Segment Information (Information On Reportable Segments And Reconciliation To Consolidated Net Income) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013 subscription		Sep. 30, 2012 subscription		Sep. 30, 2013 segment subscription		Sep. 30, 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]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Revenues	$ 1,105,999,000		$ 905,089,000		$ 3,199,332,000		$ 2,664,043,000
Cost of revenues	791,019,000		662,638,000		2,271,407,000		1,929,999,000
Marketing	116,109,000		108,448,000		367,044,000		352,340,000
Contribution profit (loss)	198,871,000		134,003,000		560,881,000		381,704,000
Other operating expenses	141,751,000		117,868,000		414,822,000		351,350,000
Operating income	57,120,000		16,135,000		146,059,000		30,354,000
Other income (expense)	(7,629,000)		(4,189,000)		(48,989,000)		(14,778,000)
Provision for income taxes	17,669,000		4,271,000		33,088,000		6,321,000
Net income	31,822,000		7,675,000		63,982,000		9,255,000
As of September 30, 2013	3,385,901,000				3,385,901,000				2,874,170,000
Amortization of content library	570,940,000		424,079,000		1,602,876,000		1,176,162,000
Domestic Streaming [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total members at end of period	31,092,000	[1]	25,101,000	[1]	31,092,000	[1]	25,101,000	[1]
Revenues	701,083,000		556,027,000		2,010,821,000		1,595,397,000
Cost of revenues	470,631,000		399,124,000		1,356,610,000		1,138,474,000
Marketing	63,971,000		61,197,000		205,066,000		201,334,000
Contribution profit (loss)	166,481,000		95,706,000		449,145,000		255,589,000
As of September 30, 2013	2,643,433,000				2,643,433,000				2,317,070,000
Amortization of content library	363,787,000		296,234,000		1,043,976,000		826,254,000
International Streaming [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total members at end of period	9,188,000	[1]	4,311,000	[1]	9,188,000	[1]	4,311,000	[1]
Revenues	183,051,000		77,744,000		490,972,000		186,142,000
Cost of revenues	207,989,000		124,379,000		555,898,000		324,332,000
Marketing	49,359,000		45,742,000		152,124,000		146,297,000
Contribution profit (loss)	(74,297,000)		(92,377,000)		(217,050,000)		(284,487,000)
As of September 30, 2013	715,962,000				715,962,000				527,235,000
Amortization of content library	189,607,000		114,713,000		505,408,000		300,426,000
Domestic DVD [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total members at end of period	7,148,000	[1]	8,606,000	[1]	7,148,000	[1]	8,606,000	[1]
Revenues	221,865,000		271,318,000		697,539,000		882,504,000
Cost of revenues	112,399,000		139,135,000		358,899,000		467,193,000
Marketing	2,779,000		1,509,000		9,854,000		4,709,000
Contribution profit (loss)	106,687,000		130,674,000		328,786,000		410,602,000
As of September 30, 2013	26,506,000				26,506,000				29,865,000
Amortization of content library	17,546,000		13,132,000		53,492,000		49,482,000
International [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Long-Lived Assets	4,700,000				4,700,000				4,000,000
Domestic [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Long-Lived Assets	$ 122,600,000				$ 122,600,000				$ 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.