Components of Sales and Operating Revenue (Detail) (JPY ¥) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Sales and operating revenue	¥ 6,493,212	¥ 7,181,273	¥ 7,213,998
Consumer Products & Services
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Customers	3,061,214	3,771,610	3,638,137
Intersegment	75,543	78,223	74,228
Total	3,136,757	3,849,833	3,712,365
Professional, Device & Solutions
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Customers	967,603	1,066,574	1,080,984
Intersegment	346,168	436,690	438,002
Total	1,313,771	1,503,264	1,518,986
Pictures
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Customers	656,097	599,654	705,237
Intersegment	1,624	312
Total	657,721	599,966	705,237
Music
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Customers	430,751	457,771	511,097
Intersegment	12,038	12,972	11,519
Total	442,789	470,743	522,616
Financial Services
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Customers	868,971	798,495	838,300
Intersegment	2,924	8,031	13,096
Total	871,895	806,526	851,396
Sony Mobile Communications
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Customers	77,732
Total	77,732
All Other
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Customers	378,071	377,822	379,862
Intersegment	64,598	70,004	80,904
Total	442,669	447,826	460,766
Corporate and elimination
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total	¥ (450,122)	¥ (496,885)	¥ (557,368)

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.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 5

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

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Amount of revenue from external customers for the reportable segment. Such disclosure is presented if the amount is: (a) included in the measure of segment profit or loss reviewed by the chief operating decision maker or (b) otherwise regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker, even if not included in that measure of segment profit or loss.

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Amount of revenue from transactions with other operating segments of the same entity.

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Amount of total revenue for the reportable segments, including revenue from external customers, transactions with other operating segments of the same entity, and (gross) interest revenue. All considered to be "operating revenue" for purposes of the taxonomy.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 131

-Paragraph 27

-Subparagraph a, b, c

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 280

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 22

-Subparagraph (a),(b),(c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6534315&loc=d3e8736-108599

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