Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Stockholders' Equity (Details)

 v2.3.0.11
Stockholders' Equity (Details) (USD $)
 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Jun. 26, 2011
Mar. 27, 2011
Dec. 26, 2010
Jun. 27, 2010
Mar. 28, 2010
Dec. 27, 2009
Jun. 26, 2011
Jun. 27, 2010
Sep. 26, 2010
License period of licenses             20 years    
Advance payment deposit $ 1,100,000,000           $ 1,100,000,000   $ 1,100,000,000
Date of commercial launch of wireless service             within five years of the assignment date    
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests   62,000,000         62,000,000 0  
Other liabilities 170,000,000 [1]           170,000,000 [1]    
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent 74.00%           74.00%    
Changes in Stockholders' equity                  
Balance at beginning period     20,858,000,000       20,858,000,000    
Issuance of subsidiary shares to noncontrolling interests             56,000,000    
Net income (loss) 1,029,000,000     767,000,000     3,194,000,000 2,382,000,000  
Other comprehensive income (51,000,000)     (291,000,000)     47,000,000 (59,000,000)  
Common stock issued under employee benefit plans             2,355,000,000    
Share-based compensation             587,000,000    
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options             110,000,000    
Dividends (360,000,000) (319,000,000) (314,000,000) (309,000,000) (279,000,000) (284,000,000) (993,000,000) (872,000,000)  
Value of stock awards assumed in acquisition 106,000,000           106,000,000    
Other             (19,000,000)    
Balance at ending period 26,301,000,000           26,301,000,000    
Stock repurchase program [Abstract]                  
Shares repurchased and retired, shares       32,388,000       76,259,000  
Shares repurchased and retired, value       1,200,000,000       2,900,000,000  
Authorized amount of repurchase of common stock remaining             1,700,000,000    
Dividends [Abstract]                  
Dividends charged to retained earnings - per share (in dollars per share) $ 0.215 $ 0.19 $ 0.19 $ 0.190 $ 0.170 $ 0.170 $ 0.595 $ 0.530  
Common stock dividends per share increase announced             $ 0.215    
Dividends charged to retained earnings 360,000,000 319,000,000 314,000,000 309,000,000 279,000,000 284,000,000 993,000,000 872,000,000  
Cash dividends, date announced             Jul. 13, 2011    
Cash dividends, date payable             Sep. 23, 2011    
Cash dividends, date of record             Aug. 26, 2011    
QUALCOMM Stockholders' Equity [Member]
                  
Changes in Stockholders' equity                  
Balance at beginning period     20,858,000,000       20,858,000,000    
Issuance of subsidiary shares to noncontrolling interests             16,000,000    
Net income (loss)             3,204,000,000    
Other comprehensive income             47,000,000    
Common stock issued under employee benefit plans             2,355,000,000    
Share-based compensation             587,000,000    
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options             110,000,000    
Dividends             (993,000,000)    
Value of stock awards assumed in acquisition 106,000,000           106,000,000    
Other             (19,000,000)    
Balance at ending period 26,271,000,000           26,271,000,000    
Dividends [Abstract]                  
Dividends charged to retained earnings             993,000,000    
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
                  
Changes in Stockholders' equity                  
Balance at beginning period     0       0    
Issuance of subsidiary shares to noncontrolling interests             40,000,000    
Net income (loss)             (10,000,000)    
Other comprehensive income             0    
Common stock issued under employee benefit plans             0    
Share-based compensation             0    
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options             0    
Dividends             0    
Value of stock awards assumed in acquisition 0           0    
Other             0    
Balance at ending period 30,000,000           30,000,000    
Dividends [Abstract]                  
Dividends charged to retained earnings             0    
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
                  
Other liabilities $ 8,000,000           $ 8,000,000    
[1] comprised of the Company’s deferred compensation plan liability and related assets, which are invested in mutual funds.