Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

No definition available.

Name:	sne_SummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	sne_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of the cumulative effect on retained earnings net of related income tax effect.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 250
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109234566&loc=d3e22663-107794

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CumulativeEffectOnRetainedEarningsNetOfTax1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Useful life of finite-lived intangible assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents a discussion, by major security type, of the methodology used to determine the amount of the other than temporary impairment (OTTI) related to credit loss of a debt security categorized as available-for-sale when only the amount related to a credit loss was recognized in earnings.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82897076&loc=SL6284381-111563

+ Details

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

- Definition

Useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Examples include, but not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase in right-of-use asset obtained in exchange for operating lease liability.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 53
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77888399&loc=SL77918982-209971

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (g)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77888426&loc=SL77918686-209980

+ Details

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

- Definition

Threshold percentage by which investments in equity securities have declined in value to be considered other than temporary impairment (OTTI).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis=us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdate201601Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=sne_SoftwareToBeSoldLeasedOrOtherwiseMarketedMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProspectiveAdoptionOfNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis=us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdate201602Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_BuildingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_MachineryAndEquipmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=sne_PatentRightsKnowhowLicenseAgreementsTrademarksSoftwareToBeSoldLeasedOrOtherwiseMarketedAndInternalUseSoftwareMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=sne_CustomerRelationshipsMusicCatalogsArtistContractsAndTelevisionCarriageAgreementsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) - JPY (¥) ¥ in Millions		12 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Description of evaluating factors in relation to available for sale securities		If the fair value of the security is 20 percent or more below its original cost for an extended period of time (generally for a period of up to six months)
Percentage of other-than-temporary fair value of security		20.00%
Accounting Standards Update 2016-01
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive income classified as available-for-sale to retained earnings		¥ 15,526
Software to be sold, leased or otherwise marketed
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortization period of intangible assets		3 years
Minimum \| Subsequent event \| Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated increase in right to use assets upon adoption of accounting pronouncement	¥ 300,000
Minimum \| Buildings
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Useful lives for depreciation		2 years
Minimum \| Machinery, equipment and others
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Useful lives for depreciation		2 years
Minimum \| Patent rights; know-how; license agreements; trademarks; software to be sold, leased or otherwise marketed, and internal-use software
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortization period of intangible assets		3 years
Minimum \| Customer relationships, music catalogs, artist contracts and television carriage contracts (broadcasting agreements)
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortization period of intangible assets		10 years
Maximum \| Subsequent event \| Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated increase in right to use assets upon adoption of accounting pronouncement	¥ 350,000
Maximum \| Buildings
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Useful lives for depreciation		50 years
Maximum \| Machinery, equipment and others
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Useful lives for depreciation		10 years
Maximum \| Patent rights; know-how; license agreements; trademarks; software to be sold, leased or otherwise marketed, and internal-use software
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortization period of intangible assets		10 years
Maximum \| Customer relationships, music catalogs, artist contracts and television carriage contracts (broadcasting agreements)
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortization period of intangible assets		44 years