Total Equity - Distribution Policy (Details) - EUR (€) € / shares in Units, € in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Distribution Policy
Minimum targeted distribution of net profit to shareholders	40.00%
Intended repurchase of shares and/or issue of special dividend, combined volume	€ 1,500
Dividends distributed	€ 1,790	€ 1,671	€ 1,499
Dividends paid per share	€ 1.50	€ 1.40	€ 1.25
Amount returned to shareholders b repurchasing of treasury shares			€ 500
Proposed dividend per share	€ 1.58
Total proposed dividend	€ 1,886

The amount of dividends proposed or declared after the reporting period but before financial statements are authorised for issue. Such dividends are not recognised as a liability at the end of the reporting period because no obligation exists at that time.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IAS
-Number 1
-IssueDate 2019-01-01
-Paragraph 137
-Subparagraph a
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=1&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_137_a&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2019-03-27

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IAS
-Number 10
-IssueDate 2019-01-01
-Paragraph 13
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=10&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_13&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2019-03-27

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_DividendsProposedOrDeclaredBeforeFinancialStatementsAuthorisedForIssueButNotRecognisedAsDistributionToOwners
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount, per share, of dividends proposed or declared before financial statements were authorised for issue but not recognised as distribution to owners.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_DividendsProposedOrDeclaredBeforeFinancialStatementsAuthorisedForIssueButNotRecognisedAsDistributionToOwnersPerShare
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of dividends recognised as distributions to owners of the parent. [Refer: Parent [member]]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Name IAS
-Number 1
-IssueDate 2019-01-01
-Paragraph 106
-Subparagraph d
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=1&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_106_d&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2019-03-27

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_DividendsRecognisedAsDistributionsToOwnersOfParent
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount, per share, of dividends recognised as distributions to owners.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IAS
-Number 1
-IssueDate 2019-01-01
-Paragraph 107
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=1&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_107&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2019-03-27

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_DividendsRecognisedAsDistributionsToOwnersPerShare
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The decrease in equity resulting from the purchase of treasury shares. [Refer: Treasury shares]

+ References

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_PurchaseOfTreasuryShares
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The combined value of repurchase of shares and/or issue of special dividend, that the company intends to make.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sap_CombinedValueOfIntendedRepurchaseOfSharesAndOrIssueOfSpecialDividend
Namespace Prefix:	sap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

N/A

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sap_DistributionPolicyAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	sap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Minimum targeted distribution of profit net of tax to shareholders.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sap_MinimumTargetDistributionOfNetProfitToShareholders
Namespace Prefix:	sap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration