Reconciliation of The Differences Between Basic and Diluted EPS (Details) (JPY ¥) In Millions, except Share data in Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2010	Mar. 31, 2009
Reconciliation of the differences between basic and diluted EPS
Net loss attributable to Sony Corporation's stockholders	¥ (259,585)	¥ (40,802)	¥ (98,938)
Weighted-average shares outstanding	1,003,559	1,003,520	1,003,499
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock acquisition rights	0
Convertible bonds	0
Weighted-average shares for diluted EPS computation	1,003,559	1,003,520	1,003,499
Basic EPS	¥ (258.66)	¥ (40.66)	¥ (98.59)
Diluted EPS	¥ (258.66)	¥ (40.66)	¥ (98.59)
Reconciliation of The Differences Between Basic and Diluted EPS (Textuals) [Abstract]
Potential shares of common stock upon the exercise of warrants and stock acquisition rights excluded from the computation of diluted EPS	19,383	17,600	13,553

Reconciliation of differences between basic and diluted EPS Textuals [Abstract].

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Securities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because to do so would increase EPS amounts or decrease loss per share amounts for the period presented.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 13, 14

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-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 171

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-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 40
-Subparagraph c

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The amount of net income or loss for the period per each share of common stock outstanding during the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
-Paragraph 21
-Article 9

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 36, 37, 38

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
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-Paragraph 20
-Article 5

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
-Paragraph 18
-Article 7

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The amount of net income or loss for the period per each share of common stock and dilutive common stock equivalents outstanding during the reporting period.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 11, 12, 36

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-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
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-Paragraph 20
-Article 5

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
-Paragraph 21
-Article 9

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Debt securities outstanding shall be assumed to have been converted at the beginning of the period (or at time of issuance, if later), and the resulting common shares shall be included in common shares used to calculate diluted earnings per shares. The dilutive effect of convertible debt securities shall be reflected in diluted Earnings Per Share by application of the if-converted method.

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 26, 27, 28

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Aggregate awards of share options and nonvested shares to be issued to an employee under a share-based compensation arrangement are considered options for purposes of computing diluted earnings per share. Such share-based awards shall be considered to be outstanding as of the grant date for purposes of computing diluted earnings per share even though their exercise may be contingent upon vesting. Those share-based awards are included in the diluted Earnings Per Share (EPS) computation even if the employee may not receive (or be able to sell) the stock until some future date. Accordingly, all shares to be issued shall be included in computing diluted EPS if the effect is dilutive. The dilutive effect of share-based compensation arrangements shall be computed using the treasury stock method. If the equity share options or other equity instruments are outstanding for only part of a period, the shares issuable shall be weighted to reflect the portion of the period during which the equity instruments were outstanding.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Net income after adjustments for dividends on preferred stock (declared in the period) and/or cumulative preferred stock (accumulated for the period).

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
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The average number of shares issued and outstanding that are used in calculating diluted EPS, determined based on the timing of issuance of shares in the period.

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This element represents the weighted average total number of shares issued throughout the period including the first (beginning balance outstanding) and last (ending balance outstanding) day of the period before considering any reductions (for instance, shares held in treasury) to arrive at the weighted average number of shares outstanding. Weighted average relates to the portion of time within a reporting period that common shares have been issued and outstanding to the total time in that period. Such concept is used in determining the weighted average number of shares outstanding for purposes of calculating earnings per share (basic).

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 40
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