Stockholders' Equity (Details) (USD $) Share data in Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Jan. 25, 2015	Jan. 25, 2015	Jan. 26, 2014	Jan. 27, 2013
Notes to financial statements [Abstract]
Stock repurchase program, additional authorized amount			$ 1,000,000,000
Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized Amount	3,700,000,000	3,700,000,000
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares		44.4
Stock Repurchased During Period, Value		813,600,000
Dividends paid		186,452,000us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends	181,336,000us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends	46,866,000us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends
Dividends	0.085us-gaap_Dividends	0.34us-gaap_Dividends
Return to shareholders in the current year		1,000,000,000
Aggregate number of shares repurchased under stock repurchase program		205.6
Aggregated cost of shares repurchased	3,265,200,000nvda_Aggregatedcostofsharesrepurchased	3,265,200,000nvda_Aggregatedcostofsharesrepurchased
Stock Repurchase Program, Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount	434,800,000	434,800,000
Intended return to shareholder in FY2016		600,000,000
Tax withholding related to vesting of restricted stock units, value		$ (43,684,000)	$ (27,282,000)	$ (25,805,000)

Aggregated cost of shares repurchased

No definition available.

Name:	nvda_Aggregatedcostofsharesrepurchased
Namespace Prefix:	nvda_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Aggregate number of common stock repurchased under stock repurchase program.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nvda_AggregateNumberOfSharesRepurchasedUnderStockRepurchaseProgram
Namespace Prefix:	nvda_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Intended return to shareholder in future year

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nvda_Intendedreturntoshareholderinfutureyear
Namespace Prefix:	nvda_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	nvda_NotesToFinancialStatementsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	nvda_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Return to shareholders in the current year

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nvda_Returntoshareholdersinthecurrentyear
Namespace Prefix:	nvda_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Stock repurchase program, additional authorized amount by the Board

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nvda_Stockrepurchaseprogramadditionalauthorizedamount
Namespace Prefix:	nvda_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of adjustment to stockholders' equity associated with an employee's income tax withholding obligation as part of a net-share settlement of a share-based award.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AdjustmentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of paid and unpaid cash, stock, and paid-in-kind (PIK) dividends declared, for example, but not limited to, common and preferred stock.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 405

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6957935&loc=d3e64057-112817

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Dividends
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Cash outflow in the form of capital distributions and dividends to common shareholders, preferred shareholders and noncontrolling interests.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Financing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 15

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3291-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of shares that have been repurchased during the period and have not been retired and are not held in treasury. Some state laws may govern the circumstances under which an entity may acquire its own stock and prescribe the accounting treatment therefore. This element is used when state law does not recognize treasury stock.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 29, 30

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Equity impact of the value of stock that has been repurchased during the period and has not been retired and is not held in treasury. Some state laws may mandate the circumstances under which an entity may acquire its own stock and prescribe the accounting treatment therefore. This element is used when state law does not recognize treasury stock.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 29, 30, 31

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of stock repurchase plan authorized.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount remaining of a stock repurchase plan authorized.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant