Represents net share-based awards granted (after forfeitures and cancellations) in a fiscal year as a percentage of the total number of stock outstanding at the beginning of each fiscal year.

Name:	qcom_NetShareBasedAwardsGrantedInFiscalYearAsPercentOfTotalOutstandingStockAtBeginningOfFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix:	qcom
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of shares reserved for issuance under stock option agreements assumed as a result of acquisitions.

+ Details

Name:	qcom_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAssumed
Namespace Prefix:	qcom
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the shares that were approved by the Company's stockholders in March 2010.

+ Details

Name:	qcom_SharesApprovedByStockholders
Namespace Prefix:	qcom
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents total share-based awards granted in a fiscal year as a percentage of the total number of stock outstanding at the end of each respective fiscal year.

+ Details

Name:	qcom_TotalShareBasedAwardsGrantedInFiscalYearAsPercentOfTotalOutstandingStockAtEndOfFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix:	qcom
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Aggregate number of common shares reserved for future issuance.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 129

-Paragraph 4

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.29)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuance
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) originally approved (usually by shareholders and board of directors), net of any subsequent amendments and adjustments, for awards under the equity-based compensation plan. As stock or unit options and equity instruments other than options are awarded to participants, the shares or units remain authorized and become reserved for issuance under outstanding awards (not necessarily vested).

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph A240

-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.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(3)

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

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Employee Benefit Plans Equity Compensation Plans (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 25, 2011 Qualcomm Equity Compensation Plans [Member]	Sep. 25, 2011 Atheros Equity Compensation Plans [Member]	Sep. 25, 2011 Equity Compensation Plans Consolidated [Member]	Sep. 26, 2010 Equity Compensation Plans Consolidated [Member]	Sep. 27, 2009 Equity Compensation Plans Consolidated [Member]
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares authorized	483,284,000
Shares approved in March 2011	65,000,000
Reserved shares remaining	276,131,000	9,733,000
Stock awards assumed as a result of acquisitions		9,564,000
Net share-based awards granted as a percentage of outstanding shares as of the beginning of each fiscal year			0.70%	1.20%	2.20%
Total share based awards granted as a percentage of outstanding shares as of the end of each fiscal year			0.90%	1.90%	2.50%