Divestitures (Details) (Pictures [Member], JPY ¥) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2010
HBO Central Europe Joint Venture [Member]
Divestitures (Textuals) [Abstract]
Proceeds from sale of investments		¥ 7,660
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Investments		3,957
HBO Latin America venture [Member]
Divestitures (Textuals) [Abstract]
Approximate share in joint venture under equity method		29.00%
Approximate share in joint venture under cost method		8.00%
Cash proceeds from sale of investments		19,424
Put option received as consideration of sale of investment		1,371
Gain on sale of investment		18,035
Cash proceed from purchase of the Retained Interest	5,285
Gain from purchase of the Retained Interest	¥ 3,329
Percentage of the purchase price subject to rescission		40.00%

Cash proceed from sale of put option.

Name:	sne_CashProceedFromSaleOfPutOption
Namespace Prefix:	sne
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Cash proceeds from sale of investments.

+ Details

Name:	sne_CashProceedsFromSaleOfInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	sne
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Cost method investment ownership.

+ Details

Name:	sne_CostMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	sne
Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Divestitures.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Gain from Sale of Put Option.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Gain on sale of investment.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Percentage of the purchase price subject to rescission.

+ Details

Name:	sne_PercentageOfPurchasePriceSubjectToRescission
Namespace Prefix:	sne
Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Put option received as consideration of sale of investment.

+ Details

Name:	sne_PutOptionReceivedAsConsiderationOfSaleOfInvestment
Namespace Prefix:	sne
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 159
-Paragraph 18
-Subparagraph f

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
-Number 18
-Paragraph 20
-Subparagraph a (1)

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The net realized gain or loss on investments sold during the period, which, for cash flow reporting, is a component of proceeds from investing activities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 95
-Paragraph 28

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow associated with the sale, maturity and collection of all investments such as debt, security and so forth during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 95
-Paragraph 31

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 95
-Paragraph 16

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 115
-Paragraph 18

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 95
-Paragraph 15

+ Details

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