Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Condensed Consolidating Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Earnings) (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
Sep. 30, 2015
Sep. 30, 2016
Sep. 30, 2015
Dec. 31, 2015
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]          
Net revenues $ 6,905 $ 6,699 $ 19,492 $ 19,116  
Cost of sales 2,043 1,932 5,841 5,733  
Excise taxes on products 1,712 1,721 4,888 4,991  
Gross profit 3,150 3,046 8,763 8,392  
Marketing, administration and research costs 766 698 1,871 1,951  
Reduction of PMI tax-related receivable 0 41 0 41  
Asset impairment and exit costs 2 0 123 4  
Operating (expense) income 2,382 2,307 6,769 6,396  
Interest and other debt expense (income), net 179 205 571 609  
Loss on early extinguishment of debt 823 0 823 228  
Earnings from equity investment in SABMiller (299) (187) (564) (546)  
Gain on derivative financial instruments (48) 0 (205) 0  
(Loss) earnings before income taxes and equity earnings of subsidiaries 1,727 2,289 6,144 6,105  
(Benefit) provision for income taxes 633 761 2,178 2,110  
Equity earnings of subsidiaries 0 0 0 0  
Net earnings 1,094 1,528 3,966 3,995  
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests (1) 0 (3) (1)  
Net earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc. 1,093 1,528 3,963 3,994  
Net earnings 1,094 1,528 3,966 3,995  
Other comprehensive earnings (losses), net of deferred income taxes 62 (279) 2 (475) $ (598)
Comprehensive earnings 1,156 1,249 3,968 3,520  
Comprehensive earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests (1) 0 (3) (1)  
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc. 1,155 1,249 3,965 3,519  
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Altria Group, Inc. [Member]          
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]          
Net revenues 0 0 0 0  
Cost of sales 0 0 0 0  
Excise taxes on products 0 0 0 0  
Gross profit 0 0 0 0  
Marketing, administration and research costs 40 46 113 135  
Reduction of PMI tax-related receivable   41   41  
Asset impairment and exit costs 0   5 0  
Operating (expense) income (40) (87) (118) (176)  
Interest and other debt expense (income), net 129 138 393 430  
Loss on early extinguishment of debt 823   823 228  
Earnings from equity investment in SABMiller (299) (187) (564) (546)  
Gain on derivative financial instruments (48)   (205)    
(Loss) earnings before income taxes and equity earnings of subsidiaries (645) (38) (565) (288)  
(Benefit) provision for income taxes (232) (55) (269) (200)  
Equity earnings of subsidiaries 1,506 1,511 4,259 4,082  
Net earnings 1,093 1,528 3,963 3,994  
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests 0 0 0 0  
Net earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc. 1,093 1,528 3,963 3,994  
Net earnings 1,093 1,528 3,963 3,994  
Other comprehensive earnings (losses), net of deferred income taxes 62 (279) 2 (475)  
Comprehensive earnings 1,155 1,249 3,965 3,519  
Comprehensive earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests 0 0 0 0  
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc. 1,155 1,249 3,965 3,519  
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | PM USA [Member]          
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]          
Net revenues 5,964 5,865 16,874 16,743  
Cost of sales 1,767 1,671 5,084 4,983  
Excise taxes on products 1,654 1,670 4,723 4,834  
Gross profit 2,543 2,524 7,067 6,926  
Marketing, administration and research costs 607 552 1,435 1,511  
Reduction of PMI tax-related receivable   0   0  
Asset impairment and exit costs 1   96 0  
Operating (expense) income 1,935 1,972 5,536 5,415  
Interest and other debt expense (income), net (4) 11 13 11  
Loss on early extinguishment of debt 0   0 0  
Earnings from equity investment in SABMiller 0 0 0 0  
Gain on derivative financial instruments 0   0    
(Loss) earnings before income taxes and equity earnings of subsidiaries 1,939 1,961 5,523 5,404  
(Benefit) provision for income taxes 707 685 2,023 1,959  
Equity earnings of subsidiaries 77 71 217 197  
Net earnings 1,309 1,347 3,717 3,642  
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests 0 0 0 0  
Net earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc. 1,309 1,347 3,717 3,642  
Net earnings 1,309 1,347 3,717 3,642  
Other comprehensive earnings (losses), net of deferred income taxes 4 4 (11) 11  
Comprehensive earnings 1,313 1,351 3,706 3,653  
Comprehensive earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests 0 0 0 0  
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc. 1,313 1,351 3,706 3,653  
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]          
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]          
Net revenues 950 845 2,646 2,405  
Cost of sales 285 272 785 782  
Excise taxes on products 58 51 165 157  
Gross profit 607 522 1,696 1,466  
Marketing, administration and research costs 119 100 323 305  
Reduction of PMI tax-related receivable   0   0  
Asset impairment and exit costs 1   22 4  
Operating (expense) income 487 422 1,351 1,157  
Interest and other debt expense (income), net 54 56 165 168  
Loss on early extinguishment of debt 0   0 0  
Earnings from equity investment in SABMiller 0 0 0 0  
Gain on derivative financial instruments 0   0    
(Loss) earnings before income taxes and equity earnings of subsidiaries 433 366 1,186 989  
(Benefit) provision for income taxes 158 131 424 351  
Equity earnings of subsidiaries 0 0 0 0  
Net earnings 275 235 762 638  
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests (1) 0 (3) (1)  
Net earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc. 274 235 759 637  
Net earnings 275 235 762 638  
Other comprehensive earnings (losses), net of deferred income taxes 22 32 (107) 102  
Comprehensive earnings 297 267 655 740  
Comprehensive earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests (1) 0 (3) (1)  
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc. 296 267 652 739  
Total Consolidating Adjustments [Member]          
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]          
Net revenues (9) (11) (28) (32)  
Cost of sales (9) (11) (28) (32)  
Excise taxes on products 0 0 0 0  
Gross profit 0 0 0 0  
Marketing, administration and research costs 0 0 0 0  
Reduction of PMI tax-related receivable   0   0  
Asset impairment and exit costs 0   0 0  
Operating (expense) income 0 0 0 0  
Interest and other debt expense (income), net 0 0 0 0  
Loss on early extinguishment of debt 0   0 0  
Earnings from equity investment in SABMiller 0 0 0 0  
Gain on derivative financial instruments 0   0    
(Loss) earnings before income taxes and equity earnings of subsidiaries 0 0 0 0  
(Benefit) provision for income taxes 0 0 0 0  
Equity earnings of subsidiaries (1,583) (1,582) (4,476) (4,279)  
Net earnings (1,583) (1,582) (4,476) (4,279)  
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests 0 0 0 0  
Net earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc. (1,583) (1,582) (4,476) (4,279)  
Net earnings (1,583) (1,582) (4,476) (4,279)  
Other comprehensive earnings (losses), net of deferred income taxes (26) (36) 118 (113)  
Comprehensive earnings (1,609) (1,618) (4,358) (4,392)  
Comprehensive earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests 0 0 0 0  
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc. $ (1,609) $ (1,618) $ (4,358) $ (4,392)