Document and Entity (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014	Nov. 18, 2014	Apr. 13, 2014
Document and Entity [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	WHOLE FOODS MARKET INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000865436
Document Type	10-K
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--09-28
Document Period End Date	Sep. 28, 2014
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2014
Entity Public Float			$ 18,230,824,706
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		359,747,100
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes