Note 2 Property Plant and Equipment (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Oct. 01, 2011
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Assets Held For Use	32.2
Building [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Minimum Useful Life In Years	20
Maximum Useful Life In Years	40
Leasehold Improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Depreciation Methods	straight-line basis over the shorter of the lease term or useful life of the asset
Machinery, Equipment, Furniture and Fixtures [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Minimum Useful Life In Years	3
Maximum Useful Life In Years	15

Carrying amount of assets that was reclassified from assets held-for-sale to assets held-for-use.

Name:	sanm_AssetsHeldForUse
Namespace Prefix:	sanm
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Describes an entity's methodology for allocating the cost of a property, plant or equipment, less salvage value (if any), over the estimated useful life of the asset in a systematic and rational manner.

+ References

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

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 12

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph d

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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 AICPA

-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)

-Number 43

-Chapter 9

-Section C

-Paragraph 5

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
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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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The maximum useful life of long-lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include land, buildings, machinery and equipment, and other types of furniture and equipment including, but not limited to, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment and software.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The minimum useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include land, buildings, machinery and equipment, and other types of furniture and equipment including, but not limited to, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment and software.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration