The amount of amortization of restructuring reserve applied against earnings during the period.

No definition available.

Name:	baba_AmortizationOfRestructuringReserve
Namespace Prefix:	baba_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of consideration for acquisition of equity interest of related party by the entity during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	baba_ConsiderationForAcquisitionOfEquityInterestOfRelatedParty
Namespace Prefix:	baba_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Expected term of the restructured arrangement entered with related party.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	baba_ExpectedTermOfRestructuredArrangement
Namespace Prefix:	baba_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage of the average daily balance of the SME loans that will be paid by related party to entity as an annual fee.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	baba_FeeFromRelatedPartyAsPercentageOfAverageDailyBookBalance
Namespace Prefix:	baba_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Specified percentage of related party's pre-tax income that, in addition to the costs incurred by entity in providing the services, must be paid to the entity as a fee.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	baba_FeeFromRelatedPartyPercentOfPretaxIncome
Namespace Prefix:	baba_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The recorded increase in value attributable to the agreement (representing the fair value of the restructured arrangement in excess of the fair value of the pre-existing arrangement), which is considered to be an equity contribution by the related party to the entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	baba_IncreaseInFairValueEquityContributionByRelatedParty
Namespace Prefix:	baba_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Issuance of new securities by the related party as a percentage of issuer's total equity interest.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	baba_IssuanceOfNewSecuritiesByRelatedPartyAsPercentageOfTotalEquityInterest
Namespace Prefix:	baba_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum percentage of the equity value of related party that entity is entitled to receive under certain circumstances.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	baba_MaximumPercentageOfEquityValueOfRelatedParty
Namespace Prefix:	baba_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of members serving on the board of directors of the entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	baba_NumberOfDirectorsOfEntity
Namespace Prefix:	baba_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of officers or employees the Company will have the right to nominate.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Percentage of the equity value of Small and Micro Financial Services Company that entity may elect to receive as a one-time payment, subject to other conditions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	baba_PercentageOfEquityValueOfRelatedPartyOneTimePayment
Namespace Prefix:	baba_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of the equity value of related party to be acquired under the planned acquisition.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	baba_PercentageOfEquityValueOfRelatedPartyPurchaseUnderPlannedAcquisition
Namespace Prefix:	baba_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The threshold percentage of entity's ownership of related party, below which, subject to other conditions, the entity may elect to receive a one-time payment from related party.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	baba_PercentageOwnershipOfRelatedPartyThreshold
Namespace Prefix:	baba_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Proceeds received from related party.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	baba_ProceedsFromRelatedParty
Namespace Prefix:	baba_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of cash consideration for sale of business by the company during the period, classified as related party transaction.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	baba_RelatedPartyTransactionCashConsiderationForSaleBusiness
Namespace Prefix:	baba_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	baba_RestructuringTransactionAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	baba_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The term of the SME annual fee the company will receive annually from related party.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	baba_TermOfSmeAnnualFee
Namespace Prefix:	baba_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of revenue, fees and commissions earned from transactions between (a) a parent company and its subsidiaries; (b) subsidiaries of a common parent; (c) an entity and trusts for the benefit of employees, for example, but not limited to, pension and profit-sharing trusts that are managed by or under the trusteeship of the entity's management; (d) an entity and its principal, owners, management, or members of their immediate families; and (e) affiliates.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(e))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 225
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6-07.1(c))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6488393&loc=d3e606610-122999

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RevenueFromRelatedParties
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionAxis=baba_ProfitSharePaymentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=baba_TwoDirectorsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=baba_AntFinancialServicesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionAxis=baba_PlannedIssuanceOfEquityInterestMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis=baba_ShareAndAssetPurchaseAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=baba_DirectorAndMajorShareholderMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionAxis=baba_SaleOfSmeLoanBusinessAndCertainOtherAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionAxis=baba_AnnualFeeUnderSoftwareSystemUseAndServiceAgreementsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionAxis=baba_RemovalOfLiquidityEventPaymentObligationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis=baba_Amendments2018Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis=baba_AmendedShareAndAssetPurchaseAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionAxis=baba_PreEmptiveRightsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionAxis=baba_CorporateGovernanceProvisionsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis=baba_IntellectualPropertyLicenseAgreement2014Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Significant restructuring transaction, mergers and acquisitions and equity investments- Restructuring transaction (Details) ¥ in Millions, $ in Millions	1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2018 CNY (¥) employee	Aug. 31, 2014 CNY (¥)	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018 CNY (¥)	Mar. 31, 2017 CNY (¥)	Mar. 31, 2016 CNY (¥)	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2011 director
Restructuring transaction
Amount of amortization of the excess value recorded			$ 42	¥ 264	¥ 264	¥ 264
Profit Share Payments
Restructuring transaction
Amount earned by the Company				3,444	2,086	1,122
Two directors of the Company
Restructuring transaction
Number of directors of the Company (in directors) \| director								2
Ant Financial \| Planned issuance of equity interest
Restructuring transaction
Consideration for acquisition of equity interest before deducting expenses				12,200
Ant Financial \| Profit Share Payments
Restructuring transaction
Amount earned by the Company				3,444	2,086	1,122
Additional fee, as a percentage of pre-tax income							37.50%
2014 SAPA \| Director And Major Shareholder
Restructuring transaction
Value of restructured arrangement in excess of value of pre-existing arrangement, equity contribution by shareholder (in renminbi)		¥ 1,300
2014 SAPA \| Ant Financial
Restructuring transaction
Expected term of the restructured arrangement		5 years
Amount of amortization of the excess value recorded				264	264	264
2014 SAPA \| Ant Financial \| Sale of SME loan business and certain other assets
Restructuring transaction
Cash consideration for sale of business		¥ 3,219
2014 SAPA \| Ant Financial \| SME Annual Fee
Restructuring transaction
SME annual fee term (in years)		7 years
Annual fee as a percentage of the average daily balance (as a percent)		2.50%
Amount earned by the Company				956	847	708
2014 SAPA \| Ant Financial \| Planned issuance of equity interest
Restructuring transaction
Maximum percentage of equity interest of related party (as a percent)		33.00%
2014 SAPA \| Ant Financial \| Removal of liquidity event payment obligation
Restructuring transaction
Percentage of the equity value of Ant Financial that Company may elect to receive (as a percent)		37.50%
2014 SAPA \| Ant Financial \| Removal of liquidity event payment obligation \| Maximum
Restructuring transaction
Company's equity interests in Ant Financial that must not be exceeded for the Company to receive one-time payment (as a percent)		33.00%
2018 amendments \| Ant Financial
Restructuring transaction
Percentage of the equity value of Ant Financial, Company agreed to purchase under planned acquisition (as a percent)	33.00%
2018 SAPA \| Ant Financial \| Planned issuance of equity interest
Restructuring transaction
Issuance of new securities (as a percent)	33.00%
2018 SAPA \| Ant Financial \| Pre-emptive rights \| Maximum
Restructuring transaction
Consideration received from related party	¥ 1,500
2018 SAPA \| Ant Financial \| Corporate governance provisions
Restructuring transaction
Number of officers or employees \| employee	2
2014 IPLA \| Ant Financial \| Profit Share Payments
Restructuring transaction
Amount earned by the Company				¥ 3,444	¥ 2,086	¥ 1,122
Additional fee, as a percentage of pre-tax income		37.50%