securities Arising During Period Net OtherComprehensiveIncomeAvailableForSaleSecuritiesSubsequentChangesInPreviouslyImpairedSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodNet	12000000	USD
CY2011	ibm	Other Comprehensive Income Available For Sale Securities Subsequent Changes In Previously Impaired Securities Arising During Period Net OtherComprehensiveIncomeAvailableForSaleSecuritiesSubsequentChangesInPreviouslyImpairedSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodNet	3000000	USD
CY2010	ibm	Other Comprehensive Income Available For Sale Securities Subsequent Changes In Previously Impaired Securities Arising During Period Net OtherComprehensiveIncomeAvailableForSaleSecuritiesSubsequentChangesInPreviouslyImpairedSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodNet	5000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	-9000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	-150000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	51000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	-162000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesNetOfTax	385000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	251000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesNetOfTax	167000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	5000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesNetOfTax	-161000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Defined Benefit Plans Net Unamortized Gain Loss Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansNetUnamortizedGainLossArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	-5162000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Finalization Of Pension And Non Pension Postretirement Plan Valuation Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossFinalizationOfPensionAndNonPensionPostretirementPlanValuationNetOfTax	-2000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Amortization Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Net Prior Service Cost Recognized In Net Periodic Pension Cost Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAmortizationPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansNetPriorServiceCostRecognizedInNetPeriodicPensionCostNetOfTax	89000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification Of Defined Benefit Plans Net Gain Loss Recognized In Net Periodic Benefit Cost Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationOfDefinedBenefitPlansNetGainLossRecognizedInNetPeriodicBenefitCostNetOfTax	1583000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTax	3669000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Defined Benefit Plan Net Prior Service Costs Credit Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlanNetPriorServiceCostsCreditArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	22000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Defined Benefit Plans Net Unamortized Gain Loss Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansNetUnamortizedGainLossArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	-3566000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Finalization Of Pension And Non Pension Postretirement Plan Valuation Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossFinalizationOfPensionAndNonPensionPostretirementPlanValuationNetOfTax	7000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Amortization Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Net Prior Service Cost Recognized In Net Periodic Pension Cost Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAmortizationPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansNetPriorServiceCostRecognizedInNetPeriodicPensionCostNetOfTax	94000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification Of Defined Benefit Plans Net Gain Loss Recognized In Net Periodic Benefit Cost Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationOfDefinedBenefitPlansNetGainLossRecognizedInNetPeriodicBenefitCostNetOfTax	1227000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTax	2448000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Defined Benefit Plan Net Prior Service Costs Credit Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlanNetPriorServiceCostsCreditArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	-20000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Defined Benefit Plans Net Unamortized Gain Loss Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansNetUnamortizedGainLossArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	-1712000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Finalization Of Pension And Non Pension Postretirement Plan Valuation Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossFinalizationOfPensionAndNonPensionPostretirementPlanValuationNetOfTax	7000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Amortization Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Net Prior Service Cost Recognized In Net Periodic Pension Cost Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAmortizationPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansNetPriorServiceCostRecognizedInNetPeriodicPensionCostNetOfTax	116000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification Of Defined Benefit Plans Net Gain Loss Recognized In Net Periodic Benefit Cost Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationOfDefinedBenefitPlansNetGainLossRecognizedInNetPeriodicBenefitCostNetOfTax	808000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTax	992000000	USD
CY2012Q4	ibm	Clients Presence In Number Of Countries ClientsPresenceInNumberOfCountries	170	item
CY2012	ibm	Scientific Research Software Related Expenses And In Process Research And Development Expenses ScientificResearchSoftwareRelatedExpensesAndInProcessResearchAndDevelopmentExpenses	6034000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense Software Excluding Acquired In Process Cost ResearchAndDevelopmentExpenseSoftwareExcludingAcquiredInProcessCost	3078000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Product Related Engineering Expenses ProductRelatedEngineeringExpenses	268000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	6302000000	USD
CY2011	ibm	Scientific Research Software Related Expenses And In Process Research And Development Expenses ScientificResearchSoftwareRelatedExpensesAndInProcessResearchAndDevelopmentExpenses	5990000000	USD
CY2010	ibm	Scientific Research Software Related Expenses And In Process Research And Development Expenses ScientificResearchSoftwareRelatedExpensesAndInProcessResearchAndDevelopmentExpenses	5720000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense Software Excluding Acquired In Process Cost ResearchAndDevelopmentExpenseSoftwareExcludingAcquiredInProcessCost	3028000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense Software Excluding Acquired In Process Cost ResearchAndDevelopmentExpenseSoftwareExcludingAcquiredInProcessCost	3097000000	USD
CY2010	ibm	Product Related Engineering Expenses ProductRelatedEngineeringExpenses	306000000	USD
CY2011	ibm	Product Related Engineering Expenses ProductRelatedEngineeringExpenses	267000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Share Based Payment Arrangements IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements	14241131	shares
CY2010	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Share Based Payment Arrangements IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements	16189053	shares
CY2012	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Share Based Payment Arrangements IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements	10868426	shares
CY2011	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Contingently Issuable Shares IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToContingentlyIssuableShares	2575848	shares
CY2010	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Contingently Issuable Shares IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToContingentlyIssuableShares	2377133	shares
CY2012	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Contingently Issuable Shares IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToContingentlyIssuableShares	2072370	shares
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	15855000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Dilutive Securities DilutiveSecurities	0	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Diluted NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersDiluted	15855000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	14833000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Dilutive Securities DilutiveSecurities	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Diluted NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersDiluted	14833000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	16604000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Dilutive Securities DilutiveSecurities	-1000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Diluted NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersDiluted	16603000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	1015000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	403000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit Continuing Operations FederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperations	1177000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit Continuing Operations FederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperations	1205000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit Continuing Operations FederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperations	1764000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	429000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	279000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	134000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	81000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	210000000	USD
CY2010	ibm	Rental Expense RentalExpense	1727000000	USD
CY2011	ibm	Rental Expense RentalExpense	1836000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Rental Expense RentalExpense	1767000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due Current OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueCurrent	1466000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Two Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInTwoYears	1268000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Three Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInThreeYears	1044000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Four Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFourYears	746000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Five Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFiveYears	535000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due Thereafter OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueThereafter	747000000	USD
CY2012Q4	ibm	Operating Leases Vacant Space Future Minimum Payments Due Current OperatingLeasesVacantSpaceFutureMinimumPaymentsDueCurrent	21000000	USD
CY2012Q4	ibm	Operating Leases Vacant Space Future Minimum Payments Due In Two Years OperatingLeasesVacantSpaceFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInTwoYears	13000000	USD
CY2012Q4	ibm	Operating Leases Vacant Space Future Minimum Payments Due In Three Years OperatingLeasesVacantSpaceFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInThreeYears	7000000	USD
CY2012Q4	ibm	Operating Leases Vacant Space Future Minimum Payments Due In Four Years OperatingLeasesVacantSpaceFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFourYears	3000000	USD
CY2012Q4	ibm	Operating Leases Vacant Space Future Minimum Payments Due In Five Years OperatingLeasesVacantSpaceFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFiveYears	1000000	USD
CY2012Q4	ibm	Operating Leases Vacant Space Future Minimum Payments Due Thereafter OperatingLeasesVacantSpaceFutureMinimumPaymentsDueThereafter	0	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Future Minimum Sublease Rentals Sale Leaseback Transactions Within One Year FutureMinimumSubleaseRentalsSaleLeasebackTransactionsWithinOneYear	26000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Future Minimum Sublease Rentals Sale Leaseback Transactions Within Two Years FutureMinimumSubleaseRentalsSaleLeasebackTransactionsWithinTwoYears	16000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Future Minimum Sublease Rentals Sale Leaseback Transactions Within Three Years FutureMinimumSubleaseRentalsSaleLeasebackTransactionsWithinThreeYears	11000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Future Minimum Sublease Rentals Sale Leaseback Transactions Within Four Years FutureMinimumSubleaseRentalsSaleLeasebackTransactionsWithinFourYears	9000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Future Minimum Sublease Rentals Sale Leaseback Transactions Within Five Years FutureMinimumSubleaseRentalsSaleLeasebackTransactionsWithinFiveYears	4000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Future Minimum Sublease Rentals Sale Leaseback Transactions Thereafter FutureMinimumSubleaseRentalsSaleLeasebackTransactionsThereafter	1000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Due Current CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueCurrent	13000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Two Years CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInTwoYears	12000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Three Years CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInThreeYears	11000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Four Years CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFourYears	8000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Five Years CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFiveYears	10000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Due Thereafter CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueThereafter	6000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Domestic IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic	9140000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Domestic IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic	9716000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Domestic IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic	9668000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Foreign IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign	10583000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Foreign IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign	11287000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Foreign IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign	12234000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	19723000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	21003000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	21902000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	268000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	190000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	1361000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	909000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	289000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit Continuing Operations StateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperations	510000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit Continuing Operations StateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperations	489000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit Continuing Operations StateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperations	423000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit	3239000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit	3127000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	105000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit	3006000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	222000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	69000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit Continuing Operations ForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperations	3461000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit Continuing Operations ForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperations	3196000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit Continuing Operations ForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperations	3111000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	5298000000	USD
CY2011	ibm	Taxes Excluding Income Taxes TaxesExcludingIncomeTaxes	4289000000	USD
CY2010	ibm	Taxes Excluding Income Taxes TaxesExcludingIncomeTaxes	4018000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Taxes Excluding Income Taxes TaxesExcludingIncomeTaxes	4331000000	USD
