Goodwill (Policies)	6 Months Ended
Jul. 31, 2011
Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Goodwill, Policy	Autodesk assigns goodwill to the reportable segment associated with each business combination, and tests goodwill for impairment annually in its fourth fiscal quarter or more often if circumstances indicate a potential impairment. When assessing goodwill for impairment, Autodesk uses discounted cash flow models that include assumptions regarding reportable segments’ projected cash flows (“Income Approach”) and corroborates it with the estimated consideration that the Company would receive if there were to be a sale of the reporting segment (“Market Approach”). Variances in these assumptions could have a significant impact on Autodesk’s conclusion as to whether goodwill is impaired or the amount of any impairment charge. Impairment charges, if any, result from instances where the fair values of net assets associated with goodwill are less than their carrying values.

Goodwill (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jul. 31, 2011

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Goodwill, Policy

Autodesk assigns goodwill to the reportable segment associated with each business combination, and tests goodwill for impairment annually in its fourth fiscal quarter or more often if circumstances indicate a potential impairment. When assessing goodwill for impairment, Autodesk uses discounted cash flow models that include assumptions regarding reportable segments’ projected cash flows (“Income Approach”) and corroborates it with the estimated consideration that the Company would receive if there were to be a sale of the reporting segment (“Market Approach”). Variances in these assumptions could have a significant impact on Autodesk’s conclusion as to whether goodwill is impaired or the amount of any impairment charge. Impairment charges, if any, result from instances where the fair values of net assets associated with goodwill are less than their carrying values.