Stock-based compensation plans (Details 1) (Stock Acquisition Rights Plan [Member], JPY ¥)	12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2011
Stock Acquisition Rights Plan [Member]
Summary of restricted stock rights activity
Number of Shares, Outstanding at beginning of the fiscal year	15,214,400
Weighted-average exercise price, Outstanding at beginning of the fiscal year	¥ 3,743
Number of Shares, Granted	2,334,600
Weighted-average exercise price, Granted	¥ 2,985
Number of Shares, Exercised	(65,200)
Weighted-average exercise price, Exercised	2,653
Number of Shares, Forfeited or expired	(472,400)
Weighted-average exercise price, Forfeited or expired	¥ 3,540
Number of Shares, Outstanding at end of the fiscal year	17,011,400
Number of Shares, Exercisable at end of the fiscal year	12,184,000
Weighted-average exercise price, Outstanding at end of the fiscal year	¥ 3,458
Weighted-average exercise price, Exercisable at end of the fiscal year	¥ 3,739
Weighted-average remaining life, Outstanding at end of the fiscal year	6.20
Weighted-average remaining life, Exercisable at end of the fiscal year	5.10
Total Intrinsic Value, Outstanding at end of the fiscal year	523,000,000
Total Intrinsic Value, Exercisable at end of the fiscal year	¥ 211,000,000

Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Intrinsic Value.

Name:	sne_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableIntrinsicValue
Namespace Prefix:	sne
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term.

+ Details

Name:	sne_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm
Namespace Prefix:	sne
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price

+ Details

Name:	sne_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Namespace Prefix:	sne
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price.

+ Details

Name:	sne_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Namespace Prefix:	sne
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term.

+ Details

Name:	sne_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm
Namespace Prefix:	sne
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAdditionalDisclosuresAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of shares into which fully or partially vested stock options outstanding as of the balance-sheet date can be currently converted under the option plan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
-Paragraph A240
-Subparagraph b(1)(c), d(2)

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableNumber
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The weighted-average price as of the balance sheet date at which grantees can acquire the shares reserved for issuance on vested portions of options outstanding and currently exercisable under the stock option plan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
-Paragraph A240
-Subparagraph b(1)(c)

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	us-types:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The decrease in the number of reserved shares that could potentially be issued attributable to the exercise or conversion during the reporting period of previously issued stock options under the option plan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
-Paragraph A240
-Subparagraph b(1)(e)

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

For presentations that combine terminations, the number of shares under options that were cancelled during the reporting period as a result of occurrence of a terminating event specified in contractual agreements pertaining to the stock option plan or that expired.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresAndExpirationsInPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

For presentations that combine terminations, the weighted average price of expired options and the price at which grantees could have acquired the underlying shares with respect to stock options that were terminated during the reporting period due to noncompliance with plan terms during the reporting period .

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresAndExpirationsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	us-types:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The quantity of shares issuable on stock options awarded under the plan during the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
-Paragraph A240
-Subparagraph b(1)(d)

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total dollar difference between fair values of the underlying shares reserved for issuance and exercise prices pertaining to options outstanding under the plan as of the balance-sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
-Paragraph A240
-Subparagraph d(1)

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of shares reserved for issuance under stock option agreements awarded under the plan that validly exist and are outstanding as of the balance-sheet date, including vested options.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
-Paragraph A240
-Subparagraph b(1)(a)

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
-Paragraph A240
-Subparagraph b(1)(b)

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The weighted average price as of the beginning of the year at which grantees can acquire the shares reserved for issuance under the stock option plan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
-Paragraph A240
-Subparagraph b(1)(a)

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	us-types:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant