Additional performance-based awards to be earned, upon certain levels of achievement.

No definition available.

Name:	amat_AdditionalPerformanceBasedAwardsToBeEarnedUponCertainLevelsOfAchievement
Namespace Prefix:	amat_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount authorized by Board of directors to repurchase shares.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	amat_AmountAuthorizedByBoardOfDirectorsToRepurchaseShares
Namespace Prefix:	amat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of employee stock purchase plans.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	amat_EmployeeStockPurchasePlansNumbers
Namespace Prefix:	amat_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Purchase period for Employee Stock Purchase Plans.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	amat_PurchasePeriodForEmployeeStockPurchasePlans
Namespace Prefix:	amat_
Data Type:	us-types:durationStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Purchase price in percent of lower of fair market value of common stock.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	amat_PurchasePriceInPercentOfLowerOfFairMarketValueOfCommonStock
Namespace Prefix:	amat_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Expiration Period

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	amat_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardExpirationPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	amat_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Share-based compensation arrangement by share-based payment award options assumed in period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	amat_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAssumedInPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	amat_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	amat_StockholdersEquityComprehensiveIncomeAndShareBasedCompensationTextualsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	amat_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

stock repurchase program.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	amat_StockRepurchaseProgramYears
Namespace Prefix:	amat_
Data Type:	us-types:durationStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Stock Repurchase Remaining Amount Authorized to be Repurchased

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	amat_StockRepurchaseRemainingAmountAuthorizedToBeRepurchased
Namespace Prefix:	amat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Weighted Average Estimated Fair Value Of Purchase Rights Under ESPP.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	amat_WeightedAverageEstimatedFairValueOfPurchaseRightsUnderEspp
Namespace Prefix:	amat_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate dividends declared during the period for each share of common stock outstanding.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6959260&loc=d3e187085-122770

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Equity impact of common stock cash dividends declared by an entity during the period. This element includes paid and unpaid dividends declared during the period.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

As of the balance sheet date, the aggregate unrecognized cost of equity-based awards made to employees under equity-based compensation awards that have yet to vest.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (i)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph A240

-Subparagraph h

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

- Definition

Weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation is expected to be recognized for equity-based compensation plans, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedPeriodForRecognition1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Period which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingPeriod1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The difference between the maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) authorized for issuance under the plan (including the effects of amendments and adjustments), and the sum of: 1) the number of shares (or other type of equity) already issued upon exercise of options or other equity-based awards under the plan; and 2) shares (or other type of equity) reserved for issuance on granting of outstanding awards, net of cancellations and forfeitures, if applicable.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of shares issued during the period as a result of an employee stock purchase plan.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6959260&loc=d3e187085-122770

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 129

-Paragraph 5

-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 AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 12

-Paragraph 10

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 29, 30

-Article 5

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Stockholders' Equity, Comprehensive Income and Share-Based Compensation (Details Textuals) (USD $)	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Apr. 28, 2013 employee_stock_purchase_plans	Apr. 29, 2012	Jan. 29, 2012	Apr. 28, 2013	Apr. 29, 2012	Mar. 05, 2012
Stockholders' Equity Comprehensive Income and Share-Based Compensation (Textuals) [Abstract]
Amount authorized by Board of directors to repurchase shares								$ 3,000,000,000.0
Period of stock repurchase program (in years)								three years
Remaining number of shares authorized to be repurchased			1,700,000,000			1,700,000,000
Cash dividend declared	$ 0.10	$ 0.09
Dividend declared, amount						227,000,000	218,000,000
Number of employee stock purchase plans			2
Total unrecognized compensation expense			$ 306,000,000			$ 306,000,000
Weighted average period for unrecognized compensation expense to be recognized (in years)						2 years 8 months 12 days
Number of shares available for grant (in shares)			183,000,000			183,000,000
Stock options scheduled to expire						7 years
Assumed in Varian acquisition (in shares)					5,000,000
Additional performance-based awards to be earned upon certain levels of achievement (in shares)			2,000,000			2,000,000
Purchase price in percent of the lower of the fair market value of Applied common stock			85.00%			85.00%
Purchase period for ESPP (in months)						6-month
Weighted Average Estimated Fair Value Of Purchase Rights Under Espp			$ 2.90	$ 2.89		$ 2.90	$ 2.89
Number of shares issued under the ESPP			3,000,000	3,000,000		3,000,000	3,000,000
Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]
Stockholders' Equity Comprehensive Income and Share-Based Compensation (Textuals) [Abstract]
Number of shares available for grant (in shares)			44,000,000			44,000,000
Minimum [Member]
Stockholders' Equity Comprehensive Income and Share-Based Compensation (Textuals) [Abstract]
Stock options scheduled to be vested						3 years
Maximum [Member]
Stockholders' Equity Comprehensive Income and Share-Based Compensation (Textuals) [Abstract]
Stock options scheduled to be vested						4 years