Acquisition charges (Details) (National [Member], USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Acquisition charges	$ 83	$ 86
Amortization of intangible assets [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Acquisition charges	80	81
Stock-based compensation [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Acquisition charges	3	3
Retention bonuses [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Acquisition charges	$ 0	$ 2

This element represents acquisition-related costs incurred to effect a business combination which costs have been expensed during the period for potential significant acquisitions. Such costs include finder's fees; advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other professional or consulting fees; general administrative costs, including the costs of maintaining an internal acquisitions department; and may include costs of registering and issuing debt and equity securities. Additionally these costs include amortization of the fair-value write-up of inventory and the depreciation of the fair-value write-up of property, plant and equipment.

No definition available.

Name:	txn_BusinessAcquisitionAcquisitionRelatedCost
Namespace Prefix:	txn_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration