Fair Value Measurements - Unobservable Input Reconciliation of Contingent Consideration Liability (Details) - Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 - Contingent Consideration Liabilities - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Jul. 02, 2016	Apr. 02, 2016	Jan. 02, 2016
Contingent Consideration Liability [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 36	$ 151	$ 50
Initial fair value measurement of contingent consideration			155
Liabilities assumed from Thoratec acquisition			33
Change in fair value of contingent consideration	(5)	9	(87)
Transfer out of Level 3 fair value measurement due to contractual settlement		(124)
Ending balance	31	36	151
Nanostim
Contingent Consideration Liability [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	2	2	50
Initial fair value measurement of contingent consideration			0
Liabilities assumed from Thoratec acquisition			0
Change in fair value of contingent consideration	0	0	(48)
Transfer out of Level 3 fair value measurement due to contractual settlement		0
Ending balance	2	2	2
Spinal Modulation
Contingent Consideration Liability [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	6	122	0
Initial fair value measurement of contingent consideration			155
Liabilities assumed from Thoratec acquisition			0
Change in fair value of contingent consideration	(4)	8	(33)
Transfer out of Level 3 fair value measurement due to contractual settlement		(124)
Ending balance	2	6	122
Thoratec
Contingent Consideration Liability [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	28	27	0
Initial fair value measurement of contingent consideration			0
Liabilities assumed from Thoratec acquisition			33
Change in fair value of contingent consideration	(1)	1	(6)
Transfer out of Level 3 fair value measurement due to contractual settlement		0
Ending balance	$ 27	$ 28	$ 27

Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Initial Fair Value Measurement

No definition available.

Name:	stj_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsInitialFairValueMeasurement
Namespace Prefix:	stj_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) in the value of a contingent consideration liability, including, but not limited to, differences arising upon settlement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744584&loc=d3e7008-128479

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsChangeInAmountOfContingentConsiderationLiability1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationCalculationRollForward
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of transfers of financial instrument classified as a liability out of level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66048111&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationLiabilityTransfersOutOfLevel3
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair value of financial instrument classified as a liability measured using unobservable inputs that reflect the entity's own assumption about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66048111&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationsRecurringBasisLiabilityValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The fair value of liabilities assumed in noncash investing or financing activities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4332-108586

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4313-108586

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4304-108586

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LiabilitiesAssumed1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByLiabilityClassAxis=stj_ContingentConsiderationLiabilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=stj_NanostimMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=stj_SpinalModulationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=stj_ThoratecCorporationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: