Components of Sales and Operating Revenue (Detail) (JPY ¥) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Sales and operating revenue, Total	¥ 6,800,851	¥ 6,493,212	¥ 7,181,273
Imaging Products & Solutions
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Customers	726,774	756,625	906,439
Intersegment	3,598	4,692	9,185
Total	730,372	761,317	915,624
Game
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Customers	527,110	679,899	744,601
Intersegment	179,968	125,067	120,368
Total	707,078	804,966	864,969
Mobile Products & Communications
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Customers	1,220,013	622,415	631,514
Intersegment	37,605	262	73
Total	1,257,618	622,677	631,587
Home Entertainment & Sound
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Customers	993,822	1,282,728	1,712,324
Intersegment	1,005	428	640
Total	994,827	1,283,156	1,712,964
Devices
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Customers	583,968	677,208	771,350
Intersegment	264,607	349,360	380,537
Total	848,575	1,026,568	1,151,887
Pictures
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Customers	732,127	656,097	599,654
Intersegment	612	1,624	312
Total	732,739	657,721	599,966
Music
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Customers	431,719	430,751	457,771
Intersegment	9,989	12,038	12,972
Total	441,708	442,789	470,743
Financial Services
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Customers	1,004,623	868,971	798,495
Intersegment	3,113	2,924	8,031
Total	1,007,736	871,895	806,526
All Other
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Customers	532,558	465,745	449,778
Intersegment	56,283	64,598	70,004
Total	588,841	530,343	519,782
Corporate and elimination
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total	¥ (508,643)	¥ (508,220)	¥ (492,775)

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 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

Reference 2: 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

- Definition

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.

+ 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

-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.

+ Details

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

- Definition

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

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 131

-Paragraph 27

-Subparagraph b

-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.

+ Details

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

- Definition

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 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

Reference 2: 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.

+ Details

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

- Details

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