v2.4.0.6

Segment Information and Geographic Data - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2012 Country	Sep. 24, 2011	Sep. 25, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of countries with Apple retail stores	13
Certain manufacturing costs and variances	$ 763	$ 1,300	$ 621
Operating Expenses of high-profile stores allocated to corporate marketing		102	75
Cash payments for capital asset purchases	8,295	4,260	2,005
Depreciation and amortization	3,277	1,814	1,027
Percentage of net sales by country	The U.S. and China were the only countries that accounted for more than 10% of the Company's net sales in 2012 and 2011.	The U.S. and China were the only countries that accounted for more than 10% of Company’s net sales in 2012 and 2011.	No single country other than the U.S. accounted for more than 10% of net sales in 2010.
Percentage of net sales by customer	No single customer that accounted for more than 10% of net sales in 2012, 2011 or 2010.	No single customer that accounted for more than 10% of net sales in 2012, 2011 or 2010.	No single customer that accounted for more than 10% of net sales in 2012, 2011 or 2010.
Retail
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cash payments for capital asset purchases	858	612	392
Depreciation and amortization	$ 319	$ 273	$ 198

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Certain manufacturing costs and variances, including costs related to product tooling and manufacturing process equipment.

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Disclosure of the number of countries outside of the US with revenue greater than 10 percent of total revenue. For example, includes revenues from transactions with a single country amounting to 10 percent or more of the entity's revenues, the total amount of revenues from each such country, and the identity of the segment or segments reporting the revenues.

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Number of countries with Apple retail stores, including the U.S.

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The aggregate net amount of depreciation, amortization, and accretion recognized during an accounting period. As a noncash item, the net amount is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method.

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Expenditures for planning and executing the conception, pricing, promotion, and distribution of ideas, goods, and services. Costs of public relations and corporate promotions are typically considered to be marketing costs.

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The cash outflow for purchases of and capital improvements on property, plant and equipment (capital expenditures), software, and other intangible assets.

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Disclosure of the extent of enterprise reliance on its major customers. For example, includes revenues from transactions with a single external customer amounting to 10 percent or more of the entity's revenues, the total amount of revenues from each such customer, and the identity of the segment or segments reporting the revenues. A group of entities that the entity knows to be under common control generally will be considered a single customer for inclusion in this item. The federal government, a state government, a local government (for example, a county or municipality), or a foreign government each will generally be considered as a single customer for inclusion in this item.

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