Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2016	Feb. 03, 2016	Jun. 28, 2015	Dec. 28, 2014
Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	SANDISK CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0001000180
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-03
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Jan. 03, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q4
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		201,014,443
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Public Float			$ 9,900,018,831
Common Stock [Member]
Entity Information
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share	$ 0.001			$ 0.001