Financial Instruments (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Aug. 03, 2014	Jul. 28, 2013
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Entity Wide Revenue, Major Customer, Percentage Of Net Sales	19.00%
Cash Flow Hedge Gain (Loss) to be Reclassified within Twelve Months	$ (3)
Cash Flow Hedge Ineffectiveness is Immaterial	The ineffective portion and amount excluded from effectiveness testing were not material.
Margin Deposit Assets	14	7
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Contracts Mature Within, Months	18 months
Currency Swap [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Lower Remaining Maturity Range	11 months
Derivative, Higher Remaining Maturity Range	35 months
Derivative instruments gain (loss) recognized in OCI	0	1
Interest Rate Contract [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative instruments gain (loss) recognized in OCI	(12)	19
Commodity Derivative Contracts [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Maximum Length of Contract Maturity	18 months
Deferred Compensation Derivative Contracts [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Maximum Length of Contract Maturity	12 months
Cash Flow Hedging [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	58	129
Cash Flow Hedging [Member] \| Interest Rate Contract [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	250	250
DerivativeForwardInterestRateSettled		400
Derivative instruments gain (loss) recognized in OCI		(2)
Cash Flow Hedging [Member] \| Commodity Derivative Contracts [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	0	0
Fair Value Hedging [Member] \| Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount		200
Derivatives Not Designated As Hedges [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	561	895
Derivatives Not Designated As Hedges [Member] \| Commodity Derivative Contracts [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	146	105
Derivatives Not Designated As Hedges [Member] \| Deferred Compensation Derivative Contracts [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	$ 56	$ 50

Derivative Forward Interest Rate Settled

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	cpb_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate notional amount specified by the derivative(s). Expressed as an absolute value.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 12

-Section 13

-Sentence Column B

+ Details

Name:	invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
Namespace Prefix:	invest_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The estimated net amount of existing gains or losses on cash flow hedges at the reporting date expected to be reclassified to earnings within the next 12 months.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7668309&loc=d3e80748-113994

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

A disclosure of an assertion that the amount of cash flow hedge ineffectiveness is immaterial.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4C

-Subparagraph (d)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5624171-113959

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

For an entity that discloses a concentration risk in relation to quantitative amount, which serves as the "benchmark" (or denominator) in the equation, this concept represents the concentration percentage derived from the division.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 21

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28364263&loc=d3e13537-108611

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 275

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 20

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6927468&loc=d3e6404-108592

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 20

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28364263&loc=d3e13531-108611

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 275

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 18

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6927468&loc=d3e6351-108592

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

High end period remaining until maturity for the derivative contract, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The effective portion of gains and losses (net) on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments that was recognized in other comprehensive income during the current period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4C

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5624171-113959

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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- Definition

Low end period remaining until maturity of derivative contract, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Details

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

- Definition

The amount of cash or securities placed with a broker or counterparty as security for a trading or derivatives securities position which was partially obtained with funds provided by the broker dealer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.8,17)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum period of time the entity is hedging its exposure to variability in future cash flows for forecasted transactions, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Excludes forecasted transactions related to payment of variable interest on existing financial instruments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7668309&loc=d3e80748-113994

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum period the entity is hedging its exposure to the variability in future cash flows for forecasted transactions, excluding those forecasted transactions related to the payment of variable interest on existing financial instruments, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7668309&loc=d3e80748-113994

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