Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2012
Contractual Obligations
Facility and other operating leases	$ 19,988
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Net	19,988
Toshiba research and development	174,845
Operating expense commitments	58,011
Total contractual cash obligations	5,857,604
1% Convertible senior notes principal and interest [Member]
Contractual Obligations
Convertible senior notes principal and interest	941,982
1.5% Convertible senior notes principal and interest [Member]
Contractual Obligations
Convertible senior notes principal and interest	1,082,500
Capital Equipment Purchase Commitments [Member]
Contractual Obligations
Noncancelable purchase obligation commitments	61,280
Noncancelable production purchase commitments
Contractual Obligations
Noncancelable purchase obligation commitments	320,807
1 Year or Less [Member]
Contractual Obligations
Toshiba research and development	108,565
Operating expense commitments	54,760
Total contractual cash obligations	1,442,271
1 Year or Less [Member] | 1% Convertible senior notes principal and interest [Member]
Contractual Obligations
Convertible senior notes principal and interest	9,281
1 Year or Less [Member] | 1.5% Convertible senior notes principal and interest [Member]
Contractual Obligations
Convertible senior notes principal and interest	7,500
1 Year or Less [Member] | Capital Equipment Purchase Commitments [Member]
Contractual Obligations
Noncancelable purchase obligation commitments	60,800
1 Year or Less [Member] | Noncancelable production purchase commitments
Contractual Obligations
Noncancelable purchase obligation commitments	320,807
2 - 3 Years (Fiscal 2013 and 2014) [Member]
Contractual Obligations
Toshiba research and development	51,280
Operating expense commitments	3,251
Total contractual cash obligations	2,414,584
2 - 3 Years (Fiscal 2013 and 2014) [Member] | 1% Convertible senior notes principal and interest [Member]
Contractual Obligations
Convertible senior notes principal and interest	932,701
2 - 3 Years (Fiscal 2013 and 2014) [Member] | 1.5% Convertible senior notes principal and interest [Member]
Contractual Obligations
Convertible senior notes principal and interest	30,000
2 - 3 Years (Fiscal 2013 and 2014) [Member] | Capital Equipment Purchase Commitments [Member]
Contractual Obligations
Noncancelable purchase obligation commitments	438
2 - 3 Years (Fiscal 2013 and 2014) [Member] | Noncancelable production purchase commitments
Contractual Obligations
Noncancelable purchase obligation commitments	0
4 - 5 Years (Fiscal 2015 and 2016) [Member]
Contractual Obligations
Toshiba research and development	15,000
Operating expense commitments	0
Total contractual cash obligations	776,399
4 - 5 Years (Fiscal 2015 and 2016) [Member] | 1% Convertible senior notes principal and interest [Member]
Contractual Obligations
Convertible senior notes principal and interest	0
4 - 5 Years (Fiscal 2015 and 2016) [Member] | 1.5% Convertible senior notes principal and interest [Member]
Contractual Obligations
Convertible senior notes principal and interest	30,000
4 - 5 Years (Fiscal 2015 and 2016) [Member] | Capital Equipment Purchase Commitments [Member]
Contractual Obligations
Noncancelable purchase obligation commitments	42
4 - 5 Years (Fiscal 2015 and 2016) [Member] | Noncancelable production purchase commitments
Contractual Obligations
Noncancelable purchase obligation commitments	0
More than 5 Years (Beyond Fiscal 2016) [Member]
Contractual Obligations
Toshiba research and development	0
Operating expense commitments	0
Total contractual cash obligations	1,224,350
More than 5 Years (Beyond Fiscal 2016) [Member] | 1% Convertible senior notes principal and interest [Member]
Contractual Obligations
Convertible senior notes principal and interest	0
More than 5 Years (Beyond Fiscal 2016) [Member] | 1.5% Convertible senior notes principal and interest [Member]
Contractual Obligations
Convertible senior notes principal and interest	1,015,000
More than 5 Years (Beyond Fiscal 2016) [Member] | Capital Equipment Purchase Commitments [Member]
Contractual Obligations
Noncancelable purchase obligation commitments	0
More than 5 Years (Beyond Fiscal 2016) [Member] | Noncancelable production purchase commitments
Contractual Obligations
Noncancelable purchase obligation commitments	0
Flash Alliance Ltd [Member]
Contractual Obligations
Reimbursement for certain Flash Venture fixed costs	1,670,327
Flash Alliance Ltd [Member] | 1 Year or Less [Member]
Contractual Obligations
Reimbursement for certain Flash Venture fixed costs	414,540
Flash Alliance Ltd [Member] | 2 - 3 Years (Fiscal 2013 and 2014) [Member]
Contractual Obligations
Reimbursement for certain Flash Venture fixed costs	770,731
Flash Alliance Ltd [Member] | 4 - 5 Years (Fiscal 2015 and 2016) [Member]
Contractual Obligations
Reimbursement for certain Flash Venture fixed costs	396,241
Flash Alliance Ltd [Member] | More than 5 Years (Beyond Fiscal 2016) [Member]
Contractual Obligations
Reimbursement for certain Flash Venture fixed costs	88,815
Flash Partners Ltd [Member]
Contractual Obligations
Reimbursement for certain Flash Venture fixed costs	763,086
Flash Partners Ltd [Member] | 1 Year or Less [Member]
Contractual Obligations
Reimbursement for certain Flash Venture fixed costs	201,189
Flash Partners Ltd [Member] | 2 - 3 Years (Fiscal 2013 and 2014) [Member]
Contractual Obligations
Reimbursement for certain Flash Venture fixed costs	353,479
Flash Partners Ltd [Member] | 4 - 5 Years (Fiscal 2015 and 2016) [Member]
Contractual Obligations
Reimbursement for certain Flash Venture fixed costs	128,782
Flash Partners Ltd [Member] | More than 5 Years (Beyond Fiscal 2016) [Member]
Contractual Obligations
Reimbursement for certain Flash Venture fixed costs	79,636
Flash Forward Ltd [Member]
Contractual Obligations
Reimbursement for certain Flash Venture fixed costs	764,778
Flash Forward Ltd [Member] | 1 Year or Less [Member]
Contractual Obligations
Reimbursement for certain Flash Venture fixed costs	258,429
Flash Forward Ltd [Member] | 2 - 3 Years (Fiscal 2013 and 2014) [Member]
Contractual Obligations
Reimbursement for certain Flash Venture fixed costs	263,327
Flash Forward Ltd [Member] | 4 - 5 Years (Fiscal 2015 and 2016) [Member]
Contractual Obligations
Reimbursement for certain Flash Venture fixed costs	202,123
Flash Forward Ltd [Member] | More than 5 Years (Beyond Fiscal 2016) [Member]
Contractual Obligations
Reimbursement for certain Flash Venture fixed costs	$ 40,899