Segment and geographic area data (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011 Segments	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments	3
Percentage of revenue plus indirect sales by major customer (in hundredths)	13.00%	19.00%	24.00%
Revenue	$ 13,735	$ 13,966	$ 10,427
Operating Profit	2,992	4,514	1,991
Property, plant and equipment, net	4,428	3,680	3,158
Analog [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	6,375	5,979	4,202
Operating Profit	1,693	1,876	770
Embedded Processing [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	2,110	2,073	1,471
Operating Profit	368	491	194
Wireless [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	2,518	2,978	2,626
Operating Profit	412	683	315
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	2,732	2,936	2,128
Operating Profit	519	1,464	712
U.S. [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	1,468	1,539	1,140
Property, plant and equipment, net	2,159	1,694	1,727
Asia [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	8,619	8,903	6,575
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,739	1,575	1,013
Europe [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	1,822	1,760	1,408
Property, plant and equipment, net	276	139	161
Japan [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	1,462	1,366	976
Property, plant and equipment, net	228	249	244
Rest of World [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	364	398	328
Property, plant and equipment, net	$ 26	$ 23	$ 13

This element discusses the number of reportable segments which are established along major product categories.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Percentage of product revenue, plus indirect sales such as contract manufacturers, generated from a single external customer that accounts for 10 percent or more of an entity's total consolidated product net sales.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	txn_
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Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

Tangible assets that are held by an entity for use in the production or supply of goods and services, for rental to others, or for administrative purposes and that are expected to provide economic benefit for more than one year; net of accumulated depreciation. 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.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.13)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 7

-Section 03

-Paragraph 8

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph a

-Article 5

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 12

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph b, 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 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

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

+ Details

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- Definition

Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 5

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

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- Details

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