CY2011	ibm	Taxes Included In Income From Continuing Operations TaxesIncludedInIncomeFromContinuingOperations	9437000000	USD
CY2010	ibm	Taxes Included In Income From Continuing Operations TaxesIncludedInIncomeFromContinuingOperations	8908000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Taxes Included In Income From Continuing Operations TaxesIncludedInIncomeFromContinuingOperations	9629000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.35	pure
CY2010	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.35	pure
CY2012	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.35	pure
CY2011	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	-0.10	pure
CY2010	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	-0.10	pure
CY2012	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	-0.11	pure
CY2011	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	0.02	pure
CY2010	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	0.02	pure
CY2012	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	0.01	pure
CY2011	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Other Adjustments EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments	-0.02	pure
CY2010	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Other Adjustments EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments	-0.02	pure
CY2012	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Other Adjustments EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments	-0.01	pure
CY2011	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.25	pure
CY2010	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.25	pure
CY2012	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.24	pure
CY2011Q4	ibm	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Pension And Postretirement Benefits DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsPensionAndPostretirementBenefits	5169000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Share Based Compensation Cost DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCost	1598000000	USD
CY2011Q4	ibm	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards And Tax Credit Carryforwards Domestic DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsAndTaxCreditCarryforwardsDomestic	914000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Deferred Income DeferredTaxAssetsDeferredIncome	834000000	USD
CY2011Q4	ibm	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards And Tax Credit Carryforwards Foreign DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsAndTaxCreditCarryforwardsForeign	752000000	USD
CY2011Q4	ibm	Deferred Tax Assets Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Inventory And Warranty Reserves DeferredTaxAssetsAllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsInventoryAndWarrantyReserves	608000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Property Plant And Equipment DeferredTaxAssetsPropertyPlantAndEquipment	474000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	1479000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	11828000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	912000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net DeferredTaxAssetsNet	10916000000	USD
CY2012Q4	ibm	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Pension And Postretirement Benefits DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsPensionAndPostretirementBenefits	5870000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Share Based Compensation Cost DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCost	1666000000	USD
CY2012Q4	ibm	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards And Tax Credit Carryforwards Domestic DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsAndTaxCreditCarryforwardsDomestic	954000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Deferred Income DeferredTaxAssetsDeferredIncome	1018000000	USD
CY2012Q4	ibm	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards And Tax Credit Carryforwards Foreign DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsAndTaxCreditCarryforwardsForeign	681000000	USD
CY2012Q4	ibm	Deferred Tax Assets Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Inventory And Warranty Reserves DeferredTaxAssetsAllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsInventoryAndWarrantyReserves	586000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Property Plant And Equipment DeferredTaxAssetsPropertyPlantAndEquipment	456000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	12615000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	1384000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	1187000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net DeferredTaxAssetsNet	11428000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Leasing Arrangements DeferredTaxLiabilitiesLeasingArrangements	2149000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Leasing Arrangements DeferredTaxLiabilitiesLeasingArrangements	2216000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Property Plant And Equipment DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment	1421000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Property Plant And Equipment DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment	1378000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Goodwill And Intangible Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssets	796000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Goodwill And Intangible Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssets	957000000	USD
CY2011Q4	ibm	Deferred Tax Liabilities Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Pension And Postretirement Benefits DeferredTaxLiabilitiesTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsPensionAndPostretirementBenefits	551000000	USD
CY2012Q4	ibm	Deferred Tax Liabilities Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Pension And Postretirement Benefits DeferredTaxLiabilitiesTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsPensionAndPostretirementBenefits	257000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Deferred Expense Capitalized Software DeferredTaxLiabilitiesDeferredExpenseCapitalizedSoftware	466000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Deferred Expense Capitalized Software DeferredTaxLiabilitiesDeferredExpenseCapitalizedSoftware	542000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Other DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther	1121000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Other DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther	1158000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities	6504000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities	6508000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards	706000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Credit Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwards	929000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Period Increase Decrease UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsPeriodIncreaseDecrease	97000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	5293000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	4790000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	5575000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	5672000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Current Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	672000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Current Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	1054000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Current Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	401000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	379000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	1768000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	215000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	-538000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	-1659000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	-425000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Settlements With Taxing Authorities UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities	-231000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Settlements With Taxing Authorities UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities	-660000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Settlements With Taxing Authorities UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities	-94000000	USD
CY2010	ibm	Income Tax Appeals Tax Benefit On Foreign Tax Losses IncomeTaxAppealsTaxBenefitOnForeignTaxLosses	1475000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Income Tax Appeals Tax Benefit On Foreign Tax Losses IncomeTaxAppealsTaxBenefitOnForeignTaxLosses	1386000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Offsets UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsOffsets	573000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits That Would Impact Effective Tax Rate UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate	5099000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits That Would Impact Effective Tax Rate UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate	5090000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits That Would Impact Effective Tax Rate UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate	4849000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Penalties And Interest Expense UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpense	-15000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Penalties And Interest Expense UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpense	129000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Penalties And Interest Expense UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpense	134000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Penalties And Interest Accrued UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued	461000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Penalties And Interest Accrued UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued	533000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Significant Change In Unrecognized Tax Benefits Is Reasonably Possible Amount Of Unrecorded Benefit SignificantChangeInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIsReasonablyPossibleAmountOfUnrecordedBenefit	1700000000	USD
CY2012Q4	ibm	Deferred Tax Liability Not Recognized Undistributed Foreign Earnings DeferredTaxLiabilityNotRecognizedUndistributedForeignEarnings	44400000000	USD
CY2012Q4	ibm	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Number Of Shares Additional Authorization ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAdditionalAuthorization	66200000	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Number Of Shares Available For Grant ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant	121200000	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Outstanding Options Weighted Average Exercise Price Beginning Balance1 SharebasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeOutstandingOptionsWeightedAverageExercisePriceBeginningBalance1	94
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Number Of Outstanding Options ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeNumberOfOutstandingOptions	11389721	shares
CY2012	ibm	Share Based Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Outstanding Options Total Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeOutstandingOptionsTotalIntrinsicValue	1115284051	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	697000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	629000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	688000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Compensation Expense EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense	246000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Compensation Expense EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense	240000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Compensation Expense EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense	240000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense Net Of Tax AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpenseNetOfTax	450000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense Net Of Tax AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpenseNetOfTax	389000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense Net Of Tax AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpenseNetOfTax	448000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized	1169000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized	1101000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized Period For Recognition1 EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedPeriodForRecognition1	P3Y
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Number Of Shares Authorized ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized	274100000	shares
CY2012	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Outstanding Options Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term2 SharebasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeOutstandingOptionsWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm2	P1Y7M6D
CY2012Q4	ibm	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Additional Options Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAdditionalOptionsOutstandingNumber	900000	shares
CY2011	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Total Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue	1269000000	USD
CY2012Q4	ibm	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Additional Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAdditionalOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	68
CY2010	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Total Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue	1072000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Total Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue	1005000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Cash Received From Exercise Of Stock Options EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCashReceivedFromExerciseOfStockOptions	1786000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Cash Received From Exercise Of Stock Options EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCashReceivedFromExerciseOfStockOptions	3347000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Cash Received From Exercise Of Stock Options EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCashReceivedFromExerciseOfStockOptions	785000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit Realized From Exercise Of Stock Options EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitRealizedFromExerciseOfStockOptions	412000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit Realized From Exercise Of Stock Options EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitRealizedFromExerciseOfStockOptions	351000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit Realized From Exercise Of Stock Options EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitRealizedFromExerciseOfStockOptions	341000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Exercisable Options Weighted Average Exercise Price1 SharebasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeExercisableOptionsWeightedAverageExercisePrice1	94
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Number Of Exercisable Options ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeNumberOfExercisableOptions	11389721	shares
CY2012	ibm	Share Based Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Exercisable Options Total Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeExercisableOptionsTotalIntrinsicValue	1115284051	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Exercisable Options Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term2 SharebasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeExercisableOptionsWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm2	P1Y7M6D
CY2012	us-gaap	Number Of Reportable Segments NumberOfReportableSegments	5	segment
CY2012	us-gaap	Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Expense PensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitExpense	2389000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Including Additional Paid In Capital CommonStockIncludingAdditionalPaidInCapital	50110000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Expense PensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitExpense	1832000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue Current DeferredRevenueCurrent	11952000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	3392000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	688000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Other Assets GainLossOnSaleOfOtherAssets	729000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Receivables IncreaseDecreaseInReceivables	2230000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Current OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	4847000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue Noncurrent DeferredRevenueNoncurrent	4491000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value TreasuryStockValue	123131000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-25759000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Minority Interest MinorityInterest	124000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Expense PensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitExpense	1382000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Percentage Of Voting Interests Acquired BusinessAcquisitionPercentageOfVotingInterestsAcquired	1.00	pure
CY2011Q2	ibm	Business Divestitures Number Of Divestitures Completed BusinessDivestituresNumberOfDivestituresCompleted	2	item
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Next Twelve Months FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths	1230000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	113452000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Net Periodic Benefit Cost DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCost	-25000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Net Periodic Benefit Cost DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCost	-394000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Net Periodic Benefit Cost DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCost	533000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Assets Acquired BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationAssetsAcquired	2190000000	USD
CY2012Q2	us-gaap	Repayments Of Debt RepaymentsOfDebt	121000000	USD
CY2012Q4	ibm	Cash Collateral Received Derivatives CashCollateralReceivedDerivatives	69000000	USD
CY2011Q4	ibm	Cash Collateral Received Derivatives CashCollateralReceivedDerivatives	466000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Services Net SalesRevenueServicesNet	59453000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Goods Net SalesRevenueGoodsNet	43014000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Cost Of Services CostOfServices	39166000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Financial Services Costs FinancialServicesCosts	1087000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Intellectual Property And Custom Development Income IntellectualPropertyAndCustomDevelopmentIncome	1074000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	10667000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	459000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Other Receivables Net Current OtherReceivablesNetCurrent	1873000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net Current DeferredTaxAssetsNetCurrent	1415000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	40501000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	26505000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net Noncurrent DeferredTaxAssetsNetNoncurrent	3973000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Payable Current AccountsPayableCurrent	7952000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Compensation Liability Current DeferredCompensationLiabilityCurrent	4745000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Reclassification Adjustment For Writedown Of Securities Included In Net Income Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentForWritedownOfSecuritiesIncludedInNetIncomeNetOfTax	2000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Reclassification Adjustment For Writedown Of Securities Included In Net Income Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentForWritedownOfSecuritiesIncludedInNetIncomeNetOfTax	300000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-18743000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Income Tax Examination Range Of Possible Losses IncomeTaxExaminationRangeOfPossibleLosses	575000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-18830000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Before Reclassifications Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax	-5177000000	USD
CY2011	ibm	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Before Reclassifications Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax	-4461000000	USD
CY2010	ibm	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Before Reclassifications Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax	-739000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Increase Decrease In Retirement Related Assets And Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInRetirementRelatedAssetsAndLiabilities	1008000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Capital Net IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingCapitalNet	-733000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayable	-224000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Property Plant And Equipment ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment	410000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Software PaymentsToAcquireSoftware	635000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Investments PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	4109000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Non Operating Finance Receivables Net NonOperatingFinanceReceivablesNet	-608000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	3722000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Proceeds From Divestiture Of Businesses Net Of Cash Divested ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinessesNetOfCashDivested	599000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt And Capital Securities RepaymentsOfLongTermDebtAndCapitalSecurities	9549000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Proceeds From Repayments Of Short Term Debt ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfShortTermDebt	-441000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	11995000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends Common Stock PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock	3773000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesContinuingOperations	-11976000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash And Cash Equivalents Continuing Operations EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalentsContinuingOperations	-116000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Other StockholdersEquityOther	-448000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-3874000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	12731000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTax	-5460000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax	-1587000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	3169000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	1009000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Capital Lease Obligations Incurred CapitalLeaseObligationsIncurred	10000000	USD
CY2012	ibm	Reclassification From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Current Period Net Of Tax ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax	-1303000000	USD
CY2011	ibm	Reclassification From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Current Period Net Of Tax ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax	-1319000000	USD
CY2010	ibm	Reclassification From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Current Period Net Of Tax ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax	-826000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Reclassification Adjustment For Sale Of Securities Included In Net Income Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentForSaleOfSecuritiesIncludedInNetIncomeNetOfTax	-25000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Reclassification Adjustment For Sale Of Securities Included In Net Income Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentForSaleOfSecuritiesIncludedInNetIncomeNetOfTax	-143000000	USD

Files In Submission

Name	View Source	Status
0001047469-13-001698-index-headers.html	Edgar Link	pending
0001047469-13-001698-index.html	Edgar Link	pending
0001047469-13-001698.txt	Edgar Link	pending
0001047469-13-001698-xbrl.zip	Edgar Link	pending
a2212340z10-k.htm	Edgar Link	pending
a2212340zex-10_1.htm	Edgar Link	pending
a2212340zex-10_2.htm	Edgar Link	pending
a2212340zex-12.htm	Edgar Link	pending
a2212340zex-13.htm	Edgar Link	pending
a2212340zex-21.htm	Edgar Link	pending
a2212340zex-23_1.htm	Edgar Link	pending
a2212340zex-24_1.htm	Edgar Link	pending
a2212340zex-24_2.htm	Edgar Link	pending
a2212340zex-31_1.htm	Edgar Link	pending
a2212340zex-31_2.htm	Edgar Link	pending
a2212340zex-32_1.htm	Edgar Link	pending
a2212340zex-32_2.htm	Edgar Link	pending
FilingSummary.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
Financial_Report.xls	Edgar Link	pending
g283352ki21i001.gif	Edgar Link	pending
g283352ki23i001.jpg	Edgar Link	pending
ibm-20121231.xml	Edgar Link	completed
ibm-20121231.xsd	Edgar Link	pending
ibm-20121231_cal.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
ibm-20121231_def.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
ibm-20121231_lab.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
ibm-20121231_pre.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
R1.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R10.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R100.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R101.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R102.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R103.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R104.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R105.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R106.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R107.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R108.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R109.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R11.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R12.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R13.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R14.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R15.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R16.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R17.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R18.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R19.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R2.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R20.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R21.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R22.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R23.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R24.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R25.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R26.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R27.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R28.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R29.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R3.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R30.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R31.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R32.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R33.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R34.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R35.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R36.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R37.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R38.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R39.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R4.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R40.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R41.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R42.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R43.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R44.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R45.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R46.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R47.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R48.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R49.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R5.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R50.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R51.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R52.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R53.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R54.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R55.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R56.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R57.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R58.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R59.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R6.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R60.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R61.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R62.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R63.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R64.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R65.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R66.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R67.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R68.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R69.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R7.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R70.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R71.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R72.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R73.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R74.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R75.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R76.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R77.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R78.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R79.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R8.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R80.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R81.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R82.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R83.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R84.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R85.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R86.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R87.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R88.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R89.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R9.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R90.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R91.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R92.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R93.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R94.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R95.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R96.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R97.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R98.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R99.htm	Edgar Link	pending
report.css	Edgar Link	pending
Show.js	Edgar Link	pending

Create your account

Find Stocks Worth Researching

Deeply Understand Businesses

Value Businesses Intelligently

$IBM
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORP Stock $ibm

2011 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000104746913001698 Filed on February 26, 2013

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$IBM INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORP Stock $ibm

2011 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000104746913001698 Filed on February 26, 2013

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$IBM
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORP Stock $ibm