QUALCOMM (QCOM) 10-K 6 Nov 13 2013 FY Annual report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information Document (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013	Nov. 04, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013
Document Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Entity Registrant Name	'QUALCOMM INC/DE	'	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0000804328	'	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--09-29	'	'
Entity Filer Category	'Large Accelerated Filer	'	'
Document Type	'10-K	'	'
Document Period End Date	29-Sep-13	'	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2013	'	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'FY	'	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	1,689,435,673	'
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	'Yes	'	'
Entity Voluntary Filers	'No	'	'
Entity Current Reporting Status	'Yes	'	'
Entity Public Float	'	'	$113,760,527,188

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$6,142	$3,807
Marketable securities	8,824	8,567
Accounts receivable, net	2,142	1,459
Inventories	1,302	1,030
Deferred tax assets	573	309
Other current assets	572	473
Total current assets	19,555	15,645
Marketable securities	14,440	14,463
Deferred tax assets	1,059	1,412
Assets held for sale	72	1,109
Property, plant and equipment, net	2,995	2,851
Goodwill	3,976	3,917
Other intangible assets, net	2,553	2,938
Other assets	866	677
Total assets	45,516	43,012
Current liabilities:	'	'
Trade accounts payable	1,554	1,298
Payroll and other benefits related liabilities	839	664
Unearned revenues	501	545
Liabilities held for sale	43	1,072
Other current liabilities	2,276	1,723
Total current liabilities	5,213	5,302
Unearned revenues	3,666	3,739
Other liabilities	550	426
Total liabilities	9,429	9,467
Commitments and contingencies (Note 7)	'	'
Stockholders' equity:	'	'
Preferred stock	0	0
Common stock	0	0
Paid-in capital	9,874	11,956
Retained earnings	25,461	20,701
Accumulated other comprehensive income	753	866
Total Qualcomm stockholders' equity	36,088	33,523
Noncontrolling interests	-1	22
Total stockholders’ equity	36,087	33,545
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$45,516	$43,012

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_Co

Consolidated Balance Sheets Consolidated Balance Sheets Parentheticals (USD $)	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Preferred stock, par value per share	$0.00	$0.00
Preferred stock, shares authorized	8,000,000	8,000,000
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	0
Common stock, par value per share	$0.00	$0.00
Common stock, shares authorized	6,000,000,000	6,000,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	1,685,000,000	1,706,000,000
Common stock, shares outstanding	1,685,000,000	1,706,000,000

Consolidated_Statements_of_Ope

Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011
Revenues:	'	'	'
Equipment and services	$16,988	$12,465	$9,223
Licensing	7,878	6,656	5,734
Total revenues	24,866	19,121	14,957
Costs and expenses:	'	'	'
Cost of equipment and services revenues	9,820	7,096	4,877
Research and development	4,967	3,915	2,995
Selling, general and administrative	2,518	2,270	1,945
Other (Note 2 and 7)	331	158	114
Total costs and expenses	17,636	13,439	9,931
Operating income	7,230	5,682	5,026
Investment income, net (Note 3)	964	880	661
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	8,194	6,562	5,687
Income tax expense	-1,349	-1,279	-1,132
Income from continuing operations	6,845	5,283	4,555
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes (Note 11)	0	776	-313
Net income	6,845	6,059	4,242
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	8	50	18
Net income attributable to Qualcomm	$6,853	$6,109	$4,260
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Qualcomm:	'	'	'
Continuing operations	$3.99	$3.14	$2.76
Discontinued operations	$0	$0.45	($0.19)
Net income	$3.99	$3.59	$2.57
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Qualcomm:	'	'	'
Continuing operations	$3.91	$3.06	$2.70
Discontinued operations	$0	$0.45	($0.18)
Net income	$3.91	$3.51	$2.52
Shares used in per share calculations:	'	'	'
Basic	1,715	1,700	1,658
Diluted	1,754	1,741	1,691
Dividends per share announced	$1.20	$0.93	$0.81

Consolidated_Statement_of_Comp

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income Statement (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 25, 2011
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'	'		'
Net income	$6,845	$6,059		$4,242
Foreign currency translation	-20	-19		-9
Reclassification of foreign currency translation losses included in net income	11	0		0
Noncredit other-than-temporary impairment losses and subsequent changes in fair value related to certain available-for-sale debt securities	-1	4		-19
Reclassification of net other-than-temporary losses on available-for-sale securities included in net income	47	47		25
Net unrealized gains (losses) on other available-for-sale securities and derivative instruments	44	652		-145
Reclassification of net realized gains on available-for-sale securities and derivative instruments included in net income, net of income taxes of $107, $93 and $112, respectively	-195	-169		-199
Total other comprehensive (loss) income	-114	515		-347
Total comprehensive income	6,731	6,574	[1]	3,895	[1]
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	9	46		21
Comprehensive income attributable to Qualcomm	$6,740	$6,620		$3,916
[1]	Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes (Note 11), was attributable to Qualcomm.

Consolidated_Statement_of_Comp1

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (Parenthetical) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'	'	'
Noncredit other-than-temporary impairment losses and subsequent changes in fair value related to certain available-for-sale debt securities, income tax effect	$0	$1	$10
Net unrealized gains (losses) on other available-for-sale securities and derivative instruments, income tax effect	24	357	80
Reclassification of net realized gains on available-for-sale securities and derivative instruments included in net income, income tax effect	107	93	112
Reclassification of other-than-temporary losses on available-for-sale securities included in net income, income tax effect	$26	$26	$14

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cas

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011
Operating Activities:	'	'	'
Net income	$6,845	$6,059	$4,242
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'	'
Depreciation and amortization expense	1,017	897	1,061
Gain on sale of wireless spectrum	0	-1,179	0
Goodwill and Long-Lived Asset Impairment	192	84	128
Revenues related to non-monetary exchanges	-123	-122	-123
Income tax provision in excess of (less than) income tax payments	268	395	-1,204
Non-cash portion of share-based compensation expense	1,105	1,035	824
Incremental tax benefit from share-based compensation	-231	-168	-183
Net realized gains on marketable securities and other investments	-369	-369	-337
Net impairment losses on marketable securities and other investments	85	83	52
Other items, net	104	-52	-2
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:	'	'	'
Accounts receivable, net	-680	-456	-140
Inventories	-300	-252	-62
Other assets	-209	-240	-70
Trade accounts payable	307	371	-26
Payroll, benefits and other liabilities	752	-341	572
Unearned revenues	15	253	168
Net cash provided by operating activities	8,778	5,998	4,900
Investing Activities:	'	'	'
Capital expenditures	-1,048	-1,284	-593
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	-13,951	-15,511	-10,948
Proceeds from sales and maturities of available-for-sale securities	13,494	9,858	10,661
Purchases of trading securities	-3,312	-4,009	0
Proceeds from sales and maturities of trading securities	3,367	3,060	0
Proceeds from sale of wireless spectrum	0	1,925	0
Acquisitions and other investments, net of cash acquired	-192	-833	-3,624
Other items, net	64	-83	15
Net cash used by investing activities	-1,578	-6,877	-4,489
Financing Activities:	'	'	'
Borrowings under loans and debentures	534	710	1,555
Repayments of loans and debentures	-439	-591	-1,555
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	1,525	1,714	2,647
Incremental tax benefit from share-based compensation	231	168	183
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	-4,610	-1,313	-142
Dividends paid	-2,055	-1,583	-1,346
Other items, net	-31	138	176
Net cash (used) provided by financing activities	-4,845	-757	1,518
Changes in cash and cash equivalents held for sale	-15	0	0
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	-5	-19	-14
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	2,335	-1,655	1,915
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	3,807	5,462	3,547
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$6,142	$3,807	$5,462

Consolidated_Statements_of_Sto

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (USD $)		Total	Common stock shares		Paid-In Capital		Retained Earnings		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income		Total Qualcomm Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Beginning balance, attributable to noncontrolling interests at Sep. 26, 2010		'	'		'		'		'		'	$0
Beginning balance, including portion attributable to noncontrolling interest at Sep. 26, 2010		20,858	'		'		'		'		'	'
Beginning balance at Sep. 26, 2010		'	'		6,856		13,305		697		20,858	'
Beginning balance (in shares) at Sep. 26, 2010		'	1,612,000,000		'		'		'		'	'
Components of comprehensive income, net of tax:		'	'		'		'		'		'	'
Total comprehensive income		4,260	0	[1]	0	[1]	4,260	[1]	'		'	'
Other comprehensive income (loss)		-347	'		'		'		-344	[1]	'	'
Total comprehensive income	[1]	3,895	'		'		'		'		3,916	-21
Common stock issued under employee benefit plans and the related tax benefits, net of shares withheld for tax		2,720	'		2,720		0		0		2,720	0
Common stock issued under employee benefit plans (in shares) net of shares withheld for tax		'	72,000,000		'		'		'		'	'
Repurchase and retirement of common stock		-142	'		-142		0		0		-142	0
Repurchase and retirement of common stock (in shares)		-2,878,000	-3,000,000		'		'		'		'	'
Share-based compensation		848	0		848		0		0		848	0
Dividends		-1,361	0		0		-1,361		0		-1,361	0
Value of stock awards assumed in acquisition		106	0		106		0		0		106	0
Issuance of subsidiary shares to noncontrolling interests		56	0		14		0		0		14	42
Other		-8	0		-8		0		0		-8	0
Ending balance, attributable to noncontrolling interests at Sep. 25, 2011		'	'		'		'		'		'	21
Ending balance, including portion attributable to noncontrolling interest at Sep. 25, 2011		26,972	'		'		'		'		'	'
Ending balance at Sep. 25, 2011		'	'		10,394		16,204		353		26,951	'
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 25, 2011		'	1,681,000,000		'		'		'		'	'
Components of comprehensive income, net of tax:		'	'		'		'		'		'	'
Total comprehensive income		6,109	0	[1]	0	[1]	6,109	[1]	'		'	'
Other comprehensive income (loss)		515	'		'		'		511	[1]	'	'
Total comprehensive income	[1]	6,574	'		'		'		'		6,620	-46
Common stock issued under employee benefit plans and the related tax benefits, net of shares withheld for tax		1,772	'		1,772		0		0		1,772	0
Common stock issued under employee benefit plans (in shares) net of shares withheld for tax		'	49,000,000		'		'		'		'	'
Repurchase and retirement of common stock		-1,313	'		-1,313		0		0		-1,313	0
Repurchase and retirement of common stock (in shares)		-23,893,000	-24,000,000		'		'		'		'	'
Share-based compensation		1,062	0		1,062		0		0		1,062	0
Dividends		-1,612	0		0		-1,612		0		-1,612	0
Issuance of subsidiary shares to noncontrolling interests		86	0		44		0		2		46	40
Other		4	0		-3		0		0		-3	7
Ending balance, attributable to noncontrolling interests at Sep. 30, 2012		22	'		'		'		'		'	22
Ending balance, including portion attributable to noncontrolling interest at Sep. 30, 2012		33,545	'		'		'		'		'	'
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2012		33,523	'		11,956		20,701		866		33,523	'
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2012		'	1,706,000,000		'		'		'		'	'
Components of comprehensive income, net of tax:		'	'		'		'		'		'	'
Total comprehensive income		6,853	0		0		6,853		'		'	'
Other comprehensive income (loss)		-114	'		'		'		-113		'	'
Total comprehensive income		6,731	'		'		'		'		6,740	-9
Common stock issued under employee benefit plans and the related tax benefits, net of shares withheld for tax		1,385	'		1,385		0		0		1,385	0
Common stock issued under employee benefit plans (in shares) net of shares withheld for tax		'	51,000,000		'		'		'		'	'
Repurchase and retirement of common stock		-4,610	'		-4,610		0		0		-4,610	0
Repurchase and retirement of common stock (in shares)		-71,696,000	-72,000,000		'		'		'		'	'
Share-based compensation		1,142	0		1,142		0		0		1,142	0
Dividends		-2,093	0		0		-2,093		0		-2,093	0
Issuance of subsidiary shares to noncontrolling interests		11	0		2		0		0		2	9
Deconsolidation of subsidiaries		-23	0		0		0		0		0	-23
Other		-1	0		-1		0		0		-1	0
Ending balance, attributable to noncontrolling interests at Sep. 29, 2013		-1	'		'		'		'		'	-1
Ending balance, including portion attributable to noncontrolling interest at Sep. 29, 2013		36,087	'		'		'		'		'	'
Ending balance at Sep. 29, 2013		$36,088	'		$9,874		$25,461		$753		$36,088	'
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 29, 2013		'	1,685,000,000		'		'		'		'	'
[1]	Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes (Note 11), was attributable to Qualcomm.

The_Company_and_Its_Significan

The Company and Its Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Note 1 - The Company and Its Significant Accounting Policies	'
	Note 1. The Company and Its Significant Accounting Policies
	The Company. QUALCOMM Incorporated, a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries (collectively the Company or Qualcomm), develop, design, manufacture and market digital communications products and services. The Company is a leading developer and supplier of integrated circuits and system software based on CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) and other technologies for use in voice and data communications, networking, application processing, multimedia and global positioning system products to device and infrastructure manufacturers. The Company grants licenses to use portions of its intellectual property portfolio, which includes certain patent rights essential to and/or useful in the manufacture and sale of certain wireless products, and receives fixed license fees (payable in one or more installments) as well as ongoing royalties based on sales by licensees of wireless telecommunications equipment products incorporating its patented technologies. The Company sells equipment, software and services to transportation and other companies to wirelessly connect their assets and workforce. The Company provides software products and services for content enablement across a wide variety of platforms and devices for the wireless industry. The Company also makes strategic investments to support the global adoption of its technologies and services.
	Principles of Consolidation. The Company’s consolidated financial statements include the assets, liabilities and operating results of majority-owned subsidiaries. In addition, the Company consolidates its investments in certain immaterial less than majority-owned variable interest entities as the Company is the primary beneficiary. The ownership of the other interest holders of consolidated subsidiaries and the variable interest entities is presented separately in the consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Certain of the Company’s consolidated subsidiaries are included in the consolidated financial statements one month in arrears to facilitate the timely inclusion of such entities in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
	Financial Statement Preparation. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and the disclosure of contingent amounts in the Company’s consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.
	Fiscal Year. The Company operates and reports using a 52-53 week fiscal year ending on the last Sunday in September. The fiscal years ended September 29, 2013 and September 25, 2011 included 52 weeks. The fiscal year ended September 30, 2012 included 53 weeks.
	Cash Equivalents. The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are comprised of money market funds, commercial paper, government agencies’ securities and certain bank time deposits. The carrying amounts approximate fair value due to the short maturities of these instruments.
	Marketable Securities. Marketable securities include trading securities, available-for-sale securities, securities for which the Company has elected the fair value option and certain bank time deposits. The classification of marketable securities within these categories is determined at the time of purchase and reevaluated at each balance sheet date. The Company classifies portfolios of debt securities that utilize derivative instruments to acquire or reduce foreign exchange and/or equity, prepayment and credit risk as trading. The Company classifies marketable securities as current or noncurrent based on the nature of the securities and their availability for use in current operations. Marketable securities are stated at fair value. The net unrealized gains or losses on available-for-sale securities are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of income taxes. The unrealized gains or losses on trading securities and securities for which the Company has elected the fair value option are recognized in net investment income. The realized gains and losses on marketable securities are determined using the specific identification method.
	At each balance sheet date, the Company assesses available-for-sale securities in an unrealized loss position to determine whether the unrealized loss is other than temporary. The Company considers factors including: the significance of the decline in value compared to the cost basis; underlying factors contributing to a decline in the prices of securities in a single asset class; how long the market value of the security has been less than its cost basis; the security’s relative performance versus its peers, sector or asset class; expected market volatility, the market and economy in general; analyst recommendations and price targets; views of external investment managers; news or financial information that has been released specific to the investee; and the outlook for the overall industry in which the investee operates.
	If a debt security’s market value is below amortized cost and the Company either intends to sell the security or it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security before its anticipated recovery, the Company records an other-than-temporary impairment charge to net investment income for the entire amount of the impairment. For the remaining debt securities, if an other-than-temporary impairment exists, the Company separates the other-than-temporary impairment into the portion of the loss related to credit factors, or the credit loss portion, and the portion of the loss that is not related to credit factors, or the noncredit loss portion. The credit loss portion is the difference between the amortized cost of the security and the Company’s best estimate of the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected from the debt security. The noncredit loss portion is the residual amount of the other-than-temporary impairment. The credit loss portion is recorded as a charge to net investment income, and the noncredit loss portion is recorded as a component of other accumulated comprehensive income, net of income taxes.
	When calculating the present value of expected cash flows to determine the credit loss portion of the other-than-temporary impairment, the Company estimates the amount and timing of projected cash flows, the probability of default and the timing and amount of recoveries on a security-by-security basis. These calculations use inputs primarily based on observable market data, such as credit default swap spreads, historical default and recovery statistics, rating agency data, credit ratings and other data relevant to analyzing the collectibility of the security. The amortized cost basis of a debt security is adjusted for any credit loss portion of the impairment recorded to earnings. The difference between the new cost basis and cash flows expected to be collected is accreted to net investment income over the remaining expected life of the security.
	Securities that are accounted for as equity securities include investments in common stock, certain preferred stock, equity mutual and exchange-traded funds and debt funds. For equity securities, the Company considers the loss relative to the expected volatility and the likelihood of recovery over a reasonable period of time. If events and circumstances indicate that a decline in the value of an equity security has occurred and is other than temporary, the Company records a charge to net investment income for the difference between fair value and cost at the balance sheet date. Additionally, if the Company has either the intent to sell the equity security or does not have both the intent and the ability to hold the equity security until its anticipated recovery, the Company records a charge to net investment income for the difference between fair value and cost at the balance sheet date.
	Derivatives. The Company’s primary objective for holding derivative instruments is to manage foreign exchange risk for certain foreign currency revenue and operating expenditure transactions. To a lesser extent, the Company also holds derivative instruments in its investment portfolios to manage risk by acquiring or reducing foreign exchange risk, interest rate risk and/or equity, prepayment and credit risk. The Company also uses derivative instruments as part of its stock repurchase program.
	Foreign Currency Hedges: The Company manages its exposure to foreign exchange market risks, when deemed appropriate, through the use of derivative instruments, including foreign currency forward and option contracts with financial counterparties. We utilize such derivative financial instruments for hedging or risk management purposes rather than for speculation purposes. Counterparties to the Company’s derivative instruments are all major institutions. The derivative instruments mature between 4 and 28 months. Derivative instruments are recorded at fair value and are included in other current assets, noncurrent assets, other accrued liabilities or other noncurrent liabilities based on their maturity date. Gains and losses arising from the effective portion of foreign currency forward and option contracts that are designated as cash flow hedging instruments are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income as gains and losses on derivative instruments, net of income taxes. The hedging gains and losses in accumulated other comprehensive income are subsequently reclassified to revenues or costs and expenses, as applicable, in the consolidated statements of operations in the same period in which the underlying transactions affect the Company’s earnings. Gains and losses arising from the ineffective portion of foreign currency forward and option contracts are recorded in net investment income as gains and losses on derivative instruments. The cash flows associated with derivative instruments designated as cash flow or net investment hedging instruments are classified as cash flows from operating activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows, which is the same category as the hedged transaction. The cash flows associated with the ineffective portion of derivatives are classified as cash flows from investing activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows.
	The aggregate fair value of the Company’s foreign currency option and forward contracts used to hedge foreign currency risk recorded in total assets was $38 million and $11 million at September 29, 2013 and September 30, 2012, respectively, and the fair value recorded in total liabilities was $9 million and $6 million at September 29, 2013 and September 30, 2012, respectively, all of which were designated as cash flow hedging instruments.
	Investment Portfolio Derivatives: The Company also utilizes currency forwards, futures, options and swaps that are not designated as hedging instruments to acquire or reduce foreign exchange risk, interest rate risk and/or equity, prepayment and credit risk in its marketable securities investment portfolios classified as trading. The derivative instruments mature over various periods up to 29 years. Gains and losses arising from changes in the fair values of such contracts are recorded in net investment income as gains and losses on derivative instruments. The cash flows associated with such derivative instruments are classified as cash flows from investing activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows. At September 29, 2013, the fair value of these derivative instruments recorded in total assets was negligible. At September 30, 2012, the fair value of these derivative instruments recorded in total assets was $5 million. At September 29, 2013 and September 30, 2012, the fair value of these derivative instruments recorded in total liabilities was $14 million and $5 million, respectively.
	Gross Notional Amounts. The gross notional amounts of the Company's foreign currency and investment portfolio derivatives by instrument type were as follows (in millions):
		September 29, 2013				September 30, 2012
	Options	$	609			$	1,093
	Currency forwards	544				468
	Futures	106				115
	Swaps	18				190
	Other	—				4
		$	1,277			$	1,870
	The gross notional amounts by currency were as follows (in millions):
		September 29, 2013				September 30, 2012
	Japanese yen	$	617			$	687
	Indian rupee	205				119
	Euro	161				312
	United States dollar	108				375
	Canadian dollar	62				105
	British pound sterling	46				110
	Australian dollar	11				126
	Other	67				36
		$	1,277			$	1,870
	Stock Repurchase Program: In connection with the Company’s stock repurchase program, the Company may sell put options that require it to repurchase shares of its common stock at fixed prices. These put options subject the Company to equity price risk. Changes in the fair value of these put options are recorded in net investment income as gains and losses on derivative instruments. The cash flows associated with the put options are classified as cash flows from investing activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows. There were no put options outstanding at September 29, 2013 and September 30, 2012.
	Allowances for Doubtful Accounts. The Company maintains allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of the Company’s customers to make required payments. The Company considers the following factors when determining if collection of required payments is reasonably assured: customer credit-worthiness, past transaction history with the customer, current economic industry trends, changes in customer payment terms, and bank credit-worthiness for letters of credit. If the Company has no previous experience with the customer, the Company typically obtains reports from various credit organizations to determine that the customer has a history of paying its creditors. The Company may also request financial information, including financial statements or other documents to determine that the customer has the means of making payment. If these factors do not indicate collection is reasonably assured, revenue is deferred until collection becomes reasonably assured, which is generally upon receipt of cash. If the financial condition of the Company’s customers was to deteriorate, adversely affecting their ability to make payments, additional allowances would be required.
	Inventories. Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market (replacement cost, not to exceed net realizable value) using the first-in, first-out method. Recoverability of inventories is assessed based on review of committed purchase orders from customers, as well as purchase commitment projections provided by customers, among other things.
	Property, Plant and Equipment. Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated or amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives. Upon the retirement or disposition of property, plant and equipment, the related cost and accumulated depreciation or amortization are removed, and a gain or loss is recorded. Buildings and building improvements on owned land are depreciated over 30 years and 15 years, respectively. Leasehold improvements and buildings on leased land are amortized over the shorter of their estimated useful lives, not to exceed 15 and 30 years, respectively, or the remaining term of the related lease. Other property, plant and equipment have useful lives ranging from 2 to 25 years. Direct external and internal costs of developing software for internal use are capitalized subsequent to the preliminary stage of development. Leased property meeting certain capital lease criteria is capitalized, and the net present value of the related lease payments is recorded as a liability. Amortization of assets under capital leases is recorded using the straight-line method over the shorter of the estimated useful lives or the lease terms. Maintenance, repairs and minor renewals or betterments are charged to expense as incurred. Interest expense related to the broadband wireless access (BWA) spectrum and related construction of the network infrastructure assets in India by the Company’s former BWA subsidiaries was capitalized beginning in May 2012 through the third quarter of fiscal 2013 when the BWA subsidiaries were deconsolidated (Note 10). Interest capitalized by the former BWA subsidiaries totaled $65 million and $29 million in fiscal 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over the value assigned to the net tangible and identifiable intangible assets of businesses acquired. Acquired intangible assets other than goodwill are amortized over their useful lives unless the lives are determined to be indefinite. For intangible assets purchased in a business combination, the estimated fair values of the assets received are used to establish their recorded values. For intangible assets acquired in a non-monetary exchange, the estimated fair values of the assets transferred (or the estimated fair values of the assets received, if more clearly evident) are used to establish their recorded values, unless the values of neither the assets received nor the assets transferred are determinable within reasonable limits, in which case the assets received are measured based on the carrying values of the assets transferred. Valuation techniques consistent with the market approach, income approach and/or cost approach are used to measure fair value.
	Weighted-average amortization periods for finite-lived intangible assets, by class, were as follows (in years):
		September 29, 2013		September 30, 2012
	Wireless spectrum	14		5
	Marketing-related	9		9
	Technology-based	11		11
	Customer-related	2		6
	Total finite-lived intangible assets	11		11
	Impairment of Goodwill and Other Long-Lived Assets. Goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested annually for impairment in the fourth fiscal quarter and in interim periods if certain events occur indicating that the carrying amounts may be impaired. If a qualitative assessment is used and the Company determines that the fair value of a reporting unit or indefinite-lived intangible asset is more likely than not (i.e., a likelihood of more than 50%) less than its carrying amount, a quantitative impairment test will be performed. If goodwill is quantitatively assessed for impairment, a two-step approach is applied. First, the Company compares the estimated fair value of the reporting unit in which the goodwill resides to its carrying value. The second step, if necessary, measures the amount of such impairment by comparing the implied fair value of goodwill to its carrying value. Other indefinite-lived intangible assets are quantitatively assessed for impairment, if necessary, by comparing their estimated fair values to their carrying values. If the carrying value exceeds the fair value, the difference is recorded as an impairment.
	Long-lived assets, such as property, plant and equipment and intangible assets subject to amortization, are reviewed for impairment when there is evidence that events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by comparing the carrying amount of an asset or asset group to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset or asset group. If the carrying amount of an asset or asset group exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset or asset group exceeds the estimated fair value of the asset or asset group. Long-lived assets to be disposed of by sale are reported at the lower of their carrying amounts or their estimated fair values less costs to sell and are not depreciated.
	Revenue Recognition. The Company derives revenues principally from sales of integrated circuit products, licensing of its intellectual property and software, and sales of messaging, software hosting, software development and other services and related hardware. The timing of revenue recognition and the amount of revenue actually recognized in each case depends upon a variety of factors, including the specific terms of each arrangement and the nature of the Company’s deliverables and obligations.
	Revenues from sales of the Company’s products are recognized at the time of shipment, or when title and risk of loss pass to the customer and other criteria for revenue recognition are met, if later. Revenues from providing services, including software hosting services, are recognized when earned. Revenues from providing services were less than 10% of total revenues for all periods presented.
	The Company licenses or otherwise provides rights to use portions of its intellectual property portfolio, which includes certain patent rights essential to and/or useful in the manufacture and sale of certain wireless products. Licensees typically pay a fixed license fee in one or more installments and royalties based on their sales of products incorporating or using the Company’s licensed intellectual property. License fees are recognized over the estimated period of benefit of the license to the licensee, typically 5 to 15 years. The Company earns royalties on such licensed products sold worldwide by its licensees at the time that the licensees’ sales occur. The Company’s licensees, however, do not report and pay royalties owed for sales in any given quarter until after the conclusion of that quarter. The Company recognizes royalty revenues based on royalties reported by licensees during the quarter and when other revenue recognition criteria are met.
	The Company records reductions to revenues for customer incentive arrangements, including volume-related and other pricing rebates and cost reimbursements for marketing and other activities involving certain of the Company’s products and technologies. The Company recognizes the maximum potential liability at the later of the date at which the Company records the related revenues or the date at which the Company offers the incentive or, if payment is contingent, when the contingency is resolved. In certain arrangements, the liabilities are based on customer forecasts. The Company reverses accruals for unclaimed incentive amounts to revenues when the unclaimed amounts are no longer subject to payment.
	Unearned revenues consist primarily of license fees for intellectual property and software product sales with continuing performance obligations.
	Concentrations. A significant portion of the Company’s revenues is concentrated with a small number of customers/licensees of the Company’s QCT and QTL segments. Revenues related to the products of two companies comprised 24% and 19% of total consolidated revenues in fiscal 2013 and 20% and 18% of total consolidated revenues in fiscal 2012. Revenues from two companies each comprised 13% of total consolidated revenues in fiscal 2011. Aggregate accounts receivable from two customers/licensees comprised 43% of gross accounts receivable at September 29, 2013. Aggregate accounts receivable from three customers/licensees comprised 48% of gross accounts receivable at September 30, 2012.
	Shipping and Handling Costs. Costs incurred for shipping and handling are included in cost of equipment and services revenues at the time the related revenue is recognized. Amounts billed to a customer for shipping and handling are reported as revenue.
	Share-Based Compensation. Share-based compensation expense for equity-classified awards, principally related to restricted stock units (RSUs) and stock options, is measured at the grant date, or at the acquisition date for awards assumed in business combinations, based on the estimated fair value of the award and is recognized over the employee’s requisite service period. Share-based compensation expense is adjusted to exclude amounts related to share-based awards that are expected to be forfeited.
	The fair values of RSUs are estimated based on the fair market values of the underlying stock on the dates of grant or dates the RSUs are assumed. If RSUs do not have the right to participate in dividends, the fair values are discounted by the dividend yield. The weighted-average estimated fair values of employee RSUs granted during fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011 were $64.21, $58.57 and $50.14 per share, respectively. For the majority of RSUs, shares are issued on the vesting dates net of the amount of shares needed to satisfy statutory tax withholding requirements to be paid by the Company on behalf of the employees. As a result, the actual number of shares issued will be fewer than the number of RSUs outstanding. The annual pre-vest forfeiture rate for RSUs granted in fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011 was estimated to be approximately 3% based on historical experience.
	The fair values of employee stock options granted are estimated using the lattice binomial option-pricing model, and the fair values of employee stock options assumed in business combinations are estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. No stock options were granted or assumed during fiscal 2013. The weighted-average estimated fair values of employee stock options granted during fiscal 2012 and 2011 were $14.70 and $13.17 per share, respectively. The following table presents the weighted-average assumptions (annualized) used to estimate the fair values of employee stock options granted or assumed in the periods presented:
		2012			2011
	Volatility	31.5	%		30.8	%
	Risk-free interest rate	1	%		2.1	%
	Dividend yield	1.5	%		1.5	%
	Post-vest forfeiture rate	9	%		9.8	%
Suboptimal exercise factor	1.7			1.8
The Company uses the implied volatility of market-traded options in the Company’s stock to determine the expected volatility. The term structure of volatility is used for approximately two years, and the Company uses the implied volatility of the option with the longest time to maturity for periods beyond two years. The risk-free interest rate is based on observed interest rates appropriate for the terms of the Company’s employee stock options. The Company does not target a specific dividend yield for its dividend payments but is required to assume a dividend yield as an input to the binomial model. The dividend yield is based on the Company’s history and expectation of future dividend payouts and may be subject to substantial change in the future. The post-vest forfeiture rate and suboptimal exercise factor are based on the Company’s historical option cancelation and employee exercise information, respectively.
The expected life of employee stock options is a derived output of the lattice binomial model and is impacted by all of the underlying assumptions used by the Company. The weighted-average expected life of employee stock options granted, as derived from the binomial model, was 5.3 years and 5.6 years during fiscal 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Total share-based compensation expense, related to all of the Company’s share-based awards, was comprised as follows (in millions):
	2013				2012			2011
Cost of equipment and services revenues	$	71			$	75		$	67
Research and development	643				546			397
Selling, general and administrative	391				414			349
Continuing operations	1,105				1,035			813
Related income tax benefit	(217		)		(225		)	(194		)
Continuing operations, net of income taxes	888				810			619
Discontinued operations	—				1			8
Related income tax benefit	—				—			(3		)
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes	—				1			5
	$	888			$	811		$	624
The Company recorded $242 million, $270 million and $165 million in share-based compensation expense during fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, related to share-based awards granted during those periods. The remaining share-based compensation expense was primarily related to share-based awards granted in earlier periods and share-based awards assumed. In addition, for fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011, $231 million, $168 million and $183 million, respectively, were reclassified to reduce net cash provided by operating activities with an offset to net cash provided (used) by financing activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows to reflect the incremental tax benefits from stock options exercised and restricted stock units and other share-based awards that vested in those periods. The amount of compensation cost capitalized related to share-based awards was negligible for all periods presented.
Litigation. The Company is currently involved in certain legal proceedings. The Company records its best estimate of a loss related to pending litigation when the loss is considered probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Where a range of loss can be reasonably estimated with no best estimate in the range, the Company records the minimum estimated liability related to the claim. As additional information becomes available, the Company assesses the potential liability related to the Company’s pending litigation and revises its estimates. The Company’s legal costs associated with defending itself are recorded to expense as incurred.
Foreign Currency. Certain foreign subsidiaries use a local currency as the functional currency. Resulting translation gains or losses are recognized as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income.
Transaction gains or losses related to balances denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations. Net foreign currency transaction losses included in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations were $4 million, $7 million and $8 million for fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Income Taxes. The asset and liability approach is used to recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and liabilities. Tax law and rate changes are reflected in income in the period such changes are enacted. The Company records a valuation allowance to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. The Company includes interest and penalties related to income taxes, including unrecognized tax benefits, within the income tax provision.
The Company’s income tax returns are based on calculations and assumptions that are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and other tax authorities. In addition, the calculation of the Company’s tax liabilities involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex tax regulations. The Company recognizes liabilities for uncertain tax positions based on a two-step process. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely of being realized upon settlement. While the Company believes it has appropriate support for the positions taken on its tax returns, the Company regularly assesses the potential outcomes of examinations by tax authorities in determining the adequacy of its provision for income taxes. The Company continually assesses the likelihood and amount of potential adjustments and adjusts the income tax provision, income taxes payable and deferred taxes in the period in which the facts that give rise to a revision become known.
The Company recognizes windfall tax benefits associated with share-based awards directly to stockholders’ equity only when realized. A windfall tax benefit occurs when the actual tax benefit realized by the Company upon an employee’s disposition of a share-based award exceeds the deferred tax asset, if any, associated with the award that the Company had recorded. When assessing whether a tax benefit relating to share-based compensation has been realized, the Company follows the tax law ordering method, under which current year share-based compensation deductions are assumed to be utilized before net operating loss carryforwards and other tax attributes.
Earnings Per Common Share. Basic earnings per common share are computed by dividing net income attributable to Qualcomm by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period. Diluted earnings per common share are computed by dividing net income attributable to Qualcomm by the combination of dilutive common share equivalents, comprised of shares issuable under the Company’s share-based compensation plans and shares subject to written put options, and the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period. Dilutive common share equivalents include the dilutive effect of in-the-money share equivalents, which are calculated based on the average share price for each period using the treasury stock method. Under the treasury stock method, the exercise price of an award, if any, the amount of compensation cost for future service that the Company has not yet recognized, if any, and the estimated tax benefits that would be recorded in paid-in capital when an award is settled, if any, are assumed to be used to repurchase shares in the current period. The incremental dilutive common share equivalents, calculated using the treasury stock method, for fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011 were 38,670,000, 40,978,000 and 32,908,000, respectively.
Employee stock options to purchase 355,000, 1,590,000 and 20,224,000 shares of common stock during fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, were outstanding but not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per common share because the effect would be anti-dilutive. Put options outstanding during fiscal 2012 and 2011 were not included in the earnings per common share computation because the put options’ exercise prices were less than the average market price of the common stock while they were outstanding, and therefore, the effect on diluted earnings per common share would be anti-dilutive. No put options were outstanding during fiscal 2013. In addition, other common stock equivalents of 152,000, 1,947,000 and 1,963,000 shares outstanding during fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, were not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per common share because the effect would be anti-dilutive or certain performance conditions were not satisfied at the end of the period.
Comprehensive Income. Comprehensive income is defined as the change in equity of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources, including foreign currency translation adjustments and unrealized gains and losses on marketable securities and derivative instruments. Other comprehensive income includes reclassification adjustments for: foreign currency translation gains and losses recognized in the statements of operations as a result of deconsolidation of subsidiaries; net realized gains and losses recognized in the statements of operations when marketable securities are sold or derivative instruments are settled; and unrealized losses on marketable securities recognized in the statements of operations when they are no longer viewed as temporary. The portion of other-than-temporary impairment losses related to noncredit factors and subsequent changes in fair value included in comprehensive income are shown separately from other unrealized gains or losses on marketable securities.
The components of accumulated other comprehensive income in Qualcomm stockholders’ equity were as follows (in millions):
	September 29, 2013				September 30, 2012
Foreign currency translation	$	(115	)		$	(107	)
Noncredit other-than-temporary impairment losses and subsequent changes in fair value related to certain available-for-sale debt securities, net of income taxes	25				29
Net unrealized gains on other available-for-sale securities, net of income taxes	825				942
Net unrealized gains on derivative instruments, net of income taxes	18				2
	$	753			$	866
At September 29, 2013 and September 30, 2012, accumulated other comprehensive income included $1 million and $7 million, respectively, of other-than-temporary losses on marketable debt securities related to factors other than credit, net of income taxes.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements. In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued guidance on disclosure requirements for items reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income. This new guidance requires entities to present (either on the face of the statement of operations or in the notes to the financial statements) the effects on the line items in the statement of operations for amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income. The new guidance will be effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2014. The adoption of the guidance will impact the Company’s financial statement presentation and/or disclosure but will not impact its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Composition_of_Certain_Financi

Composition of Certain Financial Statement Captions	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Note 2 - Composition of Certain Financial Statement Items	'
	Note 2. Composition of Certain Financial Statement Items
	Accounts Receivable (in millions)	September 29, 2013			September 30, 2012
	Trade, net of allowances for doubtful accounts of $2 and $1, respectively	$	2,066		$	1,418
	Long-term contracts	27			32
	Other	49			9
		$	2,142		$	1,459
	Inventories (in millions)	September 29, 2013			September 30, 2012
	Raw materials	$	2		$	19
	Work-in-process	631			531
	Finished goods	669			480
		$	1,302		$	1,030
	Property, Plant and Equipment (in millions)	September 29, 2013			September 30, 2012
	Land	$	212		$	203
	Buildings and improvements	1,733			1,392
	Computer equipment and software	1,425			1,409
	Machinery and equipment	2,013			1,828
	Furniture and office equipment	87			80
	Leasehold improvements	218			237
	Construction in progress	480			774
		6,168			5,923
	Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	(3,173		)	(3,072		)
		$	2,995		$	2,851
	Depreciation and amortization expense related to property, plant and equipment for fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $515 million, $427 million and $704 million, respectively. The gross book values of property under capital leases included in buildings and improvements were $18 million and $64 million at September 29, 2013 and September 30, 2012, respectively. These capital leases principally related to base station towers and buildings.
	At September 29, 2013, buildings and improvements and leasehold improvements that were leased to third parties or held for lease to third parties were negligible. Future minimum rental income on facilities leased to others is expected to be negligible. At September 30, 2012, buildings and improvements and leasehold improvements with a net book value of $13 million were leased to third parties or held for lease to third parties.
	Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. The Company’s reportable segment assets do not include goodwill. The Company allocates goodwill to its reporting units for annual impairment testing purposes. Goodwill was allocable to reporting units included in the Company’s reportable and nonreportable segments, as described in Note 8, as follows (in millions):
		September 29, 2013			September 30, 2012
	QCT	$	2,875		$	2,816
	QTL	706			707
	QWI	107			128
	Nonreportable segments	288			266
		$	3,976		$	3,917
	During fiscal 2012, the Company’s QMT division (a nonreportable segment) updated its business plan to focus on licensing its next generation interferometric modulator (IMOD) display technology while directly commercializing certain IMOD products. In the course of pursuing its licensing model, the Company considered various alternatives for certain property, plant and equipment. The Company performed interim and subsequent annual goodwill impairment tests in fiscal 2013 and 2012 of the QMT division, which was determined to be a reporting unit for purposes of the goodwill impairment tests, and concluded each time that the fair value of the QMT reporting unit was greater than its carrying value. The Company also assessed the recoverability of QMT’s other long-lived assets. During fiscal 2013 and 2012, as a continuation of evaluating alternatives with respect to certain long-lived assets comprising QMT asset groups, the Company revised its estimates of expected cash flows and recorded impairment charges of $158 million and $54 million, respectively, in other expenses. At September 29, 2013, the carrying values of the QMT division’s goodwill and long-lived asset groups were $133 million and $707 million, respectively.
	During fiscal 2012 and 2011, the Company recorded impairment charges of $23 million and $114 million, respectively, in other expenses to write down goodwill related to its QRS division (included in the QWI segment). At September 29, 2013, $17 million of goodwill remained for the QRS division.
	The components of other intangible assets, net were as follows (in millions):
		September 29, 2013						September 30, 2012
		Gross Carrying			Accumulated			Gross Carrying		Accumulated
		Amount			Amortization			Amount		Amortization
	Wireless spectrum	$	19		$	(8	)	$	20	$	(3	)
	Marketing-related	76			(37		)	79		(28		)
	Technology-based	3,964			(1,512		)	3,960		(1,158		)
	Customer-related	87			(36		)	101		(33		)
		$	4,146		$	(1,593	)	$	4,160	$	(1,222	)
	All of these intangible assets are subject to amortization, other than acquired in-process research and development with a carrying value of $54 million at September 29, 2013. Amortization expense related to these intangible assets for fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $499 million, $473 million and $357 million, respectively. Amortization expense related to these intangible assets and acquired in-process research and development, beginning upon the expected completion of the underlying projects, is expected to be $484 million, $444 million, $340 million, $226 million and $193 million for fiscal 2014 to 2018, respectively, and $867 million thereafter.
	Other Current Liabilities (in millions)	September 29, 2013			September 30, 2012
	Customer incentives and other customer-related liabilities	$	1,706		$	1,107
	Other	570			616
		$	2,276		$	1,723
	Assets and Liabilities Held for Sale. On August 21, 2013, the Company entered into a definitive agreement under which it agreed to sell the North and Latin American operations of its Omnitracs division to a U.S.-based private equity firm for $800 million in cash, subject to the terms and conditions of the definitive agreement. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in the first quarter of fiscal 2014. As a result, assets (recorded as other current assets and noncurrent assets held for sale) and liabilities (recorded as current liabilities held for sale and other noncurrent liabilities) of $139 million and $43 million, respectively, were classified as held for sale at September 29, 2013. The Company expects to present the gain on the sale, net of income taxes, as a discontinued operation upon close. However, the revenues and operating results of the North and Latin American operations of the Omnitracs division, which comprise substantially all of the Omnitracs division, were not presented as discontinued operations in any fiscal period because they were immaterial. At September 30, 2012, assets and liabilities held for sale of $1.1 billion each were comprised of the assets and liabilities of the Company’s former BWA subsidiaries (Note 10).

Investment_Income

Investment Income	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Note 3 - Investment Income	'
	Note 3. Investment Income
	Investment income, net was comprised as follows (in millions):
		2013			2012			2011
	Interest and dividend income	$	697		$	609		$	500
	Interest expense	(23		)	(90		)	(114		)
	Net realized gains on marketable securities	317			342			335
	Net realized gains on other investments	52			27			2
	Net impairment losses on marketable securities	(72		)	(71		)	(39		)
	Impairment losses on other investments	(13		)	(12		)	(13		)
	Net gains (losses) on derivative instruments	—			84			(3		)
	Net gains on deconsolidation of subsidiaries	12			—			—
	Equity in losses of investees	(6		)	(9		)	(7		)
		$	964		$	880		$	661
	Net impairment losses on marketable securities related to the noncredit portion of losses on debt securities recognized in other comprehensive income were negligible for all periods presented.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Note 4 - Income Taxes	'
	Note 4. Income Taxes
	The components of the income tax provision were as follows (in millions):
		2013			2012			2011
	Current provision:
	Federal	$	324		$	140		$	179
	State	15			1			57
	Foreign	1,068			934			670
		1,407			1,075			906
	Deferred (benefit) provision:
	Federal	(32		)	208			170
	State	6			(16		)	62
	Foreign	(32		)	12			(6		)
		(58		)	204			226
		$	1,349		$	1,279		$	1,132
	The foreign component of the income tax provision consists primarily of foreign withholding taxes on royalty fees included in United States earnings.
	The components of income from continuing operations before income taxes by United States and foreign jurisdictions were as follows (in millions):
		2013			2012			2011
	United States	$	3,798		$	3,525		$	2,984
	Foreign	4,396			3,037			2,703
		$	8,194		$	6,562		$	5,687
	The following is a reconciliation of the expected statutory federal income tax provision to the Company’s actual income tax provision for continuing operations (in millions):
		2013			2012			2011
	Expected income tax provision at federal statutory tax rate	$	2,868		$	2,297		$	1,991
	State income tax provision, net of federal benefit	26			24			283
	Foreign income taxed at other than U.S. rates	(1,362		)	(1,045		)	(1,074		)
	Tax credits	(195		)	(36		)	(151		)
	Valuation allowance	(3		)	55			42
	Revaluation of deferred taxes	8			—			69
	Other	7			(16		)	(28		)
		$	1,349		$	1,279		$	1,132
	The Company’s QCT segment’s non-United States headquarters is located in Singapore. The Company has obtained tax incentives in Singapore, which are effective through March 2027, that result in a tax exemption for the first five years provided that the Company meets specified employment and investment criteria. The Company’s Singapore tax rate will increase in fiscal 2017 and again in fiscal 2027 as a result of expiration of these incentives. Had the Company established QCT’s non-United States headquarters in Singapore without these tax incentives, the Company’s income tax expense would have been higher and impacted earnings per share attributable to Qualcomm as follows (in millions, except per share amounts):
		2013			2012
	Additional income tax expense	$	758		$	193
	Reduction to basic earnings per share	$	0.44		$	0.11
	Reduction to diluted earnings per share	$	0.43		$	0.11
	The revaluation of deferred taxes represents the impact of paying current taxes at a higher state effective tax rate than the effective tax rate that will be in effect when the resulting deferred tax asset or liability is scheduled to reverse. The Company has not recorded a deferred tax liability of approximately $7.6 billion related to the United States federal and state income taxes and foreign withholding taxes on approximately $21.6 billion of undistributed earnings of certain non-United States subsidiaries indefinitely invested outside the United States. Should the Company decide to repatriate the foreign earnings, the Company would have to adjust the income tax provision in the period management determined that the earnings will no longer be indefinitely invested outside the United States.
	The Company files income tax returns in the United States federal jurisdiction and various state and foreign jurisdictions. The Company is currently a participant in the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Compliance Assurance Process, whereby the IRS and the Company endeavor to agree on the treatment of all tax issues prior to the tax return being filed. The IRS completed its examination of the Company’s tax return for fiscal 2011 and issued a final revenue agent’s report during the third quarter of fiscal 2013, resulting in no change to the income tax provision. The Company is no longer subject to United States federal income tax examinations for years prior to fiscal 2012. The Company is subject to examination by the California Franchise Tax Board for fiscal years after 2008. The Company is also subject to income taxes in other taxing jurisdictions in the United States and around the world, many of which are open to tax examinations for periods after fiscal 2000. The Company does not expect the impact of any future state or foreign audits to be material.
	The Company had deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities as follows (in millions):
		September 29, 2013			September 30, 2012
	Unearned revenues	$	1,305		$	1,340
	Share-based compensation	497			623
	Unrealized losses on marketable securities	293			232
	Accrued liabilities and reserves	305			260
	Unused net operating losses	91			105
	Capitalized start-up and organizational costs	71			78
	Tax credits	29			50
	Other	49			102
	Total gross deferred assets	2,640			2,790
	Valuation allowance	(51		)	(142		)
	Total net deferred assets	2,589			2,648
	Unrealized gains on marketable securities	(536		)	(552		)
	Intangible assets	(265		)	(261		)
	Property, plant and equipment	(129		)	(115		)
	Other	(27		)	(7		)
	Total deferred liabilities	(957		)	(935		)
	Net deferred assets	$	1,632		$	1,713
	Reported as:
	Current deferred tax assets	$	573		$	309
	Non-current deferred tax assets	1,059			1,412
	Non-current assets held for sale	2			—
	Current deferred tax liabilities (1)	—			(1		)
	Non-current deferred tax liabilities (1)	(2		)	(7		)
		$	1,632		$	1,713
-1	Current deferred tax liabilities and non-current deferred tax liabilities were included in other current liabilities and other liabilities, respectively, in the consolidated balance sheets.
At September 29, 2013, the Company had unused federal net operating loss carryforwards of $131 million expiring from 2021 through 2031, unused state net operating loss carryforwards of $604 million expiring from 2014 through 2033, and unused foreign net operating loss carryforwards of $75 million, which expire from 2014 through 2021. At September 29, 2013, the Company had unused tax credits of $25 million in foreign jurisdictions, which begin to expire in 2014. The Company does not expect its federal net operating loss carryforwards and its state income tax credits to expire unused.
The Company believes, more likely than not, that it will have sufficient taxable income after deductions related to share-based awards to utilize the majority of its deferred tax assets. At September 29, 2013, the Company has provided a valuation allowance on certain foreign deferred tax assets, state net operating losses and net capital losses of $21 million, $17 million and $13 million, respectively. The valuation allowances reflect the uncertainties surrounding the Company’s ability to generate sufficient future taxable income in certain foreign and state tax jurisdictions to utilize its net operating losses and the Company’s ability to generate sufficient capital gains to utilize all capital losses.
A summary of the changes in the amount of unrecognized tax benefits for fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011 follows (in millions):
	2013			2012			2011
Beginning balance of unrecognized tax benefits	$	86		$	96		$	353
Additions based on prior year tax positions	1			—			64
Reductions for prior year tax positions and lapse in statute of limitations	—			(18		)	(10		)
Additions for current year tax positions	145			10			12
Settlements with taxing authorities	(11		)	(2		)	(323		)
Ending balance of unrecognized tax benefits	$	221		$	86		$	96
The Company does not expect any unrecognized tax benefits recorded at September 29, 2013 to result in cash payment in fiscal 2014. Unrecognized tax benefits at September 29, 2013 included $218 million for tax positions that, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate. The unrecognized tax benefits differ from the amount that would affect the Company’s effective tax rate primarily because the unrecognized tax benefits were included on a gross basis and did not reflect secondary impacts such as the federal deduction for state taxes, adjustments to deferred tax assets and the valuation allowance that might be required if the Company’s tax positions are sustained. The increase in unrecognized tax benefits in fiscal 2013 was primarily due to tax positions related to transfer pricing. The decrease in unrecognized tax benefits in fiscal 2012 was primarily due to settlement of the Company’s California tax examination for fiscal 2005 through fiscal 2008, which was partially offset by an increase in unrecognized tax benefits generated in fiscal 2012. The Company does not believe that it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits at September 29, 2013 will significantly increase or decrease in fiscal 2014. Interest expense related to uncertain tax positions was negligible in fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011. The amount of accrued interest and penalties was negligible at September 29, 2013 and September 30, 2012.
Cash amounts paid for income taxes, net of refunds received, were $1.1 billion, $1.3 billion and $2.1 billion for fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Capital_Stock

Capital Stock	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Note 5 - Capital Stock	'
	Note 5. Capital Stock
	Preferred Stock. The Company has 8,000,000 shares of preferred stock authorized for issuance in one or more series, at a par value of $0.0001 per share. In conjunction with the distribution of preferred share purchase rights, 4,000,000 shares of preferred stock are designated as Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, and such shares are reserved for issuance upon exercise of the preferred share purchase rights. At September 29, 2013 and September 30, 2012, no shares of preferred stock were outstanding.
	Preferred Share Purchase Rights Agreement. The Company has a Preferred Share Purchase Rights Agreement (Rights Agreement) to protect stockholders’ interests in the event of a proposed takeover of the Company. Under the original Rights Agreement, adopted on September 26, 1995, the Company declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a Right) for each share of the Company’s common stock outstanding. Pursuant to the Rights Agreement, as amended and restated on December 7, 2006, each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company a one one-thousandth share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value per share, subject to adjustment for subsequent stock splits, at a purchase price of $180. The Rights are exercisable only if a person or group (an Acquiring Person) acquires beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock without approval of the Board of Directors. Upon exercise, holders, other than an Acquiring Person, will have the right, subject to termination, to receive the Company’s common stock or other securities, cash or other assets having a market value, as defined, equal to twice such purchase price. The Rights, which expire on September 25, 2015, are redeemable in whole, but not in part, at the Company’s option prior to the time such Rights are triggered for a price of $0.001 per Right.
	Stock Repurchase Program. On September 11, 2013, the Company announced a new repurchase program authorizing it to repurchase up to $5.0 billion of the Company’s common stock. The stock repurchase program has no expiration date. This $5.0 billion stock repurchase program replaced the previous $5.0 billion stock repurchase program, of which $791 million remained available for repurchase. Any shares repurchased are retired, and the amount paid in excess of par value is recorded to paid-in capital. During fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011, the Company repurchased and retired 71,696,000, 23,893,000 and 2,878,000 shares of common stock, respectively, for $4.6 billion, $1.3 billion and $142 million, respectively, before commissions. At September 29, 2013, approximately $4.9 billion remained authorized for repurchase under the Company’s stock repurchase program.
	In connection with the Company’s prior stock repurchase programs, the Company sold three put options on its own stock during fiscal 2011, of which all expired unexercised during fiscal 2012. During fiscal 2012 and 2011, the Company recognized gains of $80 million and losses of $5 million, respectively, in net investment income due to changes in the fair values of the put options. No put options were outstanding during fiscal 2013.
	Dividends. The Company announced increases in its quarterly dividend per share of common stock from $0.19 to $0.215 on March 8, 2011, from $0.215 to $0.25 on March 6, 2012, and from $0.25 to $0.35 on March 5, 2013. Dividends charged to retained earnings in fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011 were as follows (in millions, except per share data):
		2013				2012				2011
		Per Share		Total		Per Share		Total		Per Share		Total
	First quarter	$	0.25	$	435	$	0.215	$	368	$	0.19	$	314
	Second quarter	0.25		439		0.215		377		0.19		319
	Third quarter	0.35		615		0.25		429		0.215		360
	Fourth quarter	0.35		604		0.25		438		0.215		368
		$	1.2	$	2,093	$	0.93	$	1,612	$	0.81	$	1,361
	On October 24, 2013, the Company announced a cash dividend of $0.35 per share of common stock, payable on December 19, 2013 to stockholders of record as of December 2, 2013, which will be reflected in the consolidated financial statements in the first quarter of fiscal 2014.

Employee_Benefit_Plans

Employee Benefit Plans	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Note 6 - Employee Benefit Plans	'
	Note 6. Employee Benefit Plans
	Employee Savings and Retirement Plan. The Company has a 401(k) plan that allows eligible employees to contribute up to 100% of their eligible compensation, subject to annual limits. The Company matches a portion of the employee contributions and may, at its discretion, make additional contributions based upon earnings. The Company’s contribution expense was $70 million, $60 million and $52 million in fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
	Equity Compensation Plans. The 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the 2006 Plan) was adopted during the second quarter of fiscal 2006 and replaced the 2001 Stock Option Plan and the 2001 Non-Employee Directors’ Stock Option Plan and their predecessor plans (the Prior Plans). The 2006 Plan provides for the grant of incentive and non-qualified stock options, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, performance stock units and other share-based awards and is the source of shares issued under the Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan (the NQDCP), formerly known as the Executive Retirement Matching Contribution Plan. The shares authorized under the 2006 Plan were approximately 573,284,000 at September 29, 2013, including 90,000,000 shares that were approved by the Company’s stockholders in March 2013. The share reserve remaining under the 2006 Plan was approximately 270,380,000 at September 29, 2013. Shares subject to any stock option under a Prior Plan that is terminated or canceled (but not a stock option under a Prior Plan that expires) following the date that the 2006 Plan was approved by stockholders, and shares that are subject to an award under the NQDCP and are returned to the Company because they fail to vest, will again become available for grant under the 2006 Plan. The Board of Directors of the Company may amend or terminate the 2006 Plan at any time. Certain amendments, including an increase in the share reserve, require stockholder approval.
	During fiscal 2011, the Company assumed a total of 9,564,000 outstanding stock awards under various stock-based incentive plans (the Assumed Plans) as a result of the acquisition of Atheros (Note 9). The Assumed Plans provided for the grant of incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, restricted stock units and other stock-based awards. The Company can continue to grant stock awards under one of the Assumed Plans, the Atheros Communications, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (the Atheros Plan) to certain employees. The share reserve under the Atheros Plan was 4,075,000 at September 29, 2013. All other remaining shares available under Assumed Plans were terminated on the date of the acquisition, and no additional shares may be granted under those plans.
	Net share-based awards, after forfeitures and cancelations, granted during fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011 represented 0.8%, 0.9% and 0.7% of outstanding shares as of the beginning of each fiscal year, respectively. Total share-based awards granted during fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011 represented 1.0%, 1.0% and 0.9%, respectively, of outstanding shares as of the end of each fiscal year.
	Restricted Stock Units: RSUs are share awards that entitle the holder to receive shares of the Company’s common stock upon vesting. The RSUs generally include dividend-equivalent rights and vest over periods of three years from the date of grant. A summary of RSU transactions for all equity compensation plans follows:
		Number of Shares		Weighted-Average		Aggregate Intrinsic
				Grant Date Fair		Value
				Value
		(In thousands)				(In billions)
	RSUs outstanding at September 30, 2012	32,922		$	53.22
	RSUs granted	15,509		64.2
	RSUs canceled/forfeited	(1,549	)	56.69
	RSUs vested	(15,804	)	50.5
	RSUs outstanding at September 29, 2013	31,078		$	59.91	$	2.1
	At September 29, 2013, total unrecognized estimated compensation expense related to non-vested RSUs granted prior to that date was $1.3 billion, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.8 years. The total vest-date fair value of RSUs that vested during fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $1.0 billion, $352 million and $43 million, respectively. For the majority of RSUs, shares are issued on the vesting dates net of the amount of shares needed to satisfy statutory tax withholding requirements to be paid by the Company on behalf of the employees. The total shares withheld were approximately 5,805,000, 1,965,000 and 243,000 in fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and were based on the value of the RSUs on their vesting dates as determined by the Company’s closing stock price. Total payments for the employees’ tax obligations to the taxing authorities were $374 million, $131 million and $14 million in fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
	Stock Options: The Board of Directors may grant stock options to selected employees, directors and consultants to the Company to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price not less than the fair market value of the stock at the date of grant. Stock options vest over periods not exceeding five years and are exercisable for up to 10 years from the grant date. A summary of stock option transactions for all equity compensation plans follows:
		Number of Shares		Weighted- Average		Average Remaining		Aggregate Intrinsic
				Exercise		Contractual Term		Value
				Price
		(In thousands)				(Years)		(In billions)
	Stock options outstanding at September 30, 2012	106,601		$	39.96
	Stock options canceled/forfeited/expired	(652	)	40.25
	Stock options exercised	(34,923	)	37.51
	Stock options outstanding at September 29, 2013	71,026		$	41.17	4.2		$	1.9
	Exercisable at September 29, 2013	65,243		$	41.09	4		$	1.7
	At September 29, 2013, total unrecognized estimated compensation expense related to non-vested stock options granted prior to that date was $51 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 0.5 years. The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised during fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $949 million, $1.0 billion and $1.1 billion, respectively. The Company recorded cash received from the exercise of stock options of $1.3 billion, $1.5 billion and $2.5 billion and related tax benefits of $659 million, $438 million and $421 million during fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Upon option exercise, the Company issues new shares of stock.
	Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The Company has an employee stock purchase plan for eligible employees to purchase shares of common stock at 85% of the lower of the fair market value on the first or the last day of each offering period, which is generally six months. Employees may authorize the Company to withhold up to 15% of their compensation during any offering period, subject to certain limitations. The employee stock purchase plan includes a non-423(b) plan. The shares authorized under the employee stock purchase plan were approximately 46,709,000 at September 29, 2013. The shares reserved for future issuance were approximately 10,713,000 at September 29, 2013. During fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011, approximately 4,044,000, 3,654,000 and 3,778,000 shares, respectively, were issued under the plan at an average price of $52.70, $48.31 and $36.82 per share, respectively. At September 29, 2013, total unrecognized estimated compensation expense related to non-vested purchase rights granted prior to that date was $21 million. The Company recorded cash received from the exercise of purchase rights of $213 million, $177 million and $139 million during fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Note 7 - Commitments and Contingencies	'
	Note 7. Commitments and Contingencies
	Legal Proceedings. Tessera, Inc. v. QUALCOMM Incorporated: On April 17, 2007, Tessera filed a patent infringement lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas and a complaint with the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) pursuant to Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 against the Company and other companies, alleging infringement of two patents. The district court action was stayed pending resolution of the ITC proceeding, including all appeals. On May 20, 2009, the ITC issued a limited exclusion order and a cease and desist order, both of which were terminated when the patents expired on September 24, 2010. During the period of the exclusion order, the Company shifted supply of accused chips for customers who manufacture products that may be imported to the United States to a licensed supplier of Tessera, and the Company continued to supply those customers without interruption. The ITC’s orders were affirmed on appeal, and on November 28, 2011, the United States Supreme Court denied the Company’s petition for review. On January 18, 2012, pursuant to the parties’ stipulation, the District Court in the Eastern District of Texas lifted the stay and ordered that the case be moved to the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. On March 1, 2012, that court consolidated the case with an earlier-filed lawsuit filed by Tessera against multiple parties, including some of the Company’s semiconductor chip package suppliers. The court has set April 24, 2014 as the hearing date for claims construction and any summary judgment motions that may be filed. Trial is scheduled for August 25, 2014. Tessera may continue to seek alleged past damages in the district court, but it cannot obtain injunctive relief due to the expiration of the patents.
	MOSAID Technologies Incorporated v. Dell, Inc. et al.: On March 16, 2011, MOSAID filed a complaint against Atheros Communications, Inc. (Atheros Communications), which the Company acquired in May 2011 and renamed Qualcomm Atheros, Inc. (Qualcomm Atheros), and 32 other entities in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas alleging that certain Wi-Fi products infringed six MOSAID patents and seeking damages for the relevant statutory period prior to May 2011. On July 17, 2013, MOSAID and the Company entered into an agreement pursuant to which MOSAID agreed to dismiss with prejudice all claims against the Company, licensed to the Company certain MOSAID patents and provided other considerations, and the Company paid to MOSAID an amount that was not material to the Company’s financial statements. The court dismissed the claims against the Company with prejudice on August 2, 2013.
	ParkerVision, Inc. v. QUALCOMM Incorporated: On July 20, 2011, ParkerVision filed a complaint against the Company in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida alleging that certain of the Company’s products infringe seven of its patents alleged to cover direct down-conversion receivers. ParkerVision’s complaint sought damages and injunctive and other relief. On February 28, 2012, ParkerVision filed an amended complaint dropping two patents from the case and adding one new patent. On January 22, 2013, the court granted in part ParkerVision’s motion to dismiss the Company’s counterclaim for inequitable conduct, and the Company subsequently withdrew the remainder of its inequitable conduct counterclaim. On February 20, 2013, the court issued its claim construction order. The Company filed its amended answer and counterclaims on April 11, 2013. Subsequently, ParkerVision narrowed its allegations to assert only four patents. The trial began on October 7, 2013. On October 17, 2013, the jury returned a verdict finding all asserted claims of the four at-issue patents to be infringed and finding that none of the asserted claims are invalid. On October 24, 2013, the jury returned a separate verdict assessing total past damages of approximately $173 million and finding that the Company’s infringement was not willful. The Company recorded a $173 million charge in other expenses in fiscal 2013 as a result of this verdict. The court will set a schedule for post-verdict proceedings, including the parties’ respective motions for judgment as a matter of law and ParkerVision’s request for ongoing equitable relief. The Company intends to appeal.
	Icera Complaint to the European Commission: On June 7, 2010, the European Commission (the Commission) notified and provided the Company with a redacted copy of a complaint filed with the Commission by Icera, Inc. alleging that the Company has engaged in anticompetitive activity. The Company was asked by the Commission to submit a preliminary response to the portions of the complaint disclosed to it, and the Company submitted its response in July 2010. On October 19, 2011, the Commission notified the Company that it should provide to the Commission additional documents and information. On January 16, 2012, the Company provided additional documents and information in response to that request. On July 10, 2013, the Commission ordered the Company to provide additional documents and information. The Company continues to cooperate fully with the Commission’s preliminary investigation.
	Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) Complaint: On January 4, 2010, the KFTC issued a written decision finding that the Company had violated South Korean law by offering certain discounts and rebates for purchases of its CDMA chips and for including in certain agreements language requiring the continued payment of royalties after all licensed patents have expired. The KFTC levied a fine, which the Company paid in the second quarter of fiscal 2010. The Company appealed to the Seoul High Court, and on June 19, 2013, the Seoul High Court affirmed the KFTC’s decision. On July 4, 2013, the Company filed an appeal with the Korea Supreme Court.
	Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) Complaint: The JFTC received unspecified complaints alleging that the Company’s business practices are, in some way, a violation of Japanese law. On September 29, 2009, the JFTC issued a cease and desist order concluding that the Company’s Japanese licensees were forced to cross-license patents to the Company on a royalty-free basis and were forced to accept a provision under which they agreed not to assert their essential patents against the Company’s other licensees who made a similar commitment in their license agreements with the Company. The cease and desist order seeks to require the Company to modify its existing license agreements with Japanese companies to eliminate these provisions while preserving the license of the Company’s patents to those companies. The Company disagrees with the conclusions that it forced its Japanese licensees to agree to any provision in the parties’ agreements and that those provisions violate the Japanese Antimonopoly Act. The Company has invoked its right under Japanese law to an administrative hearing before the JFTC. In February 2010, the Tokyo High Court granted the Company’s motion and issued a stay of the cease and desist order pending the administrative hearing before the JFTC. The JFTC has held hearings on 19 different dates, with another hearing scheduled for January 22, 2014 and additional hearing dates yet to be scheduled.
	Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Formal Order of Private Investigation and Department of Justice Investigation: On September 8, 2010, the Company was notified by the SEC’s Los Angeles Regional office of a formal order of private investigation. The Company understands that the investigation arose from a “whistleblower’s” allegations made in December 2009 to the audit committee of the Company’s Board of Directors and to the SEC. In 2010, the audit committee completed an internal review of the allegations with the assistance of independent counsel and independent forensic accountants. This internal review into the whistleblower’s allegations and related accounting practices did not identify any errors in the Company’s financial statements. On January 27, 2012, the Company learned that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California/Department of Justice (collectively, DOJ) had begun an investigation regarding the Company’s compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). FCPA compliance is also a focus of the SEC investigation. The audit committee continues to conduct an internal review into the Company’s compliance with the FCPA with the assistance of independent counsel and independent forensic accountants.
	As previously disclosed, the Company has discovered, and as a part of its ongoing cooperation with these investigations has informed the SEC and the DOJ of, instances in which special hiring consideration, gifts or other benefits (collectively, benefits) were provided to several individuals associated with Chinese state-owned companies or agencies. Based on the facts currently known, the Company believes the aggregate monetary value of the benefits in question to be less than $250,000, excluding employment compensation. The Company is continuing to cooperate with the SEC and the DOJ, but is unable to predict the outcome of their investigations.
	The Company will continue to vigorously defend itself in the foregoing matters. However, litigation and investigations are inherently uncertain. Accordingly, the Company cannot predict the outcome of these matters. Other than the amount recorded for the ParkerVision verdict, the Company has not recorded any accrual at September 29, 2013 for contingent losses associated with these matters based on its belief that losses, while possible, are not probable. Further, any possible range of loss cannot be reasonably estimated at this time. Nonetheless, the unfavorable resolution of one or more of these matters could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows. The Company is engaged in numerous other legal actions not described above arising in the ordinary course of its business and, while there can be no assurance, believes that the ultimate outcome of these other legal actions will not have a material adverse effect on its business, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.
	Loans and Debentures. The Company’s former BWA subsidiaries (Note 10) had loan and debenture liabilities in connection with the BWA spectrum won in India in fiscal 2010. The subsidiaries were merged into one remaining former BWA subsidiary in August 2013, and that subsidiary had a loan from a bank related to payment of $81 million to the India Government’s Department of Telecommunications in March 2012 (the DoT loan), which was recorded by the Company as a charge to other expenses in the second quarter of fiscal 2012. On on June 25, 2013, all outstanding debentures ($492 million, including accrued interest) were redeemed, and on August 30, 2013, all outstanding loans, excluding the DoT loan, ($368 million) were repaid, in full using funding provided by Bharti, and the Company’s related guarantee and indemnification agreements were terminated. Prior to the deconsolidation of the BWA subsidiaries on June 25, 2013, cash paid for interest on the loans and debentures was $92 million, $88 million and $94 million for fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
	The DoT loan was guaranteed by QUALCOMM Incorporated and one of its wholly owned subsidiaries and was denominated in Indian rupees. The fair value of the guarantee was recorded as a liability when the Company deconsolidated the BWA subsidiaries (Note 10). The DoT loan was due and payable on December 1, 2014 and bore interest at an annual rate that was reset quarterly, plus 0.25% (10.20% at September 29, 2013) with interest payments due monthly. The DoT loan was repaid in full on October 15, 2013 ($67 million) using funding provided by Bharti as a condition to Bharti’s acquisition of all of the Company’s interest in the remaining former BWA subsidiary, which occurred on October 17, 2013.
	Indemnifications. With the exception of the practices of its Qualcomm Atheros subsidiary, the Company generally does not indemnify its customers and licensees for losses sustained from infringement of third-party intellectual property rights. However, the Company is contingently liable under certain product sales, services, license and other agreements to indemnify certain customers against certain types of liability and/or damages arising from qualifying claims of patent infringement by products or services sold or provided by the Company. The Company’s obligations under these agreements may be limited in terms of time and/or amount, and in some instances, the Company may have recourse against third parties for certain payments made by the Company. Under Qualcomm Atheros’ indemnification agreements, software license agreements and product sale agreements (including its standard software license agreements and standard terms and conditions of semiconductor sales), Qualcomm Atheros agrees, subject to restrictions and after certain conditions are met, to indemnify and defend its licensees and customers against third-party claims asserting infringement of certain intellectual property rights, which may include patents, copyrights, trademarks or trade secrets, and to pay any judgments entered on such claims against the licensees or customers. Through September 29, 2013, Qualcomm Atheros has received a number of claims from its direct and indirect customers and other third parties for indemnification under such agreements with respect to alleged infringement of third-party intellectual property rights by its products.
	These indemnification arrangements are not initially measured and recognized at fair value because they are deemed to be similar to product warranties in that they relate to claims and/or other actions that could impair the ability of the Company’s direct or indirect customers to use the Company’s products or services. Accordingly, the Company records liabilities resulting from the arrangements when they are probable and can be reasonably estimated. Reimbursements under indemnification arrangements have not been material to the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The Company has not recorded any accrual for contingent liabilities at September 29, 2013 associated with these indemnification arrangements, other than insignificant amounts, based on the Company’s belief that additional liabilities, while possible, are not probable. Further, any possible range of loss cannot be reasonably estimated at this time.
	Purchase Obligations. The Company has agreements with suppliers and other parties to purchase inventory, other goods and services and long-lived assets. Obligations, which generally have a remaining term of less than one year, under these agreements at September 29, 2013 for each of the subsequent five years from fiscal 2014 through 2018 were approximately $3.3 billion, $202 million, $54 million, $6 million and $3 million, respectively, and $10 million thereafter. Of these amounts, for fiscal 2014 and 2015, commitments to purchase integrated circuit product inventories comprised $2.7 billion and $81 million, respectively. Integrated circuit product inventory obligations represent purchase commitments for silicon wafers and assembly and test services. Under the Company’s manufacturing relationships with its foundry partners and assembly and test service providers, cancelation of outstanding purchase orders is generally allowed but requires payment of all costs incurred through the date of cancelation.
	Leases. The future minimum lease payments for all capital leases and operating leases at September 29, 2013 were as follows (in millions):
		Capital		Operating		Total
		Leases		Leases
	2014	$	2	$	89	$	91
	2015	2		74		76
	2016	1		62		63
	2017	1		46		47
	2018	1		25		26
	Thereafter	29		47		76
	Total minimum lease payments	36		$	343	$	379
	Deduct: Amounts representing interest	19
	Present value of minimum lease payments	17
	Deduct: Current portion of capital lease obligations	—
	Long-term portion of capital lease obligations	$	17
	The Company leases certain of its land, facilities and equipment under noncancelable operating leases, with terms ranging from less than one year to 31 years and with provisions in certain leases for cost-of-living increases. Rental expense for fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $90 million, $87 million and $87 million, respectively. The Company leases certain property under capital lease agreements primarily related to site leases that have an initial term of five to seven years with renewal options of up to five additional renewal periods. Capital lease obligations are included in other liabilities.

Segment_Information

Segment Information	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Note 8 - Segment Information	'
	Note 8. Segment Information
	The Company is organized on the basis of products and services. The Company aggregates four of its divisions into the QWI segment and two of its divisions into the QSI segment. Reportable segments are as follows:
	•	QCT (Qualcomm CDMA Technologies) segment — develops and supplies integrated circuits and system software based on CDMA, OFDMA and other technologies for use in voice and data communications, networking, application processing, multimedia and global positioning system products.
	•	QTL (Qualcomm Technology Licensing) segment — grants licenses or otherwise provides rights to use portions of the Company’s intellectual property portfolio, which, among other rights, includes certain patent rights essential to and/or useful in the manufacture and sale of certain wireless products, including, without limitation, products implementing CDMA2000, WCDMA, CDMA TDD (including TD-SCDMA), GSM/GPRS/EDGE and/or OFDMA (including LTE) standards and their derivatives, and QTL collects license fees as well as royalties based on sales by licensees of products incorporating or using the Company’s intellectual property.
	•	QWI (Qualcomm Wireless & Internet) segment — comprised of:
	•	Omnitracs division — provides fleet management, satellite- and terrestrial-based two-way wireless information and position reporting and other services, software and hardware to transportation and logistics companies. On August 21, 2013, the Company entered into a definitive agreement to sell the North and Latin American operations of Omnitracs (which comprise substantially all of the Omnitracs division) to a third party, subject to closing conditions (Note 2);
	•	QIS (Qualcomm Internet Services) division — provides content enablement services for the wireless industry and push-to-talk and other software products and services for wireless network operators;
	•	QGOV (Qualcomm Government Technologies) division — provides development and other services and related products involving wireless communications technologies to government agencies and their contractors; and
	•	QRS (Qualcomm Retail Solutions) division — builds and manages software applications that enable certain mobile location-awareness and commerce services.
	•	QSI (Qualcomm Strategic Initiatives) segment — comprised of the Company’s Qualcomm Ventures and Structured Finance & Strategic Investments divisions. QSI makes strategic investments that the Company believes may open new or expand opportunities for its technologies, support the design and introduction of new products or services for voice and data communications or possess unique capabilities or technology. Many of these strategic investments are in early-stage companies. QSI also holds wireless spectrum. Prior to fiscal 2013, QSI’s FLO TV division was presented as discontinued operations. All discontinued operations were attributable to Qualcomm.
	The Company evaluates the performance of its segments based on earnings (loss) before income taxes (EBT) from continuing operations. Segment EBT includes the allocation of certain corporate expenses to the segments, including depreciation and amortization expense related to unallocated corporate assets. Certain income and charges are not allocated to segments in the Company’s management reports because they are not considered in evaluating the segments’ operating performance. Unallocated income and charges include certain net investment income; certain share-based compensation; and certain research and development expenses and selling and marketing expenses that were deemed to be not directly related to the businesses of the segments. Additionally, starting with acquisitions in the third quarter of fiscal 2011, unallocated charges include recognition of the step-up of inventories to fair value, amortization and impairment of certain intangible assets and certain other acquisition-related charges. Such charges related to acquisitions that were completed prior to the third quarter of fiscal 2011 are allocated to the respective segments. The table below presents revenues and EBT for reportable segments (in millions):
		QCT			QTL			QWI			QSI			Reconciling			Total
														Items
	2013
	Revenues	$	16,715		$	7,554		$	613		$	—		$	(16	)	$	24,866
	EBT	3,189			6,590			(8		)	56			(1,633		)	8,194
	Total assets	3,305			28			53			511			41,619			45,516
	2012
	Revenues	$	12,141		$	6,327		$	633		$	—		$	20		$	19,121
	EBT	2,296			5,585			(15		)	(170		)	(1,134		)	6,562
	Total assets	2,278			63			129			1,424			39,118			43,012
	2011
	Revenues	$	8,859		$	5,422		$	656		$	—		$	20		$	14,957
	EBT	2,056			4,753			(152		)	(132		)	(838		)	5,687
	Total assets	1,569			36			136			2,386			32,295			36,422
	Segment assets are comprised of accounts receivable and inventories for all reportable segments other than QSI. QSI segment assets include certain marketable securities, notes receivable, wireless spectrum, other investments and all assets of consolidated subsidiaries included in QSI. QSI segment assets related to the discontinued FLO TV business totaled $59 million and $913 million at September 30, 2012 and September 25, 2011, respectively. QSI assets at September 29, 2013, September 30, 2012 and September 25, 2011 included $17 million, $11 million and $20 million, respectively, related to investments in equity method investees. Reconciling items for total assets included $892 million, $1.2 billion and $806 million at September 29, 2013, September 30, 2012 and September 25, 2011, respectively, of goodwill and other assets related to the Company’s QMT division, a nonreportable segment developing display technology for mobile devices and other applications. Total segment assets also differ from total assets on a consolidated basis as a result of unallocated corporate assets primarily comprised of certain cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities, property, plant and equipment, deferred tax assets, other intangible assets and assets of nonreportable segments. The net book values of long-lived tangible assets located outside of the United States were $896 million, $1.1 billion and $629 million at September 29, 2013, September 30, 2012 and September 25, 2011, respectively. The net book values of long-lived tangible assets located in the United States were $2.1 billion, $1.8 billion and $1.8 billion at September 29, 2013, September 30, 2012 and September 25, 2011, respectively.
	Revenues from each of the Company’s divisions aggregated into the QWI reportable segment were as follows (in millions):
		2013			2012			2011
	Omnitracs	$	372		$	371		$	395
	QIS	138			151			150
	QGOV	102			109			100
	QRS	1			2			11
		$	613		$	633		$	656
	Other reconciling items were comprised as follows (in millions):
		2013			2012			2011
	Revenues
	Nonreportable segments	$	(12	)	$	24		$	23
	Intersegment eliminations	(4		)	(4		)	(3		)
		$	(16	)	$	20		$	20
	EBT
	Unallocated cost of equipment and services revenues	$	(335	)	$	(300	)	$	(210	)
	Unallocated research and development expenses	(789		)	(702		)	(553		)
	Unallocated selling, general and administrative expenses	(502		)	(549		)	(506		)
	Unallocated other expense	(173		)	—			—
	Unallocated investment income, net	877			928			756
	Nonreportable segments	(711		)	(511		)	(324		)
	Intersegment eliminations	—			—			(1		)
		$	(1,633	)	$	(1,134	)	$	(838	)
	Nonreportable segments’ losses before taxes during fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011 were primarily attributable to the Company’s QMT division. Effectively all equity in earnings (losses) of investees was recorded in QSI in fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011. Amounts included in unallocated expenses related to the amortization and impairment of certain intangible assets, contract terminations and the recognition of the step-up of inventories to fair value that resulted from acquisitions were as follows (in millions):
		2013			2012			2011
	Unallocated cost of equipment and services revenues	$	264		$	225		$	143
	Unallocated research and development expenses	3			—			6
	Unallocated selling, general and administrative expenses	26			43			59
	In fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011, interest income included in QSI EBT was $8 million, $19 million and $20 million, respectively, and interest expense included in QSI EBT was $18 million, $79 million and $99 million, respectively. Interest income and interest expense recorded by other segments were negligible in all periods presented.
	Intersegment revenues are based on prevailing market rates for substantially similar products and services or an approximation thereof, but the purchasing segment may record the cost of revenues at the selling segment’s original cost. In that event, the elimination of the selling segment’s gross margin is included with other intersegment eliminations in reconciling items. QCT revenues for fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011 included $3 million, $4 million and $3 million of intersegment revenues, respectively. All other revenues for reportable segments were from external customers for all periods presented.
	The Company distinguishes revenues from external customers by geographic areas based on the location to which its products, software or services are delivered or, for QTL licensing revenues, the invoiced addresses of its licensees. Sales information by geographic area was as follows (in millions):
		2013			2012			2011
	China	$	12,288		$	7,971		$	4,744
	South Korea	4,983			4,203			2,887
	Taiwan	2,683			2,648			2,550
	United States	805			967			897
	Other foreign	4,107			3,332			3,879
		$	24,866		$	19,121		$	14,957

Acquisitions

Acquisitions	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Note 9 - Acquisitions	'
	Note 9. Acquisitions
	During fiscal 2013, the Company acquired five businesses for total cash consideration of $115 million. Technology-based intangible assets recognized in the amount of $24 million are being amortized on a straight-line basis over a weighted-average useful life of six years. Goodwill of $82 million was recognized in these transactions, of which $21 million is expected to be deductible for tax purposes.
	During fiscal 2012, the Company acquired eight businesses for total cash consideration of $774 million. Technology-based intangible assets recognized in the amount of $164 million are being amortized on a straight-line basis over a weighted-average useful life of six years. The Company recorded $62 million related to 10 in-process research and development (IPR&D) projects. At September 29, 2013, the remaining IPR&D of $51 million consisted of six projects, which are expected to be completed within two years. Upon completion, the IPR&D projects will be amortized over their useful lives, which are expected to range between three to nine years. Goodwill of $517 million was recognized in these transactions, of which $71 million is expected to be deductible for tax purposes.
	On May 24, 2011, the Company acquired Atheros Communications, Inc. (Atheros) for total cash consideration of $3.1 billion (net of $233 million of cash acquired) and the exchange of vested and earned unvested share-based awards with an estimated fair value of $106 million. The primary objective of the acquisition was to help accelerate the expansion of the Company’s technologies and platforms to new businesses beyond cellular, including home, enterprise and carrier networking. Atheros was integrated into the QCT segment. The $3.5 billion total purchase price was allocated as follows: $1.8 billion to goodwill, $856 million to amortizable intangible assets, $150 million to IPR&D and $691 million to other net assets.
	Goodwill recognized in the Atheros acquisition is not deductible for tax purposes and was allocated to the QCT segment for annual impairment testing purposes. Goodwill largely consists of expected revenue synergies resulting from the combination of product portfolios, cost synergies related to reduction in headcount growth and lower manufacturing costs, assembled workforce and access to additional sales and distribution channels. The intangible assets acquired are being amortized on a straight-line basis over weighted-average useful lives of four years, six years and three years for technology-based, marketing-related and customer-related intangible assets, respectively. At September 29, 2013, the remaining IPR&D of $3 million consisted of one project, which is expected to be completed over the next year. The Company’s results of operations for fiscal 2011 included the operating results of Atheros since the date of acquisition, the amounts of which were not material.
	Unaudited pro forma revenues and net income attributable to Qualcomm for fiscal 2011, presenting the results of operations of Qualcomm and Atheros as though the companies had been combined as of the beginning of fiscal 2010, were $15.6 billion and $4.3 billion, respectively. This unaudited pro forma information is provided for informational purposes only and is not indicative of the results of operations that would have been achieved if the acquisition had taken place as of the beginning of fiscal 2010.
	During fiscal 2011, the Company acquired nine other businesses for total cash consideration of $466 million. Technology-based intangible assets recognized in the amount of $150 million are being amortized on a straight-line basis over a weighted-average useful life of five years. Goodwill of $276 million was recognized in these transactions, of which $234 million is expected to be deductible for tax purposes.
	Goodwill recognized in these acquisitions was assigned to the Company’s reportable segments as follows (in millions):
		2013		2012		2011
	QCT	$	65	$	364	$	1,998
	QWI	—		—		36
	QTL	—		22		6
	Nonreportable segments	17		131		8
		$	82	$	517	$	2,048

Deconsolidation_of_and_Retaine

Deconsolidation of and Retained Investment in the BWA Subsidiaries Deconsolidation of BWA Subsidiaries (Notes)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]	'
Restructuring and Related Activities Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 10. Deconsolidation of and Retained Investment in the BWA Subsidiaries
	In fiscal 2010, the Company established subsidiaries in India to operate a wireless network using Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) spectrum (the BWA subsidiaries). In June 2012, Bharti Airtel Limited (Bharti), an Indian wireless network operator, purchased shares in the BWA subsidiaries that were held by two third-party Indian investors, and the BWA subsidiaries issued additional equity interests to Bharti for $85 million, reducing the Company’s ownership interest in each of the BWA subsidiaries to 51%. On June 25, 2013, the BWA subsidiaries issued additional equity interests to Bharti for $11 million, further reducing the Company’s ownership interests to 49%, and redeemed all of the outstanding debentures using funding provided by Bharti through subordinated debt (Note 7). Also, Bharti gained additional power over significant activities through certain leadership changes. These events resulted in a change in control of the BWA subsidiaries and therefore, the BWA subsidiaries were deconsolidated from the Company’s financial statements. Prior to the deconsolidation, the assets and liabilities of the BWA subsidiaries were classified as held for sale.
	As a result of the deconsolidation, the Company recognized a gain in net investment income of $6 million measured as the difference between (a) the net fair values of the retained noncontrolling investment and the Company’s guarantee of the former BWA subsidiaries’ bank loans (Note 7) and (b) the carrying values of the former BWA subsidiaries’ net assets, including cumulative translation losses and noncontrolling interests. Total assets and total liabilities were reduced by $1.0 billion and $999 million, respectively. Such assets and liabilities consisted primarily of wireless spectrum, network-related assets and loan obligations. The deconsolidation of these amounts represented a noncash investing and noncash financing transaction and was not reflected in the statement of cash flows for the nine months ended June 30, 2013. The fair value of the Company’s retained noncontrolling investment of $34 million was determined by applying a discounted cash flow valuation model to the estimated cash proceeds that the Company expected to receive upon the sale of its interest to Bharti.
	The former BWA subsidiaries were merged into one entity on August 5, 2013. On August 30, 2013, the remaining former BWA subsidiary repaid all of the outstanding loans, excluding the DoT loan, using funding provided by Bharti in the form of subordinated debt (Note 7). Also on August 30, 2013, Bharti converted the subordinated debt, and the former BWA subsidiary issued additional equity interests to Bharti, further reducing the Company’s ownership interest to 7%. On October 15, 2013, the DoT loan was repaid using funding provided by Bharti (Note 7), and on October 17, 2013, Bharti acquired all of the Company’s interest in the remaining former subsidiary.

Discontinued_Operations

Discontinued Operations	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Note 11 - Discontinued Operations	'
	Note 11. Discontinued Operations
	On March 27, 2011, the FLO TV business and network were shut down. On December 27, 2011, the Company completed the sale of substantially all of its 700 MHz spectrum for $1.9 billion, and as a result, the Company recognized a gain in discontinued operations of $1.2 billion during fiscal 2012. Accordingly, the results of operations of the FLO TV business were presented as discontinued operations. Income (loss) from discontinued operations included share-based compensation and excluded certain general corporate expenses allocated to the FLO TV business during the periods presented. The results of the discontinued FLO TV operations were as follows (in millions):
		2012			2011
	Revenues	$	—		$	5
	Income (loss) from discontinued operations	$	1,203		$	(507	)
	Income tax (expense) benefit	(427		)	194
	Discontinued operations, net of income taxes	$	776		$	(313	)

Fair_Value_Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Note 12 - Fair Value Measurements	'
	Note 12. Fair Value Measurements
	Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants as of the measurement date. Applicable accounting guidance provides an established hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability and are developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the Company’s assumptions about the factors that market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability. There are three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
	•	Level 1 includes financial instruments for which quoted market prices for identical instruments are available in active markets.
	•	Level 2 includes financial instruments for which there are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the instrument.
	•	Level 3 includes financial instruments for which fair value is derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs are unobservable, including the Company’s own assumptions.
	Assets and liabilities are classified based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurements. The Company reviews the fair value hierarchy classification on a quarterly basis. Changes in the observability of valuation inputs may result in a reclassification of levels for certain securities within the fair value hierarchy.
	The following table presents the Company’s fair value hierarchy for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at September 29, 2013 (in millions):
		Level 1			Level 2			Level 3				Total
	Assets
	Cash equivalents	$	4,206		$	1,346		$	—			$	5,552
	Marketable securities
	U.S. Treasury securities and government-related securities	648			434			—				1,082
	Corporate bonds and notes	—			11,870			—				11,870
	Mortgage- and asset-backed securities	—			938			239				1,177
	Auction rate securities	—			—			83				83
	Common and preferred stock	1,541			818			—				2,359
	Equity funds	960			—			—				960
	Debt funds	2,157			3,576			—				5,733
	Total marketable securities	5,306			17,636			322				23,264
	Derivative instruments	—			40			—				40
	Other investments	243			—			—				243
	Total assets measured at fair value	$	9,755		$	19,022		$	322			$	29,099
	Liabilities
	Derivative instruments	$	2		$	21		$	—			$	23
	Other liabilities	244			—			—				244
	Total liabilities measured at fair value	$	246		$	21		$	—			$	267
	Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities. The Company considers all highly liquid investments, including repurchase agreements, with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are comprised of money market funds, certificates of deposit, commercial paper, government agencies’ securities and repurchase agreements fully collateralized by government agencies’ securities.
	With the exception of auction rate securities, the Company obtains pricing information from quoted market prices, pricing vendors or quotes from brokers/dealers. The Company conducts reviews of its primary pricing vendors to determine whether the inputs used in the vendor’s pricing processes are deemed to be observable. The fair value for interest-bearing securities includes accrued interest.
	The fair value of U.S. Treasury securities and government-related securities, corporate bonds and notes and common and preferred stock is generally determined using standard observable inputs, including reported trades, quoted market prices, matrix pricing, benchmark yields, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets and/or benchmark securities.
	The fair value of debt and equity funds is reported at published net asset values. The Company assesses the daily frequency and size of transactions at published net asset values and/or the funds’ underlying holdings to determine whether fair value is based on observable or unobservable inputs.
	The fair value of highly rated mortgage- and asset-backed securities is derived from the use of matrix pricing (prices for similar securities) or, in some cases, cash flow pricing models with observable inputs such as contractual terms, maturity, credit rating and/or securitization structure to determine the timing and amount of future cash flows. Certain mortgage- and asset-backed securities, principally those rated below AAA, may require the use of significant unobservable inputs to estimate fair value, such as default likelihood, recovery rates and prepayment speed.
	The fair value of auction rate securities is estimated by the Company using a discounted cash flow model that incorporates transaction details such as contractual terms, maturity and timing and amount of future cash flows, as well as assumptions related to liquidity, default likelihood and recovery, the future state of the auction rate market and credit valuation adjustments of market participants. Though certain of the securities held by the Company are pools of student loans guaranteed by the U.S. government, prepayment speeds and illiquidity discounts are considered significant unobservable inputs. These additional inputs are generally unobservable, and therefore, auction rate securities are included in Level 3.
	Derivative Instruments. Derivative instruments include foreign currency option and forward contracts to manage foreign exchange risk for certain foreign currency transactions and certain balances denominated in a foreign currency; option, forward and swap contracts to acquire or reduce foreign exchange risk and/or equity, prepayment and credit risks for portfolios of marketable securities classified as trading; and warrants to purchase common stock of other companies at fixed prices. Derivative instruments that are traded on an exchange are valued using quoted market prices and are included in Level 1. Derivative instruments that are not traded on an exchange are valued using conventional calculations/models that are primarily based on observable inputs, such as foreign currency exchange rates, the Company’s stock price, volatilities and interest rates, and therefore, such derivative instruments are included in Level 2.
	Other Investments and Other Liabilities. Other investments and other liabilities included in Level 1 are comprised of the Company’s deferred compensation plan liability and related assets, which consist of mutual funds classified as trading securities and included in other noncurrent assets. Other liabilities included in Level 3 in fiscal 2012 were comprised of put rights held by third parties representing interests in certain of the Company’s subsidiaries. These put rights were terminated during the third quarter of fiscal 2012 and were previously valued with a conventional option pricing model using significant unobservable inputs.
	Activity between Levels of the Fair Value Hierarchy. There were no significant transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during fiscal 2013 or 2012. When a determination is made to classify an asset or liability within Level 3, the determination is based upon the significance of the unobservable inputs to the overall fair value measurement. The following table includes the activity for marketable securities and other liabilities classified within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy (in millions):
		2013							2012
		Auction Rate			Mortgage- and Asset-Backed				Auction Rate				Mortgage- and Asset-Backed			Other Liabilities
		Securities			Securities				Securities				Securities
	Beginning balance of Level 3	$	118		$	203			$	124			$	27		$	7
	Total realized and unrealized gains or losses:
	Included in investment income, net	—			8				—				5			(7		)
	Included in other comprehensive income	1			(6		)		—				7			—
	Purchases	—			163				—				149			—
	Sales	—			(70		)		—				—			—
	Settlements	(36		)	(77		)		(6		)		(28		)	—
	Transfers into Level 3	—			18				—				43			—
	Ending balance of Level 3	$	83		$	239			$	118			$	203		$	—
	The Company recognizes transfers into and out of levels within the fair value hierarchy at the end of the fiscal month in which the actual event or change in circumstances that caused the transfer occurs. Transfers into Level 3 in fiscal 2013 and 2012 primarily consisted of debt securities with significant inputs that became unobservable as a result of an increased likelihood of a shortfall in contractual cash flows or a significant downgrade in credit ratings.
	Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurements. The Company measures certain assets at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. These assets include cost and equity method investments when they are deemed to be other-than-temporarily impaired or retained upon deconsolidation of a subsidiary, assets acquired and liabilities assumed in an acquisition or in a nonmonetary exchange, and property, plant and equipment and intangible assets that are written down to fair value when they are held for sale or determined to be impaired. During fiscal 2013 and 2012, certain property, plant and equipment related to the Company’s QMT division were written down to their estimated fair values resulting in impairment charges of $158 million and $54 million, respectively (Note 2). At September 29, 2013, the carrying value of the QMT division’s property, plant and equipment was $724 million. During fiscal 2013, the Company recorded its retained investment in the former BWA subsidiaries at its estimated fair value of $34 million (Note 10). During fiscal 2012 and 2011, goodwill related to the Company’s QRS division was written down to implied fair value resulting in impairment charges of $23 million and $114 million, respectively. The impairment charges were recorded in other expenses. At September 29, 2013, the carrying value of the QRS division’s goodwill was $17 million. The estimation of fair values and cash flows used in these fair value measurements required the use of significant unobservable inputs, and as a result, the fair value measurements were classified as Level 3. During fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011, the Company did not have any other significant assets or liabilities that were measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis in periods subsequent to initial recognition.

