Name:	mdt_DefinedBenefitPlanEffectOfOnePercentagePointDecreaseOnAccumulatedPostretirementBenefitObligation1
Namespace Prefix:	mdt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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2012 Element. Amount of effect of a one-percentage-point decrease in the assumed health care cost trend rates on the aggregate of the service and interest cost components of net periodic postretirement health care benefit costs.

No definition available.

Name:	mdt_DefinedBenefitPlanEffectOfOnePercentagePointDecreaseOnServiceAndInterestCostComponents1
Namespace Prefix:	mdt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of benefits expected to be paid in years following the latest fiscal year from a defined benefit plan.

No definition available.

Name:	mdt_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPayments
Namespace Prefix:	mdt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

2012 Element. Amount of benefits expected to be paid in the five fiscal years after the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year from a defined benefit plan.

No definition available.

Name:	mdt_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsFiveFiscalYearsThereafter
Namespace Prefix:	mdt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

2012 Element. Amount of benefits expected to be paid in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year from a defined benefit plan.

No definition available.

Name:	mdt_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsNextTwelveMonths
Namespace Prefix:	mdt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

2012 Element. Amount of benefits expected to be paid in the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year from a defined benefit plan.

No definition available.

Name:	mdt_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFive
Namespace Prefix:	mdt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

2012 Element. Amount of benefits expected to be paid in the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year from a defined benefit plan.

No definition available.

Name:	mdt_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFour
Namespace Prefix:	mdt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

2012 Element. Amount of benefits expected to be paid in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year from a defined benefit plan.

No definition available.

Name:	mdt_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearThree
Namespace Prefix:	mdt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

2012 Element. Amount of benefits expected to be paid in the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year from a defined benefit plan.

No definition available.

Name:	mdt_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearTwo
Namespace Prefix:	mdt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	mdt_PostretirementBenefitPlansEstimatedMedicarePartDSubsidiesReceiptsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	mdt_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount of subsidies to be received from the Medicare Part D program in years following the latest fiscal year.

No definition available.

Name:	mdt_PostretirementBenefitPlansExpectedFutureMedicarePartDSubsidiesReceipts
Namespace Prefix:	mdt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of subsidies to be received from the Medicare Part D program in the five fiscal years after the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

No definition available.

Name:	mdt_PostretirementBenefitPlansExpectedFutureMedicarePartDSubsidiesReceiptsFiveFiscalYearsThereafter
Namespace Prefix:	mdt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of subsidies to be received from the Medicare Part D program in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

No definition available.

Name:	mdt_PostretirementBenefitPlansExpectedFutureMedicarePartDSubsidiesReceiptsNextTwelveMonths
Namespace Prefix:	mdt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of subsidies to be received from the Medicare Part D program in the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

No definition available.

Name:	mdt_PostretirementBenefitPlansExpectedFutureMedicarePartDSubsidiesReceiptsYearFive
Namespace Prefix:	mdt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of subsidies to be received from the Medicare Part D program in the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

No definition available.

Name:	mdt_PostretirementBenefitPlansExpectedFutureMedicarePartDSubsidiesReceiptsYearFour
Namespace Prefix:	mdt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of subsidies to be received from the Medicare Part D program in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

No definition available.

Name:	mdt_PostretirementBenefitPlansExpectedFutureMedicarePartDSubsidiesReceiptsYearThree
Namespace Prefix:	mdt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of subsidies to be received from the Medicare Part D program in the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

No definition available.

Name:	mdt_PostretirementBenefitPlansExpectedFutureMedicarePartDSubsidiesReceiptsYearTwo
Namespace Prefix:	mdt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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

The effect of a one-percentage-point increase in the assumed health care cost trend rates on the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation for health care benefits.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 132R

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph m

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (m)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6962843&loc=d3e1928-114920

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

The effect of a one-percentage-point increase in the assumed health care cost trend rates on the aggregate of the service and interest cost components of net periodic postretirement health care benefit costs.