Google Incorporated and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 Y	Dec. 31, 2011 Y	Dec. 31, 2010 Y
Organization And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives of access points (in years)	2	2	2
Cash received from the exercise of stock options	$ 736	$ 621	$ 656
Total direct tax benefit realized, including the excess tax benefit from stock-based award activity	747	451	355
Stock-based compensation expense	2,649	1,974	1,376
Stock-based compensation expense, related tax benefits	591	413	314
Stock-based compensation expense	2,692	1,974	1,376
Percentage of revenues generated from customers in the United States	47.00%	46.00%	48.00%
Percentage of revenues generated from a customer used as a threshold for disclosure	10.00%	10.00%	10.00%
Foreign currency translation adjustment	75	(107)	(124)
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)	(78)	(38)	(29)
Advertising and promotional expenses	2,332	1,544	772
Discontinued Operations
Organization And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense, related tax benefits	11
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 43
Minimum
Organization And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property and equipment,estimated useful lives (in years)	2 years	2 years	2 years
Acquired intangible assets,estimated useful lives (in years)	1 year	1 year	1 year
Maximum
Organization And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property and equipment,estimated useful lives (in years)	5 years	5 years	5 years
Acquired intangible assets,estimated useful lives (in years)	12 years	12 years	12 years
Building | Maximum
Organization And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property and equipment,estimated useful lives (in years)	25 years	25 years	25 years