Concentration of Credit Risk (Details)	Sep. 30, 2012 customers	Dec. 31, 2011 customers
Concentration of Credit Risk [Abstract]
Number of customers related to greater than 10% of accounts receivable	1	1

Number Of Customers Accounting For More Than Ten Percent Of Accounts Receivable

No definition available.

Name:	akam_NumberOfCustomersAccountingForMoreThanTenPercentOfAccountsReceivable
Namespace Prefix:	akam_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant