<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<xbrl
  xml:lang="en-US"
  xmlns="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance"
  xmlns:dei="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021"
  xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase"
  xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
    <link:schemaRef xlink:href="cern-20220115.xsd" xlink:type="simple"/>
    <context id="ie307cc67c4ba426aaeb1cb19d0cc9457_D20220115-20220115">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0000804753</identifier>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2022-01-15</startDate>
            <endDate>2022-01-15</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <dei:EntityCentralIndexKey
      contextRef="ie307cc67c4ba426aaeb1cb19d0cc9457_D20220115-20220115"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmJmYjI4NmZhNWVmNDQ4MGU4ZGE1MGQzMDhhY2Y0MzkxL3NlYzpiZmIyODZmYTVlZjQ0ODBlOGRhNTBkMzA4YWNmNDM5MV80L2ZyYWc6ODdmZDc5MWE5NjdmNGZjNjg5MjU4N2U0NmJhNTkxYmQvdGFibGU6NDhmYjk5YjAxZWZjNDk2MDk0MjBjMjk5NTMwNDg5NDMvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo0OGZiOTliMDFlZmM0OTYwOTQyMGMyOTk1MzA0ODk0M180LTEtMS0xLTExMzQw_9c44d224-ca5c-4117-bc0e-743048837a79">0000804753</dei:EntityCentralIndexKey>
    <dei:AmendmentFlag
      contextRef="ie307cc67c4ba426aaeb1cb19d0cc9457_D20220115-20220115"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmJmYjI4NmZhNWVmNDQ4MGU4ZGE1MGQzMDhhY2Y0MzkxL3NlYzpiZmIyODZmYTVlZjQ0ODBlOGRhNTBkMzA4YWNmNDM5MV80L2ZyYWc6ODdmZDc5MWE5NjdmNGZjNjg5MjU4N2U0NmJhNTkxYmQvdGFibGU6NDhmYjk5YjAxZWZjNDk2MDk0MjBjMjk5NTMwNDg5NDMvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo0OGZiOTliMDFlZmM0OTYwOTQyMGMyOTk1MzA0ODk0M183LTEtMS0xLTExMzQw_b6a7b0aa-7102-4b62-a52f-fda6ff26f6a2">false</dei:AmendmentFlag>
    <dei:DocumentType
      contextRef="ie307cc67c4ba426aaeb1cb19d0cc9457_D20220115-20220115"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmJmYjI4NmZhNWVmNDQ4MGU4ZGE1MGQzMDhhY2Y0MzkxL3NlYzpiZmIyODZmYTVlZjQ0ODBlOGRhNTBkMzA4YWNmNDM5MV8xL2ZyYWc6OTEwYTkwY2JkMTI5NDg4OGIyODI0NTIzYTQyOGU3M2YvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo5MTBhOTBjYmQxMjk0ODg4YjI4MjQ1MjNhNDI4ZTczZl8xMzQ5_90cc6fa3-2984-48c2-b99c-e1fabd147c03">8-K</dei:DocumentType>
    <dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate
      contextRef="ie307cc67c4ba426aaeb1cb19d0cc9457_D20220115-20220115"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmJmYjI4NmZhNWVmNDQ4MGU4ZGE1MGQzMDhhY2Y0MzkxL3NlYzpiZmIyODZmYTVlZjQ0ODBlOGRhNTBkMzA4YWNmNDM5MV8xL2ZyYWc6OTEwYTkwY2JkMTI5NDg4OGIyODI0NTIzYTQyOGU3M2YvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo5MTBhOTBjYmQxMjk0ODg4YjI4MjQ1MjNhNDI4ZTczZl8zMTI_43082603-0fc7-4c97-ab92-89a5d19bdef1">2022-01-15</dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate>
    <dei:EntityRegistrantName
      contextRef="ie307cc67c4ba426aaeb1cb19d0cc9457_D20220115-20220115"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmJmYjI4NmZhNWVmNDQ4MGU4ZGE1MGQzMDhhY2Y0MzkxL3NlYzpiZmIyODZmYTVlZjQ0ODBlOGRhNTBkMzA4YWNmNDM5MV8xL2ZyYWc6OTEwYTkwY2JkMTI5NDg4OGIyODI0NTIzYTQyOGU3M2YvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo5MTBhOTBjYmQxMjk0ODg4YjI4MjQ1MjNhNDI4ZTczZl8xMzQ1_733b814e-f848-46ef-b66f-c0a2abcb8404">Cerner Corporation</dei:EntityRegistrantName>
    <dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode
      contextRef="ie307cc67c4ba426aaeb1cb19d0cc9457_D20220115-20220115"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmJmYjI4NmZhNWVmNDQ4MGU4ZGE1MGQzMDhhY2Y0MzkxL3NlYzpiZmIyODZmYTVlZjQ0ODBlOGRhNTBkMzA4YWNmNDM5MV8xL2ZyYWc6OTEwYTkwY2JkMTI5NDg4OGIyODI0NTIzYTQyOGU3M2YvdGFibGU6MGQ0Y2I4NGQ0NTRkNDNiZmIyODc4ZDk0ZTNjZDNkNjQvdGFibGVyYW5nZTowZDRjYjg0ZDQ1NGQ0M2JmYjI4NzhkOTRlM2NkM2Q2NF8wLTAtMS0xLTExMzQw_abc19027-2f39-4aa9-80a0-3765bd89c10f">DE</dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode>
    <dei:EntityFileNumber
      contextRef="ie307cc67c4ba426aaeb1cb19d0cc9457_D20220115-20220115"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmJmYjI4NmZhNWVmNDQ4MGU4ZGE1MGQzMDhhY2Y0MzkxL3NlYzpiZmIyODZmYTVlZjQ0ODBlOGRhNTBkMzA4YWNmNDM5MV8xL2ZyYWc6OTEwYTkwY2JkMTI5NDg4OGIyODI0NTIzYTQyOGU3M2YvdGFibGU6MGQ0Y2I4NGQ0NTRkNDNiZmIyODc4ZDk0ZTNjZDNkNjQvdGFibGVyYW5nZTowZDRjYjg0ZDQ1NGQ0M2JmYjI4NzhkOTRlM2NkM2Q2NF8wLTEtMS0xLTExMzQw_b239761c-909c-4384-9361-d47fa6537b3d">0-15386</dei:EntityFileNumber>
    <dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber
      contextRef="ie307cc67c4ba426aaeb1cb19d0cc9457_D20220115-20220115"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmJmYjI4NmZhNWVmNDQ4MGU4ZGE1MGQzMDhhY2Y0MzkxL3NlYzpiZmIyODZmYTVlZjQ0ODBlOGRhNTBkMzA4YWNmNDM5MV8xL2ZyYWc6OTEwYTkwY2JkMTI5NDg4OGIyODI0NTIzYTQyOGU3M2YvdGFibGU6MGQ0Y2I4NGQ0NTRkNDNiZmIyODc4ZDk0ZTNjZDNkNjQvdGFibGVyYW5nZTowZDRjYjg0ZDQ1NGQ0M2JmYjI4NzhkOTRlM2NkM2Q2NF8wLTMtMS0xLTExMzQw_4d2a21d6-f4d0-4d2e-bb77-5ce6538ae692">43-1196944</dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber>
    <dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1
      contextRef="ie307cc67c4ba426aaeb1cb19d0cc9457_D20220115-20220115"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmJmYjI4NmZhNWVmNDQ4MGU4ZGE1MGQzMDhhY2Y0MzkxL3NlYzpiZmIyODZmYTVlZjQ0ODBlOGRhNTBkMzA4YWNmNDM5MV8xL2ZyYWc6OTEwYTkwY2JkMTI5NDg4OGIyODI0NTIzYTQyOGU3M2YvdGFibGU6MjkxOGRlNmJmYzU1NGE1NGFlNThjODdlNDMwMGZiZWUvdGFibGVyYW5nZToyOTE4ZGU2YmZjNTU0YTU0YWU1OGM4N2U0MzAwZmJlZV8wLTEtMS0xLTExMzQw_60f4e69c-6728-4126-ad6e-4668dc4f3ce3">2800 Rock Creek Parkway</dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1>
    <dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode
      contextRef="ie307cc67c4ba426aaeb1cb19d0cc9457_D20220115-20220115"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmJmYjI4NmZhNWVmNDQ4MGU4ZGE1MGQzMDhhY2Y0MzkxL3NlYzpiZmIyODZmYTVlZjQ0ODBlOGRhNTBkMzA4YWNmNDM5MV8xL2ZyYWc6OTEwYTkwY2JkMTI5NDg4OGIyODI0NTIzYTQyOGU3M2YvdGFibGU6MjkxOGRlNmJmYzU1NGE1NGFlNThjODdlNDMwMGZiZWUvdGFibGVyYW5nZToyOTE4ZGU2YmZjNTU0YTU0YWU1OGM4N2U0MzAwZmJlZV8wLTctMS0xLTExMzQw_60e0f0ab-ab91-4e63-978c-7c3229cb24a9">64117</dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode>
    <dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown
      contextRef="ie307cc67c4ba426aaeb1cb19d0cc9457_D20220115-20220115"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmJmYjI4NmZhNWVmNDQ4MGU4ZGE1MGQzMDhhY2Y0MzkxL3NlYzpiZmIyODZmYTVlZjQ0ODBlOGRhNTBkMzA4YWNmNDM5MV8xL2ZyYWc6OTEwYTkwY2JkMTI5NDg4OGIyODI0NTIzYTQyOGU3M2YvdGFibGU6MjkxOGRlNmJmYzU1NGE1NGFlNThjODdlNDMwMGZiZWUvdGFibGVyYW5nZToyOTE4ZGU2YmZjNTU0YTU0YWU1OGM4N2U0MzAwZmJlZV8xLTEtMS0xLTExMzQw_737f96e2-642a-4ca4-8c7e-db9703c0b30c">North Kansas City,</dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown>
    <dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince
      contextRef="ie307cc67c4ba426aaeb1cb19d0cc9457_D20220115-20220115"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmJmYjI4NmZhNWVmNDQ4MGU4ZGE1MGQzMDhhY2Y0MzkxL3NlYzpiZmIyODZmYTVlZjQ0ODBlOGRhNTBkMzA4YWNmNDM5MV8xL2ZyYWc6OTEwYTkwY2JkMTI5NDg4OGIyODI0NTIzYTQyOGU3M2YvdGFibGU6MjkxOGRlNmJmYzU1NGE1NGFlNThjODdlNDMwMGZiZWUvdGFibGVyYW5nZToyOTE4ZGU2YmZjNTU0YTU0YWU1OGM4N2U0MzAwZmJlZV8xLTMtMS0xLTExMzQw_94f00acf-7561-4451-b228-18fa8cf14ccd">MO</dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince>
    <dei:CityAreaCode
