Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Millions, except Share data	Total	Common stock shares	Paid-In Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Total Qualcomm Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Beginning Balance, attributable to noncontrolling interests at Sep. 28, 2008							$ 0
Beginning balance, including portion attributable to noncontrolling interest at Sep. 28, 2008	17,944
Beginning Balance at Sep. 28, 2008			7,511	10,717	(284)	17,944
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Sep. 28, 2008		1,656,000,000
Components of comprehensive income, net of tax:
Net income	1,592	0	0	1,592	0	1,592
Net Income (Loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	0						0
Net Income (loss), including portion attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,592
Other comprehensive income (loss) (Note 1)	891	0	0	0	891	891	0
Total comprehensive income	2,483
Common stock issued under employee benefit plans and the related tax benefits	682		682	0	0	682	0
Common stock issued under employee benefit plans (in shares) net of shares withheld for tax		22,000,000
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	(285)		(285)	0	0	(285)	0
Repurchase and retirement of common stock (in shares)	8,920,000	(9,000,000)
Share-based compensation	585	0	585	0	0	585	0
Dividends	(1,093)	0	0	(1,093)	0	(1,093)	0
Other	0	0	0	19	(19)	0	0
Ending Balance, attributable to noncontrolling interests at Sep. 27, 2009							0
Ending balance, including portion attributable to noncontrolling interest at Sep. 27, 2009	20,316
Ending Balance at Sep. 27, 2009			8,493	11,235	588	20,316
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 27, 2009		1,669,000,000
Components of comprehensive income, net of tax:
Net income	3,247	0	0	3,247	0	3,247
Net Income (Loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	0						0
Net Income (loss), including portion attributable to noncontrolling interest	3,247
Other comprehensive income (loss) (Note 1)	109	0	0	0	109	109	0
Total comprehensive income	3,356
Common stock issued under employee benefit plans and the related tax benefits	770		770	0	0	770	0
Common stock issued under employee benefit plans (in shares) net of shares withheld for tax		23,000,000
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	(3,016)		(3,016)	0	0	(3,016)	0
Repurchase and retirement of common stock (in shares)	79,789,000	(80,000,000)
Share-based compensation	604	0	604	0	0	604	0
Dividends	(1,177)	0	0	(1,177)	0	(1,177)	0
Other	5	0	5	0	0	5	0
Ending Balance, attributable to noncontrolling interests at Sep. 26, 2010	0						0
Ending balance, including portion attributable to noncontrolling interest at Sep. 26, 2010	20,858
Ending Balance at Sep. 26, 2010	20,858		6,856	13,305	697	20,858
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 26, 2010		1,612,000,000
Components of comprehensive income, net of tax:
Net income	4,260	0	0	4,260	0	4,260
Net Income (Loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(18)						(18)
Net Income (loss), including portion attributable to noncontrolling interest	4,242
Other comprehensive income (loss) (Note 1)	(347)	0	0	0	(344)	(344)	(3)
Total comprehensive income	3,895
Common stock issued under employee benefit plans and the related tax benefits	2,720		2,720	0	0	2,720	0
Common stock issued under employee benefit plans (in shares) net of shares withheld for tax		72,000,000
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	(142)		(142)	0	0	(142)	0
Repurchase and retirement of common stock (in shares)	2,878,000	(3,000,000)
Issuance of subsidiary shares to noncontrolling interests (Note 7)	56	0	14	0	0	14	42
Share-based compensation	848	0	848	0	0	848	0
Dividends	(1,361)	0	0	(1,361)	0	(1,361)	0
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Equity Interests Issued and Issuable	106	0	106	0	0	106	0
Other	(8)	0	(8)	0	0	(8)	0
Ending Balance, attributable to noncontrolling interests at Sep. 25, 2011	21						21
Ending balance, including portion attributable to noncontrolling interest at Sep. 25, 2011	26,972
Ending Balance at Sep. 25, 2011	$ 26,951		$ 10,394	$ 16,204	$ 353	$ 26,951
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 25, 2011		1,681,000,000