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Research in Motion Limited and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Mar. 02, 2013
Y
D
Mar. 03, 2012
Feb. 26, 2011
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Fiscal year period range 52 weeks 53 weeks 52 weeks
Allowance for doubtful accounts $ 17,000,000 $ 16,000,000  
Percentage of total revenue by customer 10.00% 10.00%  
Percentage of total revenue by customer two     11.00%
Percentage of accounts receivable by one customer 8.20% 13.00%  
Cost method investments 4,000,000 37,000,000  
Equity method investments 46,000,000 48,000,000  
Maturity period of short-term investments One year or less    
Maturity period of long-term investments 1    
Derivative loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income        
Liability for uncertain income tax positions, percentage minimum 50.00%    
RSUs vesting period 3 years    
Independent director's annual retainer, minimum percentage 60.00%    
Independent directors annual retainer remaining percentage 40.00%    
Number of trading days 5    
Vesting scenario one [Member]
     
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Percentage of options vesting in year 1 25.00%    
Percentage of options vesting in year 2 25.00%    
Percentage of options vesting in year 3 50.00%    
Vesting scenario two [Member]
     
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Percentage of options vesting in year 2 50.00%    
Percentage of options vesting in year 3 50.00%    
Furniture and fixtures [Member]
     
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Percentage of amount declining in furniture and fixtures 20.00%    
BlackBerry PlayBookTablet [Member]
     
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Unspecified software upgrade 6    
Minimum [Member]
     
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Period of amortization of intangible assets range 2    
Minimum [Member] | Buildings, leasehold improvements and other [Member]
     
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Useful life of property, plant and equipment, net 5 years    
Minimum [Member] | BlackBerry operations and other information technology [Member]
     
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Useful life of property, plant and equipment, net 3 years    
Minimum [Member] | Manufacturing equipment, research and development equipment and tooling [Member]
     
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Useful life of property, plant and equipment, net 2 years    
Minimum [Member] | BlackBerry 10 [Member]
     
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
BESP for unspecified software upgrade and non-software services 10    
Maximum [Member]
     
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Period of amortization of intangible assets range 10    
Maximum [Member] | Buildings, leasehold improvements and other [Member]
     
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Useful life of property, plant and equipment, net 40 years    
Maximum [Member] | BlackBerry operations and other information technology [Member]
     
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Useful life of property, plant and equipment, net 5 years    
Maximum [Member] | Manufacturing equipment, research and development equipment and tooling [Member]
     
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Useful life of property, plant and equipment, net 8 years    
Maximum [Member] | BlackBerry 10 [Member]
     
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
BESP for unspecified software upgrade and non-software services $ 20