Document and Entity Information Document	9 Months Ended
	Jan. 29, 2012	Mar. 06, 2012
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	SMITHFIELD FOODS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000091388
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--04-29
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Jan. 29, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		161,067,229