Reconciliation of Provision for Income Taxes (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Sep. 24, 2011	Sep. 25, 2010	Sep. 26, 2009
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Computed expected tax	$ 11,973	$ 6,489	$ 4,223
State taxes, net of federal effect	552	351	339
Indefinitely invested earnings of foreign subsidiaries	(3,898)	(2,125)	(647)
Research and development credit, net	(167)	(23)	(84)
Domestic production activities deduction	(168)	(48)	(36)
Other	(9)	(117)	36
Provision for income taxes	$ 8,283	$ 4,527	$ 3,831
Effective tax rate	24.20%	24.40%	31.80%

Income Taxes [Line Items]

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A ratio calculated by dividing the reported amount of income tax expense attributable to continuing operations for the period by GAAP-basis pretax income from continuing operations.

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The sum of the current income tax expense or benefit and the deferred income tax expense or benefit pertaining to continuing operations.

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The portion of the difference between total income tax expense or benefit as reported in the Income Statement for the period and the expected income tax expense or benefit computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations attributable to the deduction for qualified production activities received under enacted tax laws.

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The portion of the difference, between total income tax expense or benefit as reported in the Income Statement for the period and the expected income tax expense or benefit computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations, that is attributable to total foreign income tax expense or benefit. The foreign income tax expense or benefit difference represents the income tax expense or benefit at applicable domestic statutory income tax rates applied to foreign earnings or loss for the period versus the foreign income tax expense or benefit calculated by applying the appropriate foreign tax rates.

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The amount of income tax expense or benefit for the period computed by applying the domestic federal statutory tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations.

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The sum of other amounts reflected in the reconciliation of the statutory tax provision (benefit) to the actual tax provision (benefit).

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The portion of the difference between total income tax expense or benefit as reported in the Income Statement and the expected income tax expense or benefit computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations attributable to research tax credits generated or utilized under enacted tax laws during the period.

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