      contextRef="ie307cc67c4ba426aaeb1cb19d0cc9457_D20220115-20220115"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmJmYjI4NmZhNWVmNDQ4MGU4ZGE1MGQzMDhhY2Y0MzkxL3NlYzpiZmIyODZmYTVlZjQ0ODBlOGRhNTBkMzA4YWNmNDM5MV8xL2ZyYWc6OTEwYTkwY2JkMTI5NDg4OGIyODI0NTIzYTQyOGU3M2YvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo5MTBhOTBjYmQxMjk0ODg4YjI4MjQ1MjNhNDI4ZTczZl8xMzQ2_74909509-7469-4f87-861b-3ce5671e263a">816</dei:CityAreaCode>
    <dei:LocalPhoneNumber
      contextRef="ie307cc67c4ba426aaeb1cb19d0cc9457_D20220115-20220115"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmJmYjI4NmZhNWVmNDQ4MGU4ZGE1MGQzMDhhY2Y0MzkxL3NlYzpiZmIyODZmYTVlZjQ0ODBlOGRhNTBkMzA4YWNmNDM5MV8xL2ZyYWc6OTEwYTkwY2JkMTI5NDg4OGIyODI0NTIzYTQyOGU3M2YvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo5MTBhOTBjYmQxMjk0ODg4YjI4MjQ1MjNhNDI4ZTczZl8xMzQ3_847c1be6-186e-437f-b4a4-af1374d4a0b9">221-1024</dei:LocalPhoneNumber>
    <dei:WrittenCommunications
      contextRef="ie307cc67c4ba426aaeb1cb19d0cc9457_D20220115-20220115"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmJmYjI4NmZhNWVmNDQ4MGU4ZGE1MGQzMDhhY2Y0MzkxL3NlYzpiZmIyODZmYTVlZjQ0ODBlOGRhNTBkMzA4YWNmNDM5MV8xL2ZyYWc6OTEwYTkwY2JkMTI5NDg4OGIyODI0NTIzYTQyOGU3M2YvdGFibGU6MGYxNzY1NzI4NDQ3NGMxY2ExZTQ4MWRhYjFjNjlhZTQvdGFibGVyYW5nZTowZjE3NjU3Mjg0NDc0YzFjYTFlNDgxZGFiMWM2OWFlNF8wLTAtMS0xLTExMzQw_1953869e-7830-4c28-94c3-4e0beaf3c673">false</dei:WrittenCommunications>
    <dei:SolicitingMaterial
      contextRef="ie307cc67c4ba426aaeb1cb19d0cc9457_D20220115-20220115"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmJmYjI4NmZhNWVmNDQ4MGU4ZGE1MGQzMDhhY2Y0MzkxL3NlYzpiZmIyODZmYTVlZjQ0ODBlOGRhNTBkMzA4YWNmNDM5MV8xL2ZyYWc6OTEwYTkwY2JkMTI5NDg4OGIyODI0NTIzYTQyOGU3M2YvdGFibGU6ZGFiNWJlOWRkNGI2NDQ1YTkyYmVjY2QxMWJmYmJlYjIvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpkYWI1YmU5ZGQ0YjY0NDVhOTJiZWNjZDExYmZiYmViMl8wLTAtMS0xLTExMzQw_073bf05f-b0b6-455f-b9e1-b11aa488954f">false</dei:SolicitingMaterial>
    <dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer
      contextRef="ie307cc67c4ba426aaeb1cb19d0cc9457_D20220115-20220115"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmJmYjI4NmZhNWVmNDQ4MGU4ZGE1MGQzMDhhY2Y0MzkxL3NlYzpiZmIyODZmYTVlZjQ0ODBlOGRhNTBkMzA4YWNmNDM5MV8xL2ZyYWc6OTEwYTkwY2JkMTI5NDg4OGIyODI0NTIzYTQyOGU3M2YvdGFibGU6MzljYzFhYWZhNjJjNGViNGE5M2IzNmU1ZWJkYmU2YTkvdGFibGVyYW5nZTozOWNjMWFhZmE2MmM0ZWI0YTkzYjM2ZTVlYmRiZTZhOV8wLTAtMS0xLTExMzQw_9f626d53-dd72-4143-bbad-a5be49e00188">false</dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer>
    <dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer
      contextRef="ie307cc67c4ba426aaeb1cb19d0cc9457_D20220115-20220115"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmJmYjI4NmZhNWVmNDQ4MGU4ZGE1MGQzMDhhY2Y0MzkxL3NlYzpiZmIyODZmYTVlZjQ0ODBlOGRhNTBkMzA4YWNmNDM5MV8xL2ZyYWc6OTEwYTkwY2JkMTI5NDg4OGIyODI0NTIzYTQyOGU3M2YvdGFibGU6N2MyYzA2NTU2OWJlNDY3N2E1OWZlYWYyYzQyMzI0NjAvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo3YzJjMDY1NTY5YmU0Njc3YTU5ZmVhZjJjNDIzMjQ2MF8wLTAtMS0xLTExMzQw_934858ca-af41-408c-8c65-91fb6be6730a">false</dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer>
    <dei:Security12bTitle
      contextRef="ie307cc67c4ba426aaeb1cb19d0cc9457_D20220115-20220115"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmJmYjI4NmZhNWVmNDQ4MGU4ZGE1MGQzMDhhY2Y0MzkxL3NlYzpiZmIyODZmYTVlZjQ0ODBlOGRhNTBkMzA4YWNmNDM5MV8xL2ZyYWc6OTEwYTkwY2JkMTI5NDg4OGIyODI0NTIzYTQyOGU3M2YvdGFibGU6MmRhZjI4Yjk1MDVhNDA0NWIxNjc4NTg3YTUxOWU1ZDgvdGFibGVyYW5nZToyZGFmMjhiOTUwNWE0MDQ1YjE2Nzg1ODdhNTE5ZTVkOF8xLTAtMS0xLTExMzQw_4e0f2b67-ff0f-44cf-9e15-6840b2aece37">Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol
      contextRef="ie307cc67c4ba426aaeb1cb19d0cc9457_D20220115-20220115"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmJmYjI4NmZhNWVmNDQ4MGU4ZGE1MGQzMDhhY2Y0MzkxL3NlYzpiZmIyODZmYTVlZjQ0ODBlOGRhNTBkMzA4YWNmNDM5MV8xL2ZyYWc6OTEwYTkwY2JkMTI5NDg4OGIyODI0NTIzYTQyOGU3M2YvdGFibGU6MmRhZjI4Yjk1MDVhNDA0NWIxNjc4NTg3YTUxOWU1ZDgvdGFibGVyYW5nZToyZGFmMjhiOTUwNWE0MDQ1YjE2Nzg1ODdhNTE5ZTVkOF8xLTEtMS0xLTExMzQw_d65d0787-ed97-4c6d-aeda-aa18272444cd">CERN</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName
      contextRef="ie307cc67c4ba426aaeb1cb19d0cc9457_D20220115-20220115"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmJmYjI4NmZhNWVmNDQ4MGU4ZGE1MGQzMDhhY2Y0MzkxL3NlYzpiZmIyODZmYTVlZjQ0ODBlOGRhNTBkMzA4YWNmNDM5MV8xL2ZyYWc6OTEwYTkwY2JkMTI5NDg4OGIyODI0NTIzYTQyOGU3M2YvdGFibGU6MmRhZjI4Yjk1MDVhNDA0NWIxNjc4NTg3YTUxOWU1ZDgvdGFibGVyYW5nZToyZGFmMjhiOTUwNWE0MDQ1YjE2Nzg1ODdhNTE5ZTVkOF8xLTItMS0xLTExMzQw_4c962160-b7da-4998-a6a1-ee5e94f3d094">NASDAQ</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany
      contextRef="ie307cc67c4ba426aaeb1cb19d0cc9457_D20220115-20220115"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmJmYjI4NmZhNWVmNDQ4MGU4ZGE1MGQzMDhhY2Y0MzkxL3NlYzpiZmIyODZmYTVlZjQ0ODBlOGRhNTBkMzA4YWNmNDM5MV8xL2ZyYWc6OTEwYTkwY2JkMTI5NDg4OGIyODI0NTIzYTQyOGU3M2YvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo5MTBhOTBjYmQxMjk0ODg4YjI4MjQ1MjNhNDI4ZTczZl8xMzQ4_1f9d0d23-e6bc-4fc1-8954-04ec35bb80cd">false</dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany>
</xbrl>
