Business Combinations (Details Textual) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			9 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Feb. 17, 2012 Acquisition	Sep. 30, 2012 Maximum [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Minimum [Member]	Apr. 30, 2012 Broad Light [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Net Logic and Broad Light [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Net Logic and Broad Light [Member]	Feb. 19, 2012 Net Logic [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Net Logic [Member]	Feb. 17, 2012 Net Logic [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Netlogic Accelerated Vesting On Termination [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Reason for business acquisition								to extend Broadcom’s broadband access product line, enabling Broadcom to offer a complete, end-to-end PON solution for customers — from the optical line terminal at the central office to the optical network unit at the home			enhance our ability to deliver a complete, end-to-end network infrastructure solution for customers and to reduce both time-to-market and development costs
Equity awards with fair value	$ 352		$ 352					$ 3					$ 349
Equity consideration recorded as goodwill													137
Recognition of stock-based compensation expense over the number of years						3 years	2 years
Stock-based compensation expense									25	77				17
Amortization of purchased intangible assets	32	7	82	23					63	156
Contingent consideration	53		53		53								53
Netlogic Prior Acquisition (number of acquisitions)					1
Additional cash consideration paid to former shareholder								10				57
Unearned stock based compensation												212
Severance and other benefit costs			3
Transaction cost	6		6
Acquisition costs expensed in current year			1
Amortization of acquired inventory step-up	5		68
Tax deductible amount of goodwill	$ 23		$ 23