Legal Proceedings	12 Months Ended
Dec. 29, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Legal Proceedings	Legal Proceedings The Company is involved in various lawsuits and claims arising in the ordinary course of business, including actions with respect to intellectual property, employment, and contractual matters. In connection with these matters, the Company assesses, on a regular basis, the probability and range of possible loss based on the developments in these matters. A liability is recorded in the financial statements if it is believed to be probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Because litigation is inherently unpredictable and unfavorable results could occur, assessing contingencies is highly subjective and requires judgments about future events. The Company regularly reviews outstanding legal matters to determine the adequacy of the liabilities accrued and related disclosures. The amount of ultimate loss may differ from these estimates. Each matter presents its own unique circumstances, and prior litigation does not necessarily provide a reliable basis on which to predict the outcome, or range of outcomes, in any individual proceeding. Because of the uncertainties related to the occurrence, amount, and range of loss on any pending litigation or claim, the Company is currently unable to predict their ultimate outcome, and, with respect to any pending litigation or claim where no liability has been accrued, to make a meaningful estimate of the reasonably possible loss or range of loss that could result from an unfavorable outcome. In the event that opposing litigants in outstanding litigations or claims ultimately succeed at trial and any subsequent appeals on their claims, any potential loss or charges in excess of any established accruals, individually or in the aggregate, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations, and/or cash flows in the period in which the unfavorable outcome occurs or becomes probable, and potentially in future periods. On November 24, 2010, Syntrix Biosystems, Inc. filed suit against the Company in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington at Tacoma (Case No. C10-5870-BHS) alleging that the Company willfully infringed U.S. Patent No. 6,951,682 by selling its BeadChip array products, and that the Company misappropriated Syntrix’s trade secrets. In November and December 2012, the Company filed motions for summary judgment that the patent is not infringed and is invalid, and that Syntrix’s trade secrets claims are barred by various statutes of limitation. Syntrix filed a motion for summary judgment that the patent is valid. On January 30, 2013, the Court granted the Company’s motion for summary judgment on Syntrix’s trade secret claims, and dismissed those claims from the case. The Court denied Syntrix’s motion for summary judgment on validity, and denied the Company’s motion for summary judgment for non-infringement and invalidity. On March 14, 2013, a jury reached a verdict in favor of Syntrix, finding that Illumina’s BeadChip kits infringe the Syntrix patent. During trial, the Court dismissed Syntrix’s claim that the alleged infringement was willful. On July 1, 2013, the Court entered a Final Amended Judgment for $115.1 million, in accordance with the jury verdict, including supplemental damages and prejudgment interest. In addition, the Court awarded Syntrix an ongoing royalty of 8% for accused sales from March 15, 2013 until the patent expires on September 16, 2019. On July 17, 2013, the Company filed a post-trial motion asking the District Court to vacate the amended judgment and enter judgment as a matter of law in the Company’s favor or, alternatively, to grant a new trial. On November 4, 2013, the Court issued an Order denying the Company’s motion for judgment as a matter of law and upholding the jury verdict. On December 3, 2013 the Company filed a Notice of Appeal to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit challenging the Final Amended Judgment. As a result of the amended judgment, the Company has recorded a legal contingency accrual of $132.9 million as of December 29, 2013, which includes the damages and prejudgment interest awarded to Syntrix, estimated additional damages through December 29, 2013, and an estimate of interest accrued on the damages subsequent to June 19, 2013. For the year ended December 29, 2013, such charges totaled $132.9 million, $114.6 million of which was recorded within operating expenses, and the remainder was recorded to cost of sales. In December 2013, the Company secured the amount of the judgment by executing a supersedeas bond and deposited $12.0 million of the accrued post-judgment ongoing royalty amounts with the Court. The Company will continue to deposit with the Court ongoing royalties on future sales at the royalty rate stated in the Final Amended Judgment during the appeal process. Funds deposited with the Court are reported as restricted cash in other long-term assets.

