Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Segment Information (Details)

v2.4.1.9
Segment Information (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Mar. 29, 2015
Mar. 30, 2014
Mar. 29, 2015
Mar. 30, 2014
Sep. 28, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Segment Reporting, Factors Used to Identify Entity's Reportable Segments     The Company is organized on the basis of products and services. The Company conducts business primarily through two reportable segments: QCT (Qualcomm CDMA Technologies) and QTL (Qualcomm Technology Licensing), and its QSI (Qualcomm Strategic Initiatives) reportable segment makes strategic investments    
Revenues $ 6,894us-gaap_Revenues $ 6,367us-gaap_Revenues $ 13,993us-gaap_Revenues $ 12,989us-gaap_Revenues  
Earnings before taxes 1,539us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest 2,272us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest 3,837us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest 4,029us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest  
Goodwill impairment charge       16us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss  
Assets 47,173us-gaap_Assets   47,173us-gaap_Assets   48,574us-gaap_Assets
Long-lived assets impairment charges       444us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse  
QCT [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenues 4,434us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_QctMember 		4,243us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_QctMember 		9,676us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_QctMember 		8,859us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_QctMember 		 
Earnings before taxes 750us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_QctMember 		740us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_QctMember 		1,896us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_QctMember 		1,646us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_QctMember 		 
Assets 3,412us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_QctMember 		  3,412us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_QctMember 		  3,639us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_QctMember
QTL [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenues 2,414us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_QtlMember 		2,071us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_QtlMember 		4,230us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_QtlMember 		3,971us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_QtlMember 		 
Earnings before taxes 2,162us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_QtlMember 		1,834us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_QtlMember 		3,741us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_QtlMember 		3,504us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_QtlMember 		 
Assets 475us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_QtlMember 		  475us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_QtlMember 		  161us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_QtlMember
QSI [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenues 0us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_QsiMember 		0us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_QsiMember 		0us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_QsiMember 		0us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_QsiMember 		 
Earnings before taxes (32)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_QsiMember 		(39)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_QsiMember 		(33)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_QsiMember 		(35)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_QsiMember 		 
Assets 614us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_QsiMember 		  614us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_QsiMember 		  484us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_QsiMember
Reconciling Items [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenues 46us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_MaterialReconcilingItemsMember 		53us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_MaterialReconcilingItemsMember 		87us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_MaterialReconcilingItemsMember 		159us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_MaterialReconcilingItemsMember 		 
Earnings before taxes (1,341)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_MaterialReconcilingItemsMember 		(263)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_MaterialReconcilingItemsMember 		(1,767)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_MaterialReconcilingItemsMember 		(1,086)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_MaterialReconcilingItemsMember 		 
Assets 42,672us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_MaterialReconcilingItemsMember 		  42,672us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_MaterialReconcilingItemsMember 		  44,290us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_MaterialReconcilingItemsMember
Nonreportable Segments [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenues 47us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_AllOtherSegmentsMember 		53us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_AllOtherSegmentsMember 		90us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_AllOtherSegmentsMember 		162us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_AllOtherSegmentsMember 		 
Earnings before taxes (163)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_AllOtherSegmentsMember 		(200)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_AllOtherSegmentsMember 		(311)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_AllOtherSegmentsMember 		(853)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_AllOtherSegmentsMember 		 
Unallocated cost of equipment and services revenues [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Earnings before taxes (74)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_UnallocatedcostofequipmentandservicesrevenueMember 		(75)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_UnallocatedcostofequipmentandservicesrevenueMember 		(152)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_UnallocatedcostofequipmentandservicesrevenueMember 		(148)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_UnallocatedcostofequipmentandservicesrevenueMember 		 
Unallocated acquisition-related expenses 63qcom_Unallocatedacquisitionrelatedexpenses
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_UnallocatedcostofequipmentandservicesrevenueMember 		62qcom_Unallocatedacquisitionrelatedexpenses
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_UnallocatedcostofequipmentandservicesrevenueMember 		129qcom_Unallocatedacquisitionrelatedexpenses
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_UnallocatedcostofequipmentandservicesrevenueMember 		123qcom_Unallocatedacquisitionrelatedexpenses
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_UnallocatedcostofequipmentandservicesrevenueMember 		 
Unallocated research and development expenses [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Earnings before taxes (226)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_UnallocatedResearchAndDevelopmentExpensesMember 		(217)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_UnallocatedResearchAndDevelopmentExpensesMember 		(437)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_UnallocatedResearchAndDevelopmentExpensesMember 		(434)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_UnallocatedResearchAndDevelopmentExpensesMember 		 
Unallocated acquisition-related expenses 3qcom_Unallocatedacquisitionrelatedexpenses
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_UnallocatedResearchAndDevelopmentExpensesMember 		22qcom_Unallocatedacquisitionrelatedexpenses
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_UnallocatedResearchAndDevelopmentExpensesMember 		8qcom_Unallocatedacquisitionrelatedexpenses
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_UnallocatedResearchAndDevelopmentExpensesMember 		23qcom_Unallocatedacquisitionrelatedexpenses
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_UnallocatedResearchAndDevelopmentExpensesMember 		 
Unallocated selling, general and administrative expenses [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Earnings before taxes (100)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_UnallocatedSellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpensesMember 		(85)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_UnallocatedSellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpensesMember 		(249)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_UnallocatedSellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpensesMember 		(210)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_UnallocatedSellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpensesMember 		 
Unallocated acquisition-related expenses 13qcom_Unallocatedacquisitionrelatedexpenses
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_UnallocatedSellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpensesMember 		6qcom_Unallocatedacquisitionrelatedexpenses
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_UnallocatedSellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpensesMember 		25qcom_Unallocatedacquisitionrelatedexpenses
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_UnallocatedSellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpensesMember 		13qcom_Unallocatedacquisitionrelatedexpenses
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_UnallocatedSellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpensesMember 		 
Unallocated Other Income [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Earnings before taxes (1,010)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_UnallocatedOtherIncomeMember 		0us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_UnallocatedOtherIncomeMember 		(1,079)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_UnallocatedOtherIncomeMember 		(12)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_UnallocatedOtherIncomeMember 		 
Goodwill impairment charge     104us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_UnallocatedOtherIncomeMember 		   
Unallocated Investment Income, Net [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Earnings before taxes 232us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_UnallocatedInvestmentIncomeLossNetMember 		314us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_UnallocatedInvestmentIncomeLossNetMember 		462us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_UnallocatedInvestmentIncomeLossNetMember 		571us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_UnallocatedInvestmentIncomeLossNetMember 		 
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenues (1)us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember 		0us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember 		(3)us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember 		(3)us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember 		 
Earnings before taxes 0us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember 		0us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember 		(1)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember 		0us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember 		 
United States of America, Dollars          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Resolution of governmental investigation, Amount 975qcom_ResolutionofgovernmentalinvestigationAmount
/ us-gaap_CurrencyAxis
= currency_USD 		       
United States of America, Dollars | Unallocated Other Income [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Resolution of governmental investigation, Amount     $ 975qcom_ResolutionofgovernmentalinvestigationAmount
/ us-gaap_CurrencyAxis
= currency_USD
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= qcom_UnallocatedOtherIncomeMember