| Document and Entity Information | Apr. 29, 2020 |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Amendment Flag | false |
| Entity Central Index Key | 0001413329 |
| Document Type | 8-K |
| Document Period End Date | Apr. 29, 2020 |
| Entity Registrant Name | Philip Morris International Inc. |
| Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code | VA |
| Entity File Number | 1-33708 |
| Entity Tax Identification Number | 13-3435103 |
| Entity Address, Address Line One | 120 Park Avenue |
| Entity Address, State or Province | NY |
| Entity Address, City or Town | New York |
| Entity Address, Postal Zip Code | 10017-5592 |
| City Area Code | 917 |
| Local Phone Number | 663-2000 |
| Written Communications | false |
| Soliciting Material | false |
| Pre-commencement Tender Offer | false |
| Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer | false |
| Entity Emerging Growth Company | false |
| Common Stock [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | Common Stock, no par value |
| Trading Symbol | PM |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| 1.875 Notesdue 20211 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | 1.875% Notes due 2021 |
| Trading Symbol | PM21B |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| 1.875 Notesdue 20212 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | 1.875% Notes due 2021 |
| Trading Symbol | PM21C |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| 4.125 Notesdue 2021 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | 4.125% Notes due 2021 |
| Trading Symbol | PM21 |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| 2.900 Notesdue 2021 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | 2.900% Notes due 2021 |
| Trading Symbol | PM21A |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| 2.625 Notesdue 2022 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | 2.625% Notes due 2022 |
| Trading Symbol | PM22A |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| 2.375 Notesdue 2022 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | 2.375% Notes due 2022 |
| Trading Symbol | PM22B |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| 2.500 Notesdue 20221 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | 2.500% Notes due 2022 |
| Trading Symbol | PM22 |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| 2.500 Notesdue 20222 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | 2.500% Notes due 2022 |
| Trading Symbol | PM22C |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| 2.625 Notesdue 2023 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | 2.625% Notes due 2023 |
| Trading Symbol | PM23 |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| 2.125 Notesdue 2023 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | 2.125% Notes due 2023 |
| Trading Symbol | PM23B |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| 3.600 Notesdue 2023 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | 3.600% Notes due 2023 |
| Trading Symbol | PM23A |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| 2.875 Notesdue 20241 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | 2.875% Notes due 2024 |
| Trading Symbol | PM24 |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| 2.875 Notesdue 20242 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | 2.875% Notes due 2024 |
| Trading Symbol | PM24C |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| 0.625 Notesdue 2024 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | 0.625% Notes due 2024 |
| Trading Symbol | PM24B |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| 3.250 Notesdue 2024 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | 3.250% Notes due 2024 |
| Trading Symbol | PM24A |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| 2.750 Notesdue 2025 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | 2.750% Notes due 2025 |
| Trading Symbol | PM25 |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| 3.375 Notesdue 2025 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | 3.375% Notes due 2025 |
| Trading Symbol | PM25A |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| 2.750 Notesdue 2026 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | 2.750% Notes due 2026 |
| Trading Symbol | PM26A |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| 2.875 Notesdue 2026 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | 2.875% Notes due 2026 |
| Trading Symbol | PM26 |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| 0.125 Notesdue 2026 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | 0.125% Notes due 2026 |
| Trading Symbol | PM26B |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| 3.125 Notesdue 2027 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | 3.125% Notes due 2027 |
| Trading Symbol | PM27 |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| 3.125 Notesdue 2028 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | 3.125% Notes due 2028 |
| Trading Symbol | PM28 |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| 2.875 Notesdue 2029 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | 2.875% Notes due 2029 |
| Trading Symbol | PM29 |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| 3.375 Notesdue 2029 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | 3.375% Notes due 2029 |
| Trading Symbol | PM29A |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| 0.800 Notesdue 2031 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | 0.800% Notes due 2031 |
| Trading Symbol | PM31 |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| 3.125 Notesdue 2033 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | 3.125% Notes due 2033 |
| Trading Symbol | PM33 |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| 2.000 Notesdue 2036 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | 2.000% Notes due 2036 |
| Trading Symbol | PM36 |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| 1.875 Notesdue 2037 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | 1.875% Notes due 2037 |
| Trading Symbol | PM37A |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| 6.375 Notesdue 2038 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | 6.375% Notes due 2038 |
| Trading Symbol | PM38 |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| 1.450 Notesdue 2039 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | 1.450% Notes due 2039 |
| Trading Symbol | PM39 |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| 4.375 Notesdue 2041 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | 4.375% Notes due 2041 |
| Trading Symbol | PM41 |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| 4.500 Notesdue 2042 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | 4.500% Notes due 2042 |
| Trading Symbol | PM42 |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| 3.875 Notesdue 2042 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | 3.875% Notes due 2042 |
| Trading Symbol | PM42A |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| 4.125 Notesdue 2043 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | 4.125% Notes due 2043 |
| Trading Symbol | PM43 |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| 4.875 Notesdue 2043 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | 4.875% Notes due 2043 |
| Trading Symbol | PM43A |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| 4.250 Notesdue 2044 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | 4.250% Notes due 2044 |
| Trading Symbol | PM44 |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
