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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="windows-1252"?> |
<ownershipDocument> |
| <schemaVersion> X0306 </schemaVersion> |
| <documentType> 5 </documentType> |
| <periodOfReport> 2019-12-31 </periodOfReport> |
| <form3HoldingsReported> 0 </form3HoldingsReported> |
| <form4TransactionsReported> 0 </form4TransactionsReported> |
| <issuer> |
| | <issuerCik> 0000066740 </issuerCik> |
| | <issuerName> 3M CO </issuerName> |
| | <issuerTradingSymbol> MMM </issuerTradingSymbol> |
| | </issuer> |
| <reportingOwner> |
| | <reportingOwnerId> |
| | | <rptOwnerCik> 0001577544 </rptOwnerCik> |
| | | <rptOwnerName> Roman Michael F </rptOwnerName> |
| | | </reportingOwnerId> |
| | <reportingOwnerAddress> |
| | | <rptOwnerStreet1> 3M CENTER </rptOwnerStreet1> |
| | | <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2> |
| | | <rptOwnerCity> ST. PAUL </rptOwnerCity> |
| | | <rptOwnerState> MN </rptOwnerState> |
| | | <rptOwnerZipCode> 55144-1000 </rptOwnerZipCode> |
| | | <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription> |
| | | </reportingOwnerAddress> |
| | <reportingOwnerRelationship> |
| | | <isDirector> 1 </isDirector> |
| | | <isOfficer> 1 </isOfficer> |
| | | <officerTitle> Chairman, President & CEO </officerTitle> |
| | | </reportingOwnerRelationship> |
| | </reportingOwner> |
| <nonDerivativeTable> |
| | <nonDerivativeTransaction> |
| | | <securityTitle> |
| <value> Common Stock </value> |
| </securityTitle> |
| | | <transactionDate> |
| <value> 2019-08-08 </value> |
| </transactionDate> |
| | | <transactionCoding> |
| <transactionFormType> 5 </transactionFormType> |
| <transactionCode> G </transactionCode> |
| <equitySwapInvolved> 0 </equitySwapInvolved> |
| </transactionCoding> |
| | | <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness> |
| | | <transactionAmounts> |
| <transactionShares> |
| <value> 1000 </value> |
| </transactionShares> |
| <transactionPricePerShare> |
| <value> 0 </value> |
| </transactionPricePerShare> |
| <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode> |
| <value> D </value> |
| </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode> |
| </transactionAmounts> |
| | | <postTransactionAmounts> |
| <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| <value> 39246.3325 </value> |
| </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| </postTransactionAmounts> |
| | | <ownershipNature> |
| <directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| <value> D </value> |
| </directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| </ownershipNature> |
| | | </nonDerivativeTransaction> |
| | </nonDerivativeTable> |
| <footnotes></footnotes> |
| <ownerSignature> |
| | <signatureName> /s/ Patricia L. Meagher, attorney-in-fact for Michael F. Roman </signatureName> |
| | <signatureDate> 2020-01-03 </signatureDate> |
| | </ownerSignature> |
| </ownershipDocument> |