Recently Issued Accounting Standards	3 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2012
Recently Issued Accounting Standards [Abstract]
DescriptionOfNewAccountingPronouncementsRecentlyAdoptedAndNotYetAdoptedTextBlock	Recently Issued Accounting Standards With the exception of those discussed below, there have been no recent changes in accounting pronouncements issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) or adopted by the Company during the three months ended April 30, 2012, that are of significance, or potential significance, to the Company. Accounting Standards Adopted in the Three Months Ended April 30,2012 In September 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2011-08 regarding Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 350 “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other.” This ASU allows for the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If, after assessing the totality of events or circumstances, it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is greater than its carrying value, then performing the two-step impairment test is unnecessary. Autodesk adopted ASU 2011-08 effective February 1, 2012. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on Autodesk's consolidated statements of financial position, results of operations or cash flows. In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05 regarding ASC Topic 220 “Comprehensive Income.” This ASU eliminates the option to present components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity and requires the presentation of the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-12, an amendment to an existing accounting standard which defers the requirement to present components of reclassifications of other comprehensive income on the face of the income statement. Autodesk adopted ASU 2011-05 and ASU 2011-12 effective February 1, 2012. This accounting pronouncement impacted the presentation of other comprehensive income but did not impact Autodesk's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flow. In May 2011, FASB issued ASU 2011-04 regarding ASC Topic 820 “Fair Value Measurement.” This ASU amends the fair value measurement guidance and includes enhanced disclosure requirements primarily around Level 3 fair value measurements based on unobservable inputs. Autodesk adopted ASU 2011-4 effective February 1, 2012. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on Autodesk's consolidated statements of financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

With the exception of those discussed below, there have been no recent changes in accounting pronouncements issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) or adopted by the Company during the three months ended April 30, 2012, that are of significance, or potential significance, to the Company.

Accounting Standards Adopted in the Three Months Ended April 30,2012

In September 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2011-08 regarding Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 350 “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other.” This ASU allows for the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If, after assessing the totality of events or circumstances, it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is greater than its carrying value, then performing the two-step impairment test is unnecessary. Autodesk adopted ASU 2011-08 effective February 1, 2012. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on Autodesk's consolidated statements of financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05 regarding ASC Topic 220 “Comprehensive Income.” This ASU eliminates the option to present components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity and requires the presentation of the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-12, an amendment to an existing accounting standard which defers the requirement to present components of reclassifications of other comprehensive income on the face of the income statement. Autodesk adopted ASU 2011-05 and ASU 2011-12 effective February 1, 2012. This accounting pronouncement impacted the presentation of other comprehensive income but did not impact Autodesk's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flow.

In May 2011, FASB issued ASU 2011-04 regarding ASC Topic 820 “Fair Value Measurement.” This ASU amends the fair value measurement guidance and includes enhanced disclosure requirements primarily around Level 3 fair value measurements based on unobservable inputs. Autodesk adopted ASU 2011-4 effective February 1, 2012. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on Autodesk's consolidated statements of financial position, results of operations or cash flows.