Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 02, 2016	Sep. 23, 2016
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	ADOBE SYSTEMS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000796343
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 02, 2016
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-02
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		497,227,020