Document And Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2013	May 03, 2013
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 30, 2013
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Entity Registrant Name	ST JUDE MEDICAL INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000203077
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-28
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		283,362,731