Business Segment Information (Details 4) (JPY ¥) In Millions	12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2010	Mar. 31, 2009
Sales and operating revenue to external customers
Sales and operating revenue, Total	¥ 7,181,273	¥ 7,213,998	¥ 7,729,993
Japan [Member]
Sales and operating revenue to external customers
Sales and operating revenue, Domestic	2,152,552	2,099,297	1,873,219
U.S.A. [Member]
Sales and operating revenue to external customers
Sales and operating revenue, Foreign	1,443,693	1,595,016	1,827,812
Europe [Member]
Sales and operating revenue to external customers
Sales and operating revenue, Foreign	1,539,432	1,644,698	1,987,692
Asia-Pacific [Member]
Sales and operating revenue to external customers
Sales and operating revenue, Foreign	1,288,412	1,193,573	1,285,551
Other areas [Member]
Sales and operating revenue to external customers
Sales and operating revenue, Foreign	¥ 757,184	¥ 681,414	¥ 755,719

Geographic Areas Revenues From External Customers [Abstract].

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

- Definition

Revenues from external customers attributed to the entity's country of domicile.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 131
-Paragraph 38
-Subparagraph a(1)

+ Details

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

- Definition

Revenues from external customers attributed to all foreign countries in total from which the entity derives revenues.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 131
-Paragraph 38
-Subparagraph a(2)

+ Details

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

- Definition

Aggregate revenue recognized during the period (derived from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an entity's earning process). For financial services companies, also includes investment and interest income, and sales and trading gains.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 1
-Article 5

+ Details

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