Fair Value Measurements (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions	12 Months Ended
Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2010	Jul. 31, 2009
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
number of significant transfers between levels one two and three	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Reconciliation of activity for Level 3 assets
Beginning balance	87	245	285
Transfers from long-term to current			0
Settlements at par	(28)	(158)	(40)
Ending balance	59	87	245
Short Term Debt Investments [Member]
Reconciliation of activity for Level 3 assets
Beginning balance	0	151	0
Transfers from long-term to current			175
Settlements at par	0	(151)	(24)
Ending balance	0	0	151
Long-Term Investment [Member]
Reconciliation of activity for Level 3 assets
Beginning balance	87	94	285
Transfers from long-term to current			(175)
Settlements at par	(28)	(7)	(16)
Ending balance	$ 59	$ 87	$ 94

Fair Value Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recuring Basis Transfers From Long Term To Current

Name:	intu_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecuringBasisTransfersFromLongTermToCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	intu
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

number of significant transfers between levels one two and three

+ Details

Name:	intu_NumberOfSignificantTransfersBetweenLevelsOneTwoAndThree
Namespace Prefix:	intu
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- 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

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

+ Details

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- Definition

This element represents purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements (net) which have taken place during the period in relation to assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetPurchasesSalesIssuancesSettlements
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents an asset measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) which is required for reconciliation purposes of beginning and ending balances.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 157
-Paragraph 32
-Subparagraph c
-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 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6925170&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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