Organization and principal activities (Details)	Mar. 31, 2016 item
Organization and principal activities
Number of distribution platforms	3

The number of distribution platforms through which the company operates business in mobile media and entertainment.

No definition available.

Name:	baba_NumberOfDistributionPlatforms
Namespace Prefix:	baba_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant