Pension and Severance Plans - Additional Information (Detail) (JPY ¥)	12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2010
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Percentage of the indemnities under existing regulations to employees covered by defined benefits	65.00%
Expected amortization of net actuarial loss from accumulated other comprehensive income in next fiscal year	¥ 11,262,000,000
Expected amortization of prior service cost from accumulated other comprehensive income in next fiscal year	10,671,000,000
Expected amortization of transition obligation (asset) from accumulated other comprehensive income in next fiscal year	59,000,000
Contribution in defined benefit pension plans	16,000,000,000
Japanese plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Percentage of investments in equity securities for the pension plans	28.00%
Percentage of investments in fixed income securities for the pension plans	58.00%
Percentage of investments in other investments for the pension plans	14.00%
Expected contribution in defined benefit pension plans	18,000,000,000	35,000,000,000
Contribution in defined benefit pension plans	15,745,000,000	34,892,000,000
Foreign plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Expected amortization of transition obligation (asset) from accumulated other comprehensive income in next fiscal year	139,000,000	20,000,000	67,000,000
Percentage of investments in equity securities for the pension plans	46.00%
Percentage of investments in fixed income securities for the pension plans	39.00%
Percentage of investments in other investments for the pension plans	15.00%
Expected contribution in defined benefit pension plans	9,000,000,000
Contribution in defined benefit pension plans	¥ 9,033,000,000	¥ 13,029,000,000

Percentage of the indemnities under existing regulations to employees covered by defined benefits.

No definition available.

Name:	sne_PercentageOfIndemnitiesUnderExistingRegulationsToEmployeesCoveredByDefinedBenefits
Namespace Prefix:	sne_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income related to gains and losses that are not recognized immediately and are expected to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost over the next fiscal year that follows the most recent annual statement of financial position presented.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 132R

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph s

-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 Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 158

-Paragraph 7

-Subparagraph d

-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 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (s)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6962843&loc=d3e1928-114920

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAmortizationOfNetGainsLosses
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income related to prior service cost or credit expected to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost over the next fiscal year that follows the most recent annual statement of financial position presented.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAmortizationOfNetPriorServiceCostCredit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income related to transition assets (obligations), origination from the adoption of FAS 87 and 106, expected to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost over the next fiscal year that follows the most recent annual statement of financial position presented.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAmortizationOfNetTransitionAssetObligation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The increase in the fair value of plan assets from contributions made by the employer.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByEmployer
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanDisclosureLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The employer's best estimate, as soon as it can be reasonably determined, of contributions expected to be paid to the plan during the next fiscal year beginning after the date of the latest statement of financial position. Estimated contributions may be presented in the aggregate combining (1) contributions required by funding regulations or laws, (2) discretionary contributions, and (3) noncash contributions.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanEstimatedFutureEmployerContributionsInNextFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Target allocation percentage of investments in debt securities to total plan assets presented on a weighted-average basis as of the measurement date of the latest statement of financial position.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 132R

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph d(2)

-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 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (c)(i)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6962843&loc=d3e2446-114920

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (d)(i)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6962843&loc=d3e1928-114920

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetAllocationPercentageOfAssetsDebtSecurities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Target allocation percentage of investments in equity securities to total plan assets presented on a weighted-average basis as of the measurement date of the latest statement of financial position.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetAllocationPercentageOfAssetsEquitySecurities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Target allocation percentage in other than debt securities, equity securities, and real estate to total plan assets presented on a weighted-average basis as of the measurement date of the latest statement of financial position.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetAllocationPercentageOfAssetsOther
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration