2.2.0.25falsefalse0614 - Disclosure - Legal Reserve and Retained Earnings (Details)truefalseIn Millions, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1falsefalseJPYfalsefalse1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010 JPY (¥) JPY (¥) / shares ¥Jan-01-2010_Dec-31-2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000016988duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00JPYStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217JPYiso42170PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0JPYEPSDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217JPYiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0JPYJPY¥3true0caj_LegalReserveAndRetainedEarningsTextualsAbstractcajfalsenadurationLegal Reserve and Retained Earnings.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringLegal Reserve and Retained Earnings.falsefalseLegal Reserve and Retained Earnings (Textuals) [Abstract]4false0caj_PercentageOfLegalReserveAppropriatedFromDistributionsFromRetainedEarningsPaidByCompanyAndItsSubsidiariescajfalsenadurationPercentage of legal reserve appropriated from distributions from retained earnings paid by Canon Inc. and its subsidiaries.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truetruefalse0.10.1falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepurePercentage of legal reserve appropriated from distributions from retained earnings paid by Canon Inc. and its subsidiaries.No authoritative reference available.falsefalsePercentage of legal reserve appropriated from distributions from retained earnings paid by Canon Inc. and its subsidiaries5false0caj_AppropriationsNotRequiredIfPercentageOfAdditionalPaidInCapitalAndLegalReserveEqualsSpecificPercentageOfRespectiveStatedCapitalcajfalsenadurationAppropriations not required if percentage of additional paid in capital and legal reserve equals specific percentage of...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truetruefalse0.250.25falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureAppropriations not required if percentage of additional paid in capital and legal reserve equals specific percentage of respective stated capital.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseAppropriations not required if percentage of additional paid in capital and legal reserve equals specific percentage of respective stated capital6false0us-gaap_Dividendsus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse7985000000079850falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAggregate cash, stock, and paid-in-kind dividends declared for all securities (common shares, preferred shares) during the period.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Article 3 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Statement of Position (SOP) -Number 01-6 -Paragraph 14 -Subparagraph l falsefalseYear end dividends approved by stockholders7false0us-gaap_AmountAvailableForDividendDistributionWithApprovalFromRegulatoryAgenciesus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse13048110000001304811falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount of dividends that can be declared or paid with approval of relevant regulatory agencies.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 08 -Paragraph e -Article 4 falsefalseAmount available for dividends under the Corporation Law of Japan8false0us-gaap_RetainedEarningsUnappropriatedus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse1513300000015133falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryA segregation of retained earnings which is available for dividend distribution. Earnings not paid out as dividends but instead reinvested in the core business or used to pay off debt. Unappropriated profit is part of shareholder equity. Also called Cumulative distributions or earned surplus or accumulated earnings or unappropriated profit.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 31 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 24 -Subparagraph a(4) -Article 7 falsefalseRetained earnings included Canon's equity in undistributed earinings of affiliated companies accounted for by the equity method16Legal Reserve and Retained Earnings (Details) (JPY ¥)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruetrue