Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2012	Jul. 03, 2011
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	SANDISK CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0001000180
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Jan. 01, 2012
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q4
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-01
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float		$ 8,665,311,764
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	240,296,426