Acquisitions, Goodwill, and Acquired Intangible Assets Summary of Goodwill Activity by Segment (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015		Jan. 01, 2015
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill - Beginning Balance		$ 3,759	$ 3,319
New acquisitions		(60)	(482)
Other adjustments		35	42	[1]
Segment Reallocation					$ 0
Goodwill - Ending Balance		3,784	3,759
Amazon Web Services
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill - Beginning Balance		1,028	0
New acquisitions		(17)	(423)
Other adjustments	[1]	1	(1)
Segment Reallocation					606
Goodwill - Ending Balance		1,046	1,028
North America Segment
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill - Beginning Balance		2,012	2,584
New acquisitions		(30)	(41)
Other adjustments	[1]	2	(7)
Segment Reallocation	[2]				(606)
Goodwill - Ending Balance		2,044	2,012
International Segment
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill - Beginning Balance		719	735
New acquisitions		(13)	(18)
Other adjustments	[1]	(38)	(34)
Segment Reallocation					$ 0
Goodwill - Ending Balance		$ 694	$ 719

[1] Primarily includes changes in foreign exchange rates.

[2] In conjunction with the change in reportable segments in the first quarter of 2015 to include the AWS segment, we reallocated goodwill on a relative fair value basis.