Account balances and transactions with affiliated companies.

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

- Definition

Additional Related Party Transactions Textuals.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Affiliated Companies Accounted For Under Equity Method.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Equity method influence, maximum.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Equity method influence, minimum.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Investment In Joint Venture.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Number of shares less than 50% ownership in equity method investment.

+ Details

Name:	sne_NumberOfSharesLessThanFiftyPercentOwnershipInEquityMethodInvestment
Namespace Prefix:	sne
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Related party transactions.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Remaining interest in equity method investment

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount for accounts payable to related parties.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 08
-Paragraph k
-Subparagraph 1
-Article 4

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 57
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph d

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 17
-Article 7

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccountsPayableRelatedPartiesCurrentAndNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

For an unclassified balance sheet, amount of receivables arising from transactions with related parties.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 3
-Article 7

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 08
-Paragraph k
-Subparagraph 1
-Article 4

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 57
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph d

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph a
-Article 5

+ Details

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

- Definition

This item represents disclosure of the amount of dividends or other distributions received from unconsolidated subsidiaries, certain corporate joint ventures, and certain noncontrolled corporation; these investments are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. This element excludes distributions that constitute a return of investment, which are classified as 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

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 13
-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
-Number 18
-Paragraph 19

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributions
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
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

Expenses recognized during the period resulting from transactions (excluding transactions that are eliminated in consolidated or combined financial statements) with related party during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 57
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph c

+ Details

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

- Definition

Revenues, net of returns and allowances, realized from sales and other transactions (excluding transactions that are eliminated in consolidated or combined financial statements) with related party during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 57
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph c

+ Details

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

Related Party Transactions (Details 1) (JPY ¥) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended						1 Months Ended				12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2010	Mar. 31, 2009	Mar. 31, 2011 Equity Method Investments [Member]	Mar. 31, 2010 Equity Method Investments [Member]	Mar. 31, 2009 Equity Method Investments [Member]	Sep. 30, 2008 Sony Ericsson [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Sony Ericsson [Member]	Mar. 31, 2010 Sony Ericsson [Member]	Mar. 31, 2009 Sony Ericsson [Member]	Mar. 31, 2009 S-LCD [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 S-LCD [Member]	Mar. 31, 2010 S-LCD [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Sony BMG [Member]	Oct. 01, 2008 Sony BMG [Member]
Account balances and transactions with affiliated companies
Accounts receivable, trade				¥ 18,631	¥ 21,467
Accounts payable, trade				45,434	61,360
Sales				96,164	132,937	204,578
Purchases				383,922	309,550	332,286
Related Party Transactions (Textuals) [Abstract]
Percentage of ownership in equity investees								50.00%	50.00%	50.00%	50.00%	50.00%	50.00%		50.00%
Number of shares less than 50% ownership in equity method investment												1
Dividends received from affiliated companies	2,583	5,948	40,361				23,363
Investment in joint venture											¥ 13,273
Remaining interest in equity method investment														50.00%
Additional Related Party Transactions (Textuals) [Abstract]
Equity method influence, minimum	3.00%
Equity method influence, maximum	5.00%
Affiliated companies accounted for under the equity method	82	73