Legal Proceedings

The Company is involved in various lawsuits and claims arising in the ordinary course of business, including actions with respect to intellectual property, employment, and contractual matters. In connection with these matters, the Company assesses, on a regular basis, the probability and range of possible loss based on the developments in these matters. A liability is recorded in the financial statements if it is believed to be probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Because litigation is inherently unpredictable and unfavorable results could occur, assessing contingencies is highly subjective and requires judgments about future events. The Company regularly reviews outstanding legal matters to determine the adequacy of the liabilities accrued and related disclosures. The amount of ultimate loss may differ from these estimates. Each matter presents its own unique circumstances, and prior litigation does not necessarily provide a reliable basis on which to predict the outcome, or range of outcomes, in any individual proceeding. Because of the uncertainties related to the occurrence, amount, and range of loss on any pending litigation or claim, the Company is currently unable to predict their ultimate outcome, and, with respect to any pending litigation or claim where no liability has been accrued, to make a meaningful estimate of the reasonably possible loss or range of loss that could result from an unfavorable outcome. In the event that opposing litigants in outstanding litigations or claims ultimately succeed at trial and any subsequent appeals on their claims, any potential loss or charges in excess of any established accruals, individually or in the aggregate, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations, and/or cash flows in the period in which the unfavorable outcome occurs or becomes probable, and potentially in future periods.

On November 24, 2010, Syntrix Biosystems, Inc. filed suit against the Company in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington at Tacoma (Case No. C10-5870-BHS) alleging that the Company willfully infringed U.S. Patent No. 6,951,682 by selling its BeadChip array products, and that the Company misappropriated Syntrix’s trade secrets. In November and December 2012, the Company filed motions for summary judgment that the patent is not infringed and is invalid, and that Syntrix’s trade secrets claims are barred by various statutes of limitation. Syntrix filed a motion for summary judgment that the patent is valid. On January 30, 2013, the Court granted the Company’s motion for summary judgment on Syntrix’s trade secret claims, and dismissed those claims from the case. The Court denied Syntrix’s motion for summary judgment on validity, and denied the Company’s motion for summary judgment for non-infringement and invalidity. On March 14, 2013, a jury reached a verdict in favor of Syntrix, finding that Illumina’s BeadChip kits infringe the Syntrix patent. During trial, the Court dismissed Syntrix’s claim that the alleged infringement was willful. On July 1, 2013, the Court entered a Final Amended Judgment for $115.1 million, in accordance with the jury verdict, including supplemental damages and prejudgment interest. In addition, the Court awarded Syntrix an ongoing royalty of 8% for accused sales from March 15, 2013 until the patent expires on September 16, 2019. On July 17, 2013, the Company filed a post-trial motion asking the District Court to vacate the amended judgment and enter judgment as a matter of law in the Company’s favor or, alternatively, to grant a new trial. On November 4, 2013, the Court issued an Order denying the Company’s motion for judgment as a matter of law and upholding the jury verdict. On December 3, 2013 the Company filed a Notice of Appeal to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit challenging the Final Amended Judgment.

As a result of the amended judgment, the Company has recorded a legal contingency accrual of $132.9 million as of December 29, 2013, which includes the damages and prejudgment interest awarded to Syntrix, estimated additional damages through December 29, 2013, and an estimate of interest accrued on the damages subsequent to June 19, 2013. For the year ended December 29, 2013, such charges totaled $132.9 million, $114.6 million of which was recorded within operating expenses, and the remainder was recorded to cost of sales. In December 2013, the Company secured the amount of the judgment by executing a supersedeas bond and deposited $12.0 million of the accrued post-judgment ongoing royalty amounts with the Court. The Company will continue to deposit with the Court ongoing royalties on future sales at the royalty rate stated in the Final Amended Judgment during the appeal process. Funds deposited with the Court are reported as restricted cash in other long-term assets.