Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Stockholders' Equity Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details)

v2.4.1.9
Stockholders' Equity Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Dec. 28, 2014
Dec. 29, 2013
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]    
Beginning balance total accumulated other comprehensive income $ 634us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax  
Ending balance total accumulated other comprehensive income 428us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax  
Investment income, net 234us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeNonoperating 264us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeNonoperating
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment [Member]    
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]    
Beginning balance total accumulated other comprehensive income (113)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember
 
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications (21)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember
 
Reclassifications from accumulated other comprehensive income 0us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember
 
Other comprehensive loss (21)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
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Ending balance total accumulated other comprehensive income (134)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
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Noncredit Other-than-Temporary Impairment Losses and Subsequent Changes in Fair Value for Certain Available-for-Sale Debt Securities [Member]    
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]    
Beginning balance total accumulated other comprehensive income 24us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentMember
 
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications (8)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentMember
 
Reclassifications from accumulated other comprehensive income 6us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax
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= us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentMember
 
Other comprehensive loss (2)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent
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= us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentMember
 
Ending balance total accumulated other comprehensive income 22us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentMember
 
Net Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Other Available-for-Sale Securities [Member]    
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]    
Beginning balance total accumulated other comprehensive income 723us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember
 
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications (104)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember
 
Reclassifications from accumulated other comprehensive income (77)us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember
 
Other comprehensive loss (181)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember
 
Ending balance total accumulated other comprehensive income 542us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember
 
Net Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Instruments [Member]    
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]    
Beginning balance total accumulated other comprehensive income 0us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember
 
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications (2)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
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Reclassifications from accumulated other comprehensive income 0us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember
 
Other comprehensive loss (2)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember
 
Ending balance total accumulated other comprehensive income (2)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember
 
Net Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Instruments [Member] | Reclassifications from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]    
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]    
Revenues Costs And Expenses   6qcom_RevenueCostsAndExpenses
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Total Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Attributable to Qualcomm [Member]    
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]    
Beginning balance total accumulated other comprehensive income 634us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_ParentMember
 
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications (135)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_ParentMember
 
Reclassifications from accumulated other comprehensive income (71)us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_ParentMember
 
Other comprehensive loss (206)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_ParentMember
 
Ending balance total accumulated other comprehensive income 428us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_ParentMember
 
Net Unrealized Gain (Loss) On Available for Sale Securities And Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment And Noncredit Other-than-Temporary Impairment Losses and Subsequent Changes in Fair Value for Certain Available for Sale Debt Securities | Reclassifications from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]    
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]    
Investment income, net $ 71us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeNonoperating
/ us-gaap_ReclassificationOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeAxis
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/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= qcom_NetUnrealizedGainLossOnAFSSecuritiesAndAccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentAndNoncreditOtherThanTempImpairmentLossesAndSubsequentChangesInFVforCertainAFSDebtSecuritiesMemberMember
$ 53us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeNonoperating
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/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
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