Amount of transition service fee income recognized pursuant to the transition services agreement.

No definition available.

Name:	cah_AmountOfTransitionServiceFeeIncome
Namespace Prefix:	cah_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

The number of CareFusion common shares retained by Cardinal Health in connection with the spin-off.

No definition available.

Name:	cah_CareFusionSharesRetainedByCardinalHealth
Namespace Prefix:	cah_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Indemnification receivable from CareFusion related to certain pre-Spin tax exposures and transaction taxes

No definition available.

Name:	cah_IndemnificationReceivable
Namespace Prefix:	cah_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Number of shares disposed in sale of investment in available for sale securities.

No definition available.

Name:	cah_NumberOfSharesOfStockDisposed
Namespace Prefix:	cah_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The percent of CareFusion common shares distributed in connection with the spin-off.

No definition available.

Name:	cah_PercentageDistributionOfCarefusionStockToCardinalHealthShareholders
Namespace Prefix:	cah_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Name:	cah_SignificantAccountingPoliciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	cah_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified		3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2009	Mar. 31, 2012 CareFusion [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 CareFusion [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 CareFusion [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 CareFusion [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 CareFusion [Member]	Jun. 30, 2010 CareFusion [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 CareFusion [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage distribution of CareFusion stock to Cardinal Health shareholders	81.00%
CareFusion shares retained by Cardinal Health	41.4
Number of shares of stock disposed				30.5			10.9
Amount of transition service fee income		$ 0.5	$ 15.0		$ 1.9	$ 49.9
Indemnification receivable		$ 258.3			$ 258.3			$ 263.9