The maximum rate of contribution to the Savings Plan as a percentage of employees earnings.

No definition available.

Name:	aapl_DefinedContributionPlanContributionRatesAsPercentageOfEmployeesEarnings
Namespace Prefix:	aapl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The maximum amount of an employee's compensation that can be contributed for stock purchases under the employee stock purchase plan in any calendar year.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aapl_EmployeeStockPurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount
Namespace Prefix:	aapl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Offering Term

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aapl_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOfferingTerm
Namespace Prefix:	aapl_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The period of time (in years) that options granted under the 2003 plan generally become exercisable.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aapl_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardPeriodOfTimeOptionsBecomeExercisable
Namespace Prefix:	aapl_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other Than Options, Number of Shares of Common Shares Awarded Upon Settlement

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aapl_SharebasedCompensationArrangementbySharebasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNumberofSharesofCommonSharesAwardedUponSettlement
Namespace Prefix:	aapl_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Increase in Number of Shares Available for Grant Per Share Cancelled or Withheld

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aapl_SharebasedCompensationArrangementbySharebasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherthanOptionsIncreaseinNumberofSharesAvailableforGrantPerShareCancelledorWithheld
Namespace Prefix:	aapl_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Reduction in Number of Shares Available for Grant Per Share Granted

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aapl_SharebasedCompensationArrangementbySharebasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherthanOptionsReductioninNumberofSharesAvailableforGrantPerShareGranted
Namespace Prefix:	aapl_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of employees' gross pay for which the employer contributes a matching contribution to a defined contribution plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerMatchingContributionPercent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum amount the employee may contribute to a defined contribution plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Aggregate cash paid by the entity during the period to settle equity instruments granted under equity-based payment arrangements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (k)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

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

- Definition

Unrecognized cost of unvested share-based compensation awards.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (i)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation is expected to be recognized for equity-based compensation plans, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (i)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedPeriodForRecognition1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of the difference between reported income tax expense (benefit) and expected income tax expense (benefit) computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to nondeductible equity-based compensation costs.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 12
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32687-109319

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32698-109319

+ Details

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

- Definition

Period which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingPeriod1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair value of share-based awards for which the grantee gained the right by satisfying service and performance requirements, to receive or retain shares or units, other instruments, or cash.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (d)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

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

- Definition

Date the equity-based award expires, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardExpirationDate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The highest percentage of annual salary that an employee is permitted to utilize with respect to the plan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardMaximumEmployeeSubscriptionRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) originally approved (usually by shareholders and board of directors), net of any subsequent amendments and adjustments, for awards under the equity-based compensation plan. As stock or unit options and equity instruments other than options are awarded to participants, the shares or units remain authorized and become reserved for issuance under outstanding awards (not necessarily vested).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The difference between the maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) authorized for issuance under the plan (including the effects of amendments and adjustments), and the sum of: 1) the number of shares (or other type of equity) already issued upon exercise of options or other equity-based awards under the plan; and 2) shares (or other type of equity) reserved for issuance on granting of outstanding awards, net of cancellations and forfeitures, if applicable.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Period from grant date that an equity-based award expires, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardExpirationPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Purchase price of common stock expressed as a percentage of its fair value.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardPurchasePriceOfCommonStockPercent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

For net-share settlement of share-based awards when the employer settles employees' income tax withholding obligations, this element represents the number of shares the employees use to repay the employer.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SharesPaidForTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=aapl_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PlanNameAxis=aapl_EmployeeStockPlan2014PlanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PlanNameAxis=aapl_EmployeeStockPlanTwentyZeroThreePlanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PlanNameAxis=aapl_DirectorsPlanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 24, 2016	Sep. 26, 2015	Sep. 27, 2014	Mar. 29, 2014
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Maximum portion of pre-tax earnings under Savings Plan that can be deferred by participating U.S. employees	$ 18,000
Fair value of vested RSUs as of vesting date	$ 5,100,000,000	$ 4,800,000,000	$ 3,400,000,000
The total shares withheld upon vesting of RSUs (in shares)	15,900,000	14,100,000	15,600,000
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards	$ 1,700,000,000	$ 1,600,000,000	$ 1,200,000,000
Income tax benefit related to share-based compensation expense	1,400,000,000	$ 1,200,000,000	$ 1,000,000,000
Total unrecognized compensation cost on stock options and RSUs	$ 7,500,000,000
Total unrecognized compensation cost on stock options and RSUs, weighted-average recognition period (in years)	2 years 7 months 12 days
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares reserved for future issuance under Employee Benefit Plans (in shares)	47,000,000
Employee common stock purchases through payroll deductions, price as a percentage of fair market value	85.00%
Employee stock purchase plan offering period	6 months
Payroll deductions as a percentage of employee compensation, maximum	10.00%
Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Rate of contribution to Savings Plan as a percentage of employees contribution	50.00%
Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Rate of contribution to Savings Plan as a percentage of employees contribution	100.00%
Rate of contribution to Savings Plan as a percentage of employees earning	6.00%
Maximum \| Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Employee stock purchase program authorized amount	$ 25,000
Employee Stock Plan, 2014 Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares authorized for future issuance under stock plans (in shares)				385,000,000
Shares reserved for future issuance under Employee Benefit Plans (in shares)	386,400,000
Employee Stock Plan, 2014 Plan \| Restricted Stock Units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
RSUs granted vesting period	4 years
Number of common stock issued per RSU upon vesting	1
Reduction in number of shares available for grant per share issued with respect to RSUs granted	2
Increase in number of shares available for grant per RSU cancelled or withheld for tax withholding	2
Employee Stock Plan, 2003 Plan \| Restricted Stock Units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of common stock issued per RSU upon vesting	1
Employee Stock Plan, 2003 Plan \| Employee Stock Option
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Options granted exercisable period	4 years
Employee Stock Plan, 2003 Plan \| Minimum \| Restricted Stock Units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
RSUs granted vesting period	2 years
Employee Stock Plan, 2003 Plan \| Minimum \| Employee Stock Option
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expiration term of options granted under Employee Benefit Plans	7 years
Employee Stock Plan, 2003 Plan \| Maximum \| Restricted Stock Units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
RSUs granted vesting period	4 years
Employee Stock Plan, 2003 Plan \| Maximum \| Employee Stock Option
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expiration term of options granted under Employee Benefit Plans	10 years
Directors Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares reserved for future issuance under Employee Benefit Plans (in shares)	1,100,000
Share based compensation, expiration date	Nov. 09, 2019
Directors Plan \| Restricted Stock Units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Increase in number of shares available for grant per RSU cancelled or withheld for tax withholding	2