Fixed Assets, at Cost (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Gross fixed assets	$ 5,786	[1]	$ 3,256	[1]
Total accumulated depreciation	1,369	[1]	842	[1]
Total fixed assets, net	4,417	[1]	2,414	[1]
Fulfillment and Customer Service
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Gross fixed assets	1,633	[1]	775	[1]
Total accumulated depreciation	364	[1]	211	[1]
Technology infrastructure
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Gross fixed assets	2,573	[1]	1,192	[1]
Total accumulated depreciation	610	[1]	316	[1]
Internal use Software, Content and Website Development
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Gross fixed assets	643	[1]	487	[1]
Total accumulated depreciation	294	[1]	255	[1]
Other Corporate Assets
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Gross fixed assets	831	[1]	418	[1]
Total accumulated depreciation	101	[1]	60	[1]
Construction in Progress
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Gross fixed assets	$ 106	[1]	$ 384	[1]

[1] Excludes the original cost and accumulated depreciation of fully-depreciated assets.