Segment Information (Information On Reportable Segments And Reconciliation To Consolidated Net Income) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 segments subscription		Mar. 31, 2012 subscription		Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of Operating Segments	3
Total members at end of period	0	[1]	0	[1]
Revenues	$ 1,023,961,000		$ 869,791,000
Cost of revenues	726,863,000		623,933,000
Marketing	129,175,000		129,928,000
Contribution profit (loss)	167,923,000		115,930,000
Other operating expenses	136,101,000		117,865,000
Operating income (loss)	31,822,000		(1,935,000)
Other income (expense)	(30,892,000)		(5,090,000)
Benefit for income taxes	(1,759,000)		(2,441,000)
Net income (loss)	2,689,000		(4,584,000)
Total content library, net	2,968,179,000				2,874,170,000
Amortization of content library	503,977,000		359,782,000
Domestic Streaming [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total members at end of period	29,174,000	[1]	23,410,000	[1]
Revenues	638,649,000		506,665,000
Cost of revenues	436,506,000		360,776,000
Marketing	70,793,000		73,405,000
Contribution profit (loss)	131,350,000		72,484,000
Total content library, net	2,332,402,000				2,317,070,000
Amortization of content library	335,748,000		254,525,000
International Streaming [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total members at end of period	7,142,000	[1]	3,065,000	[1]
Revenues	142,019,000		43,425,000
Cost of revenues	165,024,000		91,411,000
Marketing	53,915,000		54,697,000
Contribution profit (loss)	(76,920,000)		(102,683,000)
Total content library, net	606,362,000				527,235,000
Amortization of content library	149,992,000		85,211,000
Domestic DVD [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total members at end of period	7,983,000	[1]	10,089,000	[1]
Revenues	243,293,000		319,701,000
Cost of revenues	125,333,000		171,746,000
Marketing	4,467,000		1,826,000
Contribution profit (loss)	113,493,000		146,129,000
Total content library, net	29,415,000				29,865,000
Amortization of content library	18,237,000		20,046,000
International [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Long-Lived Assets	4,100,000				4,000,000
Domestic [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Long-Lived Assets	$ 125,200,000				$ 127,700,000

[1] A membership (also referred to as a subscription) is defined as the right to receive either the Netflix streaming service or Netflix DVD service. In connection with these services, the Company offers free-trial memberships to new and certain rejoining members. For inclusion in the definition of a member in the above metrics, a method of payment is required to be provided even during the free-trial period. Total members therefore include those who are on a free-trial and have provided a method of payment. A membership would be canceled and cease to be reflected in the above metrics as of the effective cancellation date. Voluntary cancellations become effective at the end of the monthly membership period, while involuntary cancellation of the service, as a result of a failed method of payment, becomes effective immediately.