Income Taxes (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2013		Dec. 29, 2012		Sep. 29, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Oct. 01, 2011		Jul. 02, 2011		Mar. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Apr. 02, 2011
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income before provision for taxes	$ 138,325	[1]	$ 115,693	[1]	$ 138,083	[1]	$ 154,905	[1]	$ 140,388	[2],[3]	$ 129,938	[2],[3]	$ 146,241	[2],[3]	$ 180,484	[2],[3]	$ 547,006	$ 597,051	$ 771,080
Federal statutory tax rate																	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Computed expected tax																	191,452	208,968	269,878
State taxes, net of federal benefit																	1,787	2,162	10,317
Foreign earnings at lower tax rates																	(107,730)	(117,013)	(131,261)
Tax credits																	(26,305)	(29,633)	(17,431)
Other																	266	2,488	(2,298)
Total																	$ 59,470	$ 66,972	$ 129,205

[1] Xilinx uses a 52- to 53-week fiscal year ending on the Saturday nearest March 31. Fiscal 2013 was a 52-week year and each quarter was a 13-week quarter.

[2] Xilinx uses a 52- to 53-week fiscal year ending on the Saturday nearest March 31. Fiscal 2012 was a 52-week year and each quarter was a 13-week quarter.

[3] Income before income taxes for the second quarter and fourth quarter of fiscal 2012 include restructuring and litigation charges of $3,369 and $15,400, respectively.