Basis of Presentation	6 Months Ended
Jul. 31, 2016
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of Autodesk, Inc. (“Autodesk,” “we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company”) as of July 31, 2016, and for the three and six months ended July 31, 2016 and 2015, have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") for interim financial information along with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for annual financial statements. In management’s opinion, Autodesk made all adjustments (consisting of normal, recurring and non-recurring adjustments) during the quarter that were considered necessary for the fair statement of the financial position and operating results of the Company. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In addition, the results of operations for the three and six months ended July 31, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the entire fiscal year ending January 31, 2017, or for any other period. There have been no material changes to Autodesk's significant accounting policies as compared to the significant accounting policies disclosed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2016. These unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes, together with management’s discussion and analysis of financial position and results of operations contained in Autodesk’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2016, filed on March 23, 2016. Prior Period Adjustments In the course of preparing the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2015, Autodesk determined that it had understated income tax expense by $33.1 million for the three and six months ended July 31, 2015, primarily related to an error in the establishment of the valuation allowance, which had been understated at July 31, 2015. Autodesk performed the analysis required by Staff Accounting Bulletin 99, Materiality, to evaluate the materiality of the error, quantitatively and qualitatively, and concluded it was not material to the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as of July 31, 2015 and for the three and six month periods ended July 31, 2015; however, in light of the significance of a correction of the error to the results for the three months ended October 31, 2015, Autodesk chose to correct the error by revising the previously reported results for the three and six months ended July 31, 2015. See Note 6, "Income Tax," in the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion. During the quarter ended April 30, 2015, Autodesk determined that it had not correctly accounted for certain liabilities primarily related to employee benefits and unclaimed property. Accordingly, during the six months ended July 31, 2015, we recorded $5.7 million of additional operating expenses related to prior periods. As these adjustments were related to the correction of errors, Autodesk performed the analysis required by Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 99, Materiality, and Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements When Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements. Based on this analysis, Autodesk concluded that the effect of the errors was not material to the financial position, results of operations or cash flows in fiscal 2016 or any other prior fiscal year from both a quantitative and qualitative perspective.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of Autodesk, Inc. (“Autodesk,” “we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company”) as of July 31, 2016, and for the three and six months ended July 31, 2016 and 2015, have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") for interim financial information along with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for annual financial statements. In management’s opinion, Autodesk made all adjustments (consisting of normal, recurring and non-recurring adjustments) during the quarter that were considered necessary for the fair statement of the financial position and operating results of the Company. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In addition, the results of operations for the three and six months ended July 31, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the entire fiscal year ending January 31, 2017, or for any other period. There have been no material changes to Autodesk's significant accounting policies as compared to the significant accounting policies disclosed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2016. These unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes, together with management’s discussion and analysis of financial position and results of operations contained in Autodesk’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2016, filed on March 23, 2016.

Prior Period Adjustments

In the course of preparing the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2015, Autodesk determined that it had understated income tax expense by $33.1 million for the three and six months ended July 31, 2015, primarily related to an error in the establishment of the valuation allowance, which had been understated at July 31, 2015.

Autodesk performed the analysis required by Staff Accounting Bulletin 99, Materiality, to evaluate the materiality of the error, quantitatively and qualitatively, and concluded it was not material to the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as of July 31, 2015 and for the three and six month periods ended July 31, 2015; however, in light of the significance of a correction of the error to the results for the three months ended October 31, 2015, Autodesk chose to correct the error by revising the previously reported results for the three and six months ended July 31, 2015. See Note 6, "Income Tax," in the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.

During the quarter ended April 30, 2015, Autodesk determined that it had not correctly accounted for certain liabilities primarily related to employee benefits and unclaimed property. Accordingly, during the six months ended July 31, 2015, we recorded $5.7 million of additional operating expenses related to prior periods.

As these adjustments were related to the correction of errors, Autodesk performed the analysis required by Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 99, Materiality, and Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements When Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements. Based on this analysis, Autodesk concluded that the effect of the errors was not material to the financial position, results of operations or cash flows in fiscal 2016 or any other prior fiscal year from both a quantitative and qualitative perspective.