Acquisitions (Details 1) (JPY ¥) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2009	Oct. 01, 2008
Composition of intangible assets
Total		¥ 109,085
Weighted-average amortization period		22
Combined results of operations of Sony and GSN
Net sales	7,266,265
Operating loss	(234,724)
Net loss attributable to Sony Corporation's stockholders	(104,614)
Net loss attributable to Sony Corporation's stockholders
Basic EPS	¥ (104.25)
Diluted EPS	¥ (104.25)
Music Catalogs [Member] \| Historical Value [Member]
Composition of intangible assets
Intangibles recorded at the historical carryover basis		10,283
Historical Value [Member]
Composition of intangible assets
Intangibles recorded at the historical carryover basis		12,827
Total		12,827
Historical Value [Member] \| Artist Contracts [Member]
Composition of intangible assets
Intangibles recorded at the historical carryover basis		2,014
Historical Value [Member] \| Other [Member]
Composition of intangible assets
Intangibles recorded at the historical carryover basis		530
Music Catalogs [Member] \| Fair Value [Member]
Composition of intangible assets
Acquired intangibles recorded at fair value		77,706
Fair Value [Member]
Composition of intangible assets
Acquired intangibles recorded at fair value		96,258
Total		96,258
Fair Value [Member] \| Artist Contracts [Member]
Composition of intangible assets
Acquired intangibles recorded at fair value		15,160
Fair Value [Member] \| Other [Member]
Composition of intangible assets
Acquired intangibles recorded at fair value		3,392
Music Catalogs [Member]
Composition of intangible assets
Total		87,989
Weighted-average amortization period		25
Artist Contracts [Member]
Composition of intangible assets
Total		17,174
Weighted-average amortization period		10
Other [Member]
Composition of intangible assets
Total		¥ 3,922
Weighted-average amortization period		5

Acquired finite lived intangible assets.

Name:	sne_AcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	sne
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Acquired finite lived intangible assets weighted average useful life.

+ Details

Name:	sne_AcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsWeightedAverageUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix:	sne
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Intangibles recorded at the historical carryover basis.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Operating income.

+ Details

Name:	sne_OperatingIncome
Namespace Prefix:	sne
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate amount assigned to a major class of finite-lived intangible assets acquired either individually or as part of a group of assets (in either an asset acquisition or business combination). A major class is composed of intangible assets that can be grouped together because they are similar, either by their nature or by their use in the operations of a company.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 142
-Paragraph 44
-Subparagraph a(1)

+ Details

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

- Definition

The pro forma basic net income per share for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141R
-Paragraph 68
-Subparagraph r(2, 3)

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141
-Paragraph 54

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141
-Paragraph 55

+ Details

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

- Definition

The pro forma diluted net income per share for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period

+ References

+ Details

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

- Details

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

- Definition

The pro forma net income (loss) for the period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionProFormaNetIncomeLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The pro forma revenue for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of the period

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionProFormaRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to an identifiable intangible asset that will be amortized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141
-Paragraph 52

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141
-Paragraph 51
-Subparagraph e

+ Details

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

- Details

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