Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2011	Feb. 09, 2012
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 30, 2011
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Trading Symbol	API
Entity Registrant Name	ADVANCED PHOTONIX INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000869986
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--03-31
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		30,968,716