Net Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013
Net Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Net earnings attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.	$ 249	$ 223
Basic weighted average shares outstanding	284.4	285.3
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding	289.3	287.4
Basic net earnings per share attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.	$ 0.88	$ 0.78
Diluted net earnings per share attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.	$ 0.86	$ 0.78
Common stock subject to stock options and restricted stock units excluded from the diluted net earnings per share computation	2.7	10.9
Employee Stock Options [Member]
Net Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Effect of dilutive securities:	4.5	1.9
Restricted Stock Units [Member]
Net Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Effect of dilutive securities:	0.4	0.2