Document And Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Apr. 30, 2021
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2021
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	0-15386
Entity Registrant Name	CERNER CORPORATION
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Address, Address Line One	2800 Rock Creek Parkway
Entity Address, City or Town	North Kansas City,
Entity Address, State or Province	MO
Entity Tax Identification Number	43-1196944
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	64117
City Area Code	816
Local Phone Number	221-1024
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share
Trading Symbol	CERN
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		301,317,068
Entity Central Index Key	0000804753
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2021
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31