Marketable_Securities

Marketable Securities	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Note 13 - Marketable Securities	'
	Note 13. Marketable Securities
	Marketable securities were comprised as follows (in millions):
		Current								Noncurrent
		September 29, 2013				September 30, 2012				September 29, 2013				September 30, 2012
	Trading:
	U.S. Treasury securities and government-related securities	$	241			$	196			$	49			$	254
	Corporate bonds and notes	269				283				256				176
	Mortgage- and asset-backed securities	—				—				104				120
	Total trading	$	510			479				409				550
	Available-for-sale:
	U.S. Treasury securities and government-related securities	$	721			$	362			$	71			$	592
	Corporate bonds and notes	4,533				4,554				6,812				7,570
	Mortgage- and asset-backed securities	745				1,157				328				241
	Auction rate securities	—				—				83				118
	Common and preferred stock	8				57				2,351				2,030
	Equity funds	—				—				960				1,126
	Debt funds	2,307				1,958				2,889				1,716
	Total available-for-sale	8,314				8,088				13,494				13,393
	Fair value option:
	Debt fund	—				—				537				520
	Total marketable securities	$	8,824			$	8,567			$	14,440			$	14,463
	The Company holds an investment in a debt fund for which the Company elected the fair value option because the Company is able to redeem its shares at net asset value, which is determined daily. The investment would have otherwise been recorded using the equity method. The debt fund has no single maturity date. At September 29, 2013, the Company had an effective ownership interest in the debt fund of 21%. Net increases in fair value associated with this investment of $17 million, $45 million and $9 million were recognized in net investment income in fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
	The Company classifies certain portfolios of debt securities that utilize derivative instruments to acquire or reduce foreign exchange risk, interest rate risk and/or equity, prepayment and credit risk as trading. Net losses recognized on debt securities classified as trading still held at September 29, 2013 were $20 million. Net gains recognized on debt securities classified as trading still held at September 30, 2012 were $22 million. The Company did not hold any securities classified as trading during fiscal 2011.
	At September 29, 2013, the contractual maturities of available-for-sale debt securities were as follows (in millions):
	Years to Maturity																No Single
	Less Than				One to				Five to				Greater Than				Maturity
	One Year				Five Years				Ten Years				Ten Years				Date		Total
	$	1,695			$	6,842			$	2,303			$	1,296			$	6,353	$	18,489
	Debt securities with no single maturity date included debt funds, mortgage- and asset-backed securities and auction rate securities.
	The Company recorded realized gains and losses on sales of available-for-sale securities as follows (in millions):
	Fiscal Year	Gross Realized Gains				Gross Realized Losses				Net Realized Gains
	2013	$	430			$	(142	)		$	288
	2012	296				(25		)		271
	2011	356				(30		)		326
	Available-for-sale securities were comprised as follows (in millions):
		Cost				Unrealized				Unrealized				Fair Value
						Gains				Losses
	September 29, 2013
	Equity securities	$	2,570			$	793			$	(44	)		$	3,319
	Debt securities (including debt funds)	18,255				396				(162		)		18,489
		$	20,825			$	1,189			$	(206	)		$	21,808
	September 30, 2012
	Equity securities	$	2,599			$	628			$	(14	)		$	3,213
	Debt securities (including debt funds)	17,714				573				(19		)		18,268
		$	20,313			$	1,201			$	(33	)		$	21,481
	The following table shows the gross unrealized losses and fair values of the Company’s investments in individual securities that are classified as available-for-sale and have been in a continuous unrealized loss position deemed to be temporary for less than 12 months and for more than 12 months, aggregated by investment category (in millions):
		September 29, 2013
		Less than 12 months								More than 12 months
		Fair Value				Unrealized				Fair Value				Unrealized
						Losses								Losses
	U.S. Treasury securities and government-related securities	$	42			$	(1	)		$	—			$	—
	Corporate bonds and notes	2,084				(31		)		24				(1		)
	Mortgage- and asset-backed securities	367				(5		)		24				—
	Auction rate securities	—				—				83				(1		)
	Common and preferred stock	291				(41		)		—				—
	Debt funds	2,776				(123		)		4				—
	Equity funds	82				(3		)		—				—
		$	5,642			$	(204	)		$	135			$	(2	)
		September 30, 2012
		Less than 12 months								More than 12 months
		Fair Value				Unrealized				Fair Value				Unrealized
						Losses								Losses
	Corporate bonds and notes	$	723			$	(8	)		$	256			$	(9	)
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities	143				(1		)		7				—
Auction rate securities	—				—				115				(1		)
Common and preferred stock	105				(5		)		9				—
Equity funds	64				(4		)		36				(5		)
	$	1,035			$	(18	)		$	423			$	(15	)
At September 29, 2013, the Company concluded that the unrealized losses on its available-for-sale securities were temporary. Further, for common and certain preferred stock and for equity and debt funds with unrealized losses, the Company has the ability and the intent to hold such securities until they recover, which is expected to be within a reasonable period of time. For debt securities with unrealized losses, the Company does not have the intent to sell, nor is it more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell, such securities before recovery or maturity.
The following table shows the activity for the credit loss portion of other-than-temporary impairments on debt securities held by the Company (in millions):
	2013				2012				2011
Beginning balance of credit losses	$	31			$	46			$	109
Reductions in credit losses related to securities the Company intends to sell	(7		)		(1		)		(40		)
Credit losses recognized on securities previously not impaired	1				5				2
Additional credit losses recognized on securities previously impaired	1				2				—
Reductions in credit losses related to securities sold	(21		)		(21		)		(20		)
Accretion of credit losses due to an increase in cash flows expected to be collected	(1		)		—				(5		)
Ending balance of credit losses	$	4			$	31			$	46

Summarized_Quarterly_Data_Unau

Summarized Quarterly Data (Unaudited)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Note 14 - Summarized Quarterly Data (Unaudited)	'
	Note 14. Summarized Quarterly Data (Unaudited)
	The following financial information reflects all normal recurring adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the results of the interim periods.
	The table below presents quarterly data for fiscal 2013 and 2012 (in millions, except per share data):
		1st Quarter			2nd Quarter		3rd Quarter			4th Quarter
	2013 (1)
	Revenues	$	6,018		$	6,124	$	6,243		$	6,480
	Operating income	2,088			1,877		1,677			1,588
	Net income	1,903			1,863		1,578			1,501
	Net income attributable to Qualcomm	1,906			1,866		1,580			1,501
	Basic earnings per share attributable to Qualcomm (2)	$	1.12		$	1.08	$	0.91		$	0.88
	Diluted earnings per share attributable to Qualcomm (2)	$	1.09		$	1.06	$	0.9		$	0.86
	2012 (1)
	Revenues	$	4,681		$	4,943	$	4,626		$	4,871
	Operating income	1,551			1,514		1,382			1,235
	Income from continuing operations	1,400			1,438		1,206			1,240
	Discontinued operations, net of tax	(5		)	761		(3		)	23
	Net income	1,395			2,199		1,203			1,263
	Net income attributable to Qualcomm	1,401			2,230		1,207			1,271
	Basic earnings per share attributable to Qualcomm (2):
	Continuing operations	$	0.83		$	0.86	$	0.7		$	0.73
	Discontinued operations	—			0.45		—			0.02
	Net income	0.83			1.31		0.7			0.75
	Diluted earnings per share attributable to Qualcomm (2):
	Continuing operations	$	0.81		$	0.84	$	0.69		$	0.72
	Discontinued operations	—			0.44		—			0.01
	Net income	0.81			1.28		0.69			0.73
	-1	Amounts, other than per share amounts, are rounded to millions each quarter. Therefore, the sum of the quarterly amounts may not equal the annual amounts reported.
	-2	Earnings per share attributable to Qualcomm are computed independently for each quarter and the full year based upon respective average shares outstanding. Therefore, the sum of the quarterly earnings per share amounts may not equal the annual amounts reported.

Valuation_and_Qualifying_Accou

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Schedule to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts	'
	SCHEDULE II
	QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
	VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
	(In millions)
		Balance at			(Charged)			Deductions		Other				Balance at
		Beginning of			Credited to									End of
		Period			Costs and									Period
					Expenses
	Year ended September 29, 2013
	Allowances:
	— trade receivables	$	(1	)	$	(1	)	$	—	$	—			$	(2	)
	— notes receivables	(7		)	(5		)	—		2			(b)	(10		)
	Valuation allowance on deferred tax assets	(142		)	15			—		76			(c)	(51		)
		$	(150	)	$	9		$	—	$	78			$	(63	)
	Year ended September 30, 2012
	Allowances:
	— trade receivables	$	(2	)	$	—		$	1	$	—			$	(1	)
	— notes receivable	(3		)	(4		)	—		—				(7		)
	Valuation allowance on deferred tax assets	(98		)	(43		)	—		(1		)	(d)	(142		)
		$	(103	)	$	(47	)	$	1	$	(1	)		$	(150	)
	Year ended September 25, 2011
	Allowances:
	— trade receivables	$	(3	)	$	—		$	1	$	—			$	(2	)
	— notes receivable	(3		)	—			—		—				(3		)
	— investment receivables (a)	(9		)	6			3		—				—
	Valuation allowance on deferred tax assets	(39		)	(42		)	—		(17		)	(e)	(98		)
		$	(54	)	$	(36	)	$	4	$	(17	)		$	(103	)
	(a)	This amount represents the allowance for investment receivables due for redemptions of money market investments.
	(b)	This amount represents notes receivable on strategic investments that were converted to cost method investments.
	(c)	This amount represents $88 million recorded as part of the gain on deconsolidation of certain subsidiaries, partially offset by $12 million recorded as a component of other comprehensive income.
	(d)	This amount was recorded as a component of other comprehensive income.
	(e)	This amount represents $12 million recorded as a result of an acquisition and $5 million recorded as a component of other comprehensive loss.

The_Company_and_Its_Significan1

The Company and Its Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Principles of Consolidation	'
	Principles of Consolidation. The Company’s consolidated financial statements include the assets, liabilities and operating results of majority-owned subsidiaries. In addition, the Company consolidates its investments in certain immaterial less than majority-owned variable interest entities as the Company is the primary beneficiary. The ownership of the other interest holders of consolidated subsidiaries and the variable interest entities is presented separately in the consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Certain of the Company’s consolidated subsidiaries are included in the consolidated financial statements one month in arrears to facilitate the timely inclusion of such entities in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Fiscal Period, Policy	'
	Fiscal Year. The Company operates and reports using a 52-53 week fiscal year ending on the last Sunday in September. The fiscal years ended September 29, 2013 and September 25, 2011 included 52 weeks. The fiscal year ended September 30, 2012 included 53 weeks.
Cash Equivalents	'
	Cash Equivalents. The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are comprised of money market funds, commercial paper, government agencies’ securities and certain bank time deposits. The carrying amounts approximate fair value due to the short maturities of these instruments.
	The Company considers all highly liquid investments, including repurchase agreements, with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are comprised of money market funds, certificates of deposit, commercial paper, government agencies’ securities and repurchase agreements fully collateralized by government agencies’ securities.
Marketable Securities	'
	Marketable Securities. Marketable securities include trading securities, available-for-sale securities, securities for which the Company has elected the fair value option and certain bank time deposits. The classification of marketable securities within these categories is determined at the time of purchase and reevaluated at each balance sheet date. The Company classifies portfolios of debt securities that utilize derivative instruments to acquire or reduce foreign exchange and/or equity, prepayment and credit risk as trading. The Company classifies marketable securities as current or noncurrent based on the nature of the securities and their availability for use in current operations. Marketable securities are stated at fair value. The net unrealized gains or losses on available-for-sale securities are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of income taxes. The unrealized gains or losses on trading securities and securities for which the Company has elected the fair value option are recognized in net investment income. The realized gains and losses on marketable securities are determined using the specific identification method.
	At each balance sheet date, the Company assesses available-for-sale securities in an unrealized loss position to determine whether the unrealized loss is other than temporary. The Company considers factors including: the significance of the decline in value compared to the cost basis; underlying factors contributing to a decline in the prices of securities in a single asset class; how long the market value of the security has been less than its cost basis; the security’s relative performance versus its peers, sector or asset class; expected market volatility, the market and economy in general; analyst recommendations and price targets; views of external investment managers; news or financial information that has been released specific to the investee; and the outlook for the overall industry in which the investee operates.
	If a debt security’s market value is below amortized cost and the Company either intends to sell the security or it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security before its anticipated recovery, the Company records an other-than-temporary impairment charge to net investment income for the entire amount of the impairment. For the remaining debt securities, if an other-than-temporary impairment exists, the Company separates the other-than-temporary impairment into the portion of the loss related to credit factors, or the credit loss portion, and the portion of the loss that is not related to credit factors, or the noncredit loss portion. The credit loss portion is the difference between the amortized cost of the security and the Company’s best estimate of the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected from the debt security. The noncredit loss portion is the residual amount of the other-than-temporary impairment. The credit loss portion is recorded as a charge to net investment income, and the noncredit loss portion is recorded as a component of other accumulated comprehensive income, net of income taxes.
	When calculating the present value of expected cash flows to determine the credit loss portion of the other-than-temporary impairment, the Company estimates the amount and timing of projected cash flows, the probability of default and the timing and amount of recoveries on a security-by-security basis. These calculations use inputs primarily based on observable market data, such as credit default swap spreads, historical default and recovery statistics, rating agency data, credit ratings and other data relevant to analyzing the collectibility of the security. The amortized cost basis of a debt security is adjusted for any credit loss portion of the impairment recorded to earnings. The difference between the new cost basis and cash flows expected to be collected is accreted to net investment income over the remaining expected life of the security.
	Securities that are accounted for as equity securities include investments in common stock, certain preferred stock, equity mutual and exchange-traded funds and debt funds. For equity securities, the Company considers the loss relative to the expected volatility and the likelihood of recovery over a reasonable period of time. If events and circumstances indicate that a decline in the value of an equity security has occurred and is other than temporary, the Company records a charge to net investment income for the difference between fair value and cost at the balance sheet date. Additionally, if the Company has either the intent to sell the equity security or does not have both the intent and the ability to hold the equity security until its anticipated recovery, the Company records a charge to net investment income for the difference between fair value and cost at the balance sheet date.
Derivatives	'
	Derivatives. The Company’s primary objective for holding derivative instruments is to manage foreign exchange risk for certain foreign currency revenue and operating expenditure transactions. To a lesser extent, the Company also holds derivative instruments in its investment portfolios to manage risk by acquiring or reducing foreign exchange risk, interest rate risk and/or equity, prepayment and credit risk. The Company also uses derivative instruments as part of its stock repurchase program.
	Foreign Currency Hedges: The Company manages its exposure to foreign exchange market risks, when deemed appropriate, through the use of derivative instruments, including foreign currency forward and option contracts with financial counterparties. We utilize such derivative financial instruments for hedging or risk management purposes rather than for speculation purposes. Counterparties to the Company’s derivative instruments are all major institutions. The derivative instruments mature between 4 and 28 months. Derivative instruments are recorded at fair value and are included in other current assets, noncurrent assets, other accrued liabilities or other noncurrent liabilities based on their maturity date. Gains and losses arising from the effective portion of foreign currency forward and option contracts that are designated as cash flow hedging instruments are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income as gains and losses on derivative instruments, net of income taxes. The hedging gains and losses in accumulated other comprehensive income are subsequently reclassified to revenues or costs and expenses, as applicable, in the consolidated statements of operations in the same period in which the underlying transactions affect the Company’s earnings. Gains and losses arising from the ineffective portion of foreign currency forward and option contracts are recorded in net investment income as gains and losses on derivative instruments. The cash flows associated with derivative instruments designated as cash flow or net investment hedging instruments are classified as cash flows from operating activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows, which is the same category as the hedged transaction. The cash flows associated with the ineffective portion of derivatives are classified as cash flows from investing activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows.
	The aggregate fair value of the Company’s foreign currency option and forward contracts used to hedge foreign currency risk recorded in total assets was $38 million and $11 million at September 29, 2013 and September 30, 2012, respectively, and the fair value recorded in total liabilities was $9 million and $6 million at September 29, 2013 and September 30, 2012, respectively, all of which were designated as cash flow hedging instruments.
	Investment Portfolio Derivatives: The Company also utilizes currency forwards, futures, options and swaps that are not designated as hedging instruments to acquire or reduce foreign exchange risk, interest rate risk and/or equity, prepayment and credit risk in its marketable securities investment portfolios classified as trading. The derivative instruments mature over various periods up to 29 years. Gains and losses arising from changes in the fair values of such contracts are recorded in net investment income as gains and losses on derivative instruments. The cash flows associated with such derivative instruments are classified as cash flows from investing activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows. At September 29, 2013, the fair value of these derivative instruments recorded in total assets was negligible. At September 30, 2012, the fair value of these derivative instruments recorded in total assets was $5 million. At September 29, 2013 and September 30, 2012, the fair value of these derivative instruments recorded in total liabilities was $14 million and $5 million, respectively.
	Gross Notional Amounts. The gross notional amounts of the Company's foreign currency and investment portfolio derivatives by instrument type were as follows (in millions):
		September 29, 2013				September 30, 2012
	Options	$	609			$	1,093
	Currency forwards	544				468
	Futures	106				115
	Swaps	18				190
	Other	—				4
		$	1,277			$	1,870
	The gross notional amounts by currency were as follows (in millions):
		September 29, 2013				September 30, 2012
	Japanese yen	$	617			$	687
	Indian rupee	205				119
	Euro	161				312
	United States dollar	108				375
	Canadian dollar	62				105
	British pound sterling	46				110
	Australian dollar	11				126
	Other	67				36
		$	1,277			$	1,870
Allowances for Doubtful Accounts	'
	Allowances for Doubtful Accounts. The Company maintains allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of the Company’s customers to make required payments. The Company considers the following factors when determining if collection of required payments is reasonably assured: customer credit-worthiness, past transaction history with the customer, current economic industry trends, changes in customer payment terms, and bank credit-worthiness for letters of credit. If the Company has no previous experience with the customer, the Company typically obtains reports from various credit organizations to determine that the customer has a history of paying its creditors. The Company may also request financial information, including financial statements or other documents to determine that the customer has the means of making payment. If these factors do not indicate collection is reasonably assured, revenue is deferred until collection becomes reasonably assured, which is generally upon receipt of cash. If the financial condition of the Company’s customers was to deteriorate, adversely affecting their ability to make payments, additional allowances would be required.
Inventories	'
	Inventories. Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market (replacement cost, not to exceed net realizable value) using the first-in, first-out method. Recoverability of inventories is assessed based on review of committed purchase orders from customers, as well as purchase commitment projections provided by customers, among other things.
Property, Plant and Equipment	'
	Property, Plant and Equipment. Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated or amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives. Upon the retirement or disposition of property, plant and equipment, the related cost and accumulated depreciation or amortization are removed, and a gain or loss is recorded. Buildings and building improvements on owned land are depreciated over 30 years and 15 years, respectively. Leasehold improvements and buildings on leased land are amortized over the shorter of their estimated useful lives, not to exceed 15 and 30 years, respectively, or the remaining term of the related lease. Other property, plant and equipment have useful lives ranging from 2 to 25 years. Direct external and internal costs of developing software for internal use are capitalized subsequent to the preliminary stage of development. Leased property meeting certain capital lease criteria is capitalized, and the net present value of the related lease payments is recorded as a liability. Amortization of assets under capital leases is recorded using the straight-line method over the shorter of the estimated useful lives or the lease terms. Maintenance, repairs and minor renewals or betterments are charged to expense as incurred.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets	'
	Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over the value assigned to the net tangible and identifiable intangible assets of businesses acquired. Acquired intangible assets other than goodwill are amortized over their useful lives unless the lives are determined to be indefinite. For intangible assets purchased in a business combination, the estimated fair values of the assets received are used to establish their recorded values. For intangible assets acquired in a non-monetary exchange, the estimated fair values of the assets transferred (or the estimated fair values of the assets received, if more clearly evident) are used to establish their recorded values, unless the values of neither the assets received nor the assets transferred are determinable within reasonable limits, in which case the assets received are measured based on the carrying values of the assets transferred. Valuation techniques consistent with the market approach, income approach and/or cost approach are used to measure fair value.
	Weighted-average amortization periods for finite-lived intangible assets, by class, were as follows (in years):
		September 29, 2013		September 30, 2012
	Wireless spectrum	14		5
	Marketing-related	9		9
	Technology-based	11		11
	Customer-related	2		6
	Total finite-lived intangible assets	11		11
Impairment of Goodwill	'
	Impairment of Goodwill and Other Long-Lived Assets. Goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested annually for impairment in the fourth fiscal quarter and in interim periods if certain events occur indicating that the carrying amounts may be impaired. If a qualitative assessment is used and the Company determines that the fair value of a reporting unit or indefinite-lived intangible asset is more likely than not (i.e., a likelihood of more than 50%) less than its carrying amount, a quantitative impairment test will be performed. If goodwill is quantitatively assessed for impairment, a two-step approach is applied. First, the Company compares the estimated fair value of the reporting unit in which the goodwill resides to its carrying value. The second step, if necessary, measures the amount of such impairment by comparing the implied fair value of goodwill to its carrying value. Other indefinite-lived intangible assets are quantitatively assessed for impairment, if necessary, by comparing their estimated fair values to their carrying values. If the carrying value exceeds the fair value, the difference is recorded as an impairment.
	Long-lived assets, such as property, plant and equipment and intangible assets subject to amortization, are reviewed for impairment when there is evidence that events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by comparing the carrying amount of an asset or asset group to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset or asset group. If the carrying amount of an asset or asset group exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset or asset group exceeds the estimated fair value of the asset or asset group. Long-lived assets to be disposed of by sale are reported at the lower of their carrying amounts or their estimated fair values less costs to sell and are not depreciated.
Impairment of Other Long-Lived Assets	'
	Impairment of Goodwill and Other Long-Lived Assets. Goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested annually for impairment in the fourth fiscal quarter and in interim periods if certain events occur indicating that the carrying amounts may be impaired. If a qualitative assessment is used and the Company determines that the fair value of a reporting unit or indefinite-lived intangible asset is more likely than not (i.e., a likelihood of more than 50%) less than its carrying amount, a quantitative impairment test will be performed. If goodwill is quantitatively assessed for impairment, a two-step approach is applied. First, the Company compares the estimated fair value of the reporting unit in which the goodwill resides to its carrying value. The second step, if necessary, measures the amount of such impairment by comparing the implied fair value of goodwill to its carrying value. Other indefinite-lived intangible assets are quantitatively assessed for impairment, if necessary, by comparing their estimated fair values to their carrying values. If the carrying value exceeds the fair value, the difference is recorded as an impairment.
	Long-lived assets, such as property, plant and equipment and intangible assets subject to amortization, are reviewed for impairment when there is evidence that events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by comparing the carrying amount of an asset or asset group to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset or asset group. If the carrying amount of an asset or asset group exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset or asset group exceeds the estimated fair value of the asset or asset group. Long-lived assets to be disposed of by sale are reported at the lower of their carrying amounts or their estimated fair values less costs to sell and are not depreciated.
Revenue Recognition	'
	Revenue Recognition. The Company derives revenues principally from sales of integrated circuit products, licensing of its intellectual property and software, and sales of messaging, software hosting, software development and other services and related hardware. The timing of revenue recognition and the amount of revenue actually recognized in each case depends upon a variety of factors, including the specific terms of each arrangement and the nature of the Company’s deliverables and obligations.
	Revenues from sales of the Company’s products are recognized at the time of shipment, or when title and risk of loss pass to the customer and other criteria for revenue recognition are met, if later. Revenues from providing services, including software hosting services, are recognized when earned. Revenues from providing services were less than 10% of total revenues for all periods presented.
	The Company licenses or otherwise provides rights to use portions of its intellectual property portfolio, which includes certain patent rights essential to and/or useful in the manufacture and sale of certain wireless products. Licensees typically pay a fixed license fee in one or more installments and royalties based on their sales of products incorporating or using the Company’s licensed intellectual property. License fees are recognized over the estimated period of benefit of the license to the licensee, typically 5 to 15 years. The Company earns royalties on such licensed products sold worldwide by its licensees at the time that the licensees’ sales occur. The Company’s licensees, however, do not report and pay royalties owed for sales in any given quarter until after the conclusion of that quarter. The Company recognizes royalty revenues based on royalties reported by licensees during the quarter and when other revenue recognition criteria are met.
	The Company records reductions to revenues for customer incentive arrangements, including volume-related and other pricing rebates and cost reimbursements for marketing and other activities involving certain of the Company’s products and technologies. The Company recognizes the maximum potential liability at the later of the date at which the Company records the related revenues or the date at which the Company offers the incentive or, if payment is contingent, when the contingency is resolved. In certain arrangements, the liabilities are based on customer forecasts. The Company reverses accruals for unclaimed incentive amounts to revenues when the unclaimed amounts are no longer subject to payment.
	Unearned revenues consist primarily of license fees for intellectual property and software product sales with continuing performance obligations.
Shipping and Handling Costs	'
	Shipping and Handling Costs. Costs incurred for shipping and handling are included in cost of equipment and services revenues at the time the related revenue is recognized. Amounts billed to a customer for shipping and handling are reported as revenue.
Share-Based Compensation	'
	Share-Based Compensation. Share-based compensation expense for equity-classified awards, principally related to restricted stock units (RSUs) and stock options, is measured at the grant date, or at the acquisition date for awards assumed in business combinations, based on the estimated fair value of the award and is recognized over the employee’s requisite service period. Share-based compensation expense is adjusted to exclude amounts related to share-based awards that are expected to be forfeited.
	The fair values of RSUs are estimated based on the fair market values of the underlying stock on the dates of grant or dates the RSUs are assumed. If RSUs do not have the right to participate in dividends, the fair values are discounted by the dividend yield. The weighted-average estimated fair values of employee RSUs granted during fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011 were $64.21, $58.57 and $50.14 per share, respectively. For the majority of RSUs, shares are issued on the vesting dates net of the amount of shares needed to satisfy statutory tax withholding requirements to be paid by the Company on behalf of the employees. As a result, the actual number of shares issued will be fewer than the number of RSUs outstanding. The annual pre-vest forfeiture rate for RSUs granted in fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011 was estimated to be approximately 3% based on historical experience.
	The fair values of employee stock options granted are estimated using the lattice binomial option-pricing model, and the fair values of employee stock options assumed in business combinations are estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. No stock options were granted or assumed during fiscal 2013. The weighted-average estimated fair values of employee stock options granted during fiscal 2012 and 2011 were $14.70 and $13.17 per share, respectively. The following table presents the weighted-average assumptions (annualized) used to estimate the fair values of employee stock options granted or assumed in the periods presented:
		2012			2011
	Volatility	31.5	%		30.8	%
	Risk-free interest rate	1	%		2.1	%
	Dividend yield	1.5	%		1.5	%
	Post-vest forfeiture rate	9	%		9.8	%
	Suboptimal exercise factor	1.7			1.8
	The Company uses the implied volatility of market-traded options in the Company’s stock to determine the expected volatility. The term structure of volatility is used for approximately two years, and the Company uses the implied volatility of the option with the longest time to maturity for periods beyond two years. The risk-free interest rate is based on observed interest rates appropriate for the terms of the Company’s employee stock options. The Company does not target a specific dividend yield for its dividend payments but is required to assume a dividend yield as an input to the binomial model. The dividend yield is based on the Company’s history and expectation of future dividend payouts and may be subject to substantial change in the future. The post-vest forfeiture rate and suboptimal exercise factor are based on the Company’s historical option cancelation and employee exercise information, respectively.
	The expected life of employee stock options is a derived output of the lattice binomial model and is impacted by all of the underlying assumptions used by the Company. The weighted-average expected life of employee stock options granted, as derived from the binomial model, was 5.3 years and 5.6 years during fiscal 2012 and 2011, respectively.
	Total share-based compensation expense, related to all of the Company’s share-based awards, was comprised as follows (in millions):
		2013				2012			2011
	Cost of equipment and services revenues	$	71			$	75		$	67
	Research and development	643				546			397
	Selling, general and administrative	391				414			349
	Continuing operations	1,105				1,035			813
	Related income tax benefit	(217		)		(225		)	(194		)
	Continuing operations, