Amount appropriated from retained earnings to statutory reserves for entities incorporated in PRC.

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Represents the minimum percentage of net income from subsidiaries required to be appropriated towards the statutory reserve fund for entities incorporated in the People's Republic of China until the reserve balance reaches 50 percent of registered capital.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Percentage derived by dividing the results of the hedging instrument by the results of the hedged item, determining effective hedging relationship.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Represents the level of the statutory reserve fund balance as a percentage of registered capital for entities incorporated in the People's Republic of China which must be attained before mandatory transfers to the reserve are no longer required.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ClassOfStockDisclosuresAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) from effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents, and cash and cash equivalents restricted to withdrawal or usage; held in foreign currencies. Excludes amounts for disposal group and discontinued operations. Cash includes, but is not limited to, currency on hand, demand deposits with banks or financial institutions, and other accounts with general characteristics of demand deposits. Cash equivalents include, but are not limited to, short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 830
-SubTopic 230
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98513438&loc=d3e33268-110906

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of cash inflow (outflow) from investing activities, including discontinued operations. Investing activity cash flows include making and collecting loans and acquiring and disposing of debt or equity instruments and property, plant, and equipment and other productive assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 24
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3521-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of cash inflow (outflow) from operating activities, including discontinued operations. Operating activity cash flows include transactions, adjustments, and changes in value not defined as investing or financing activities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 25
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3536-108585

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 24
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3521-108585

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherRestrictedAssetsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SummaryOfDerivativeInstrumentsImpactOnResultsOfOperationsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of previously issued common shares repurchased by the issuing entity and held in treasury.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.30)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6405813&loc=d3e23239-112655

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TreasuryStockCommonShares
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis=us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdate201618Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RestatementAxis=srt_RestatementAdjustmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_CN
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis=baba_ShareRepurchaseForPurposeOfCertainEquityInvestmentPlansForManagementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RestatementAxis=srt_ScenarioPreviouslyReportedMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis=baba_ShareRepurchasedForEquityMethodInvesteeSInvestmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=baba_SuningMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Summary of significant accounting policies- Others (Details) ¥ in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($) shares	Mar. 31, 2019 CNY (¥) shares	Mar. 31, 2018 CNY (¥) shares	Mar. 31, 2017 CNY (¥)
Statutory reserves
Percentage of after-tax profit from subsidiaries incorporated in the PRC required to be appropriated to the statutory reserves	10.00%	10.00%
Limit of statutory reserve fund as a percentage of registered capital, after which allocations to statutory reserve fund are no longer required	50.00%	50.00%
Reclassification of comparative figures
Impact of the retrospective reclassification on cash flows from operating activities	$ 22,496	¥ 150,975	¥ 125,805	¥ 82,854
Impact of the retrospective reclassification on cash flows from investing activities	(22,509)	(151,060)	(83,764)	(79,579)
Impact of the retrospective reclassification on effect of exchange rate changes	$ 484	3,245	(6,065)	2,038
ASU 2016-18 \| Adjustment
Reclassification of comparative figures
Impact of the retrospective reclassification on cash flows from operating activities \| ¥			634	2,528
Impact of the retrospective reclassification on cash flows from investing activities \| ¥			126	(1,215)
Impact of the retrospective reclassification on effect of exchange rate changes \| ¥			2	(4)
PRC
Statutory reserves
Appropriation to statutory reserves \| ¥		¥ 690	¥ 298	¥ 836
Minimum
Derivatives and hedging
Ratio determining effective hedging relationship	80.00%	80.00%
Maximum
Derivatives and hedging
Ratio determining effective hedging relationship	125.00%	125.00%
Share repurchase for purpose of certain equity investment plans for management
Treasury shares
Number of ordinary shares included in treasury shares account \| shares	149,903,376	149,903,376	166,316,768
Share repurchase for purpose of certain equity investment plans for management \| Before the Share Subdivision
Treasury shares
Number of ordinary shares included in treasury shares account \| shares	18,737,922	18,737,922	20,789,596
Company's share of an equity method investee's in the Company \| Suning
Treasury shares
Number of ordinary shares included in treasury shares account \| shares			33,302,848
Company's share of an equity method investee's in the Company \| Suning \| Before the Share Subdivision
Treasury shares
Number of ordinary shares included in treasury shares account \| shares			4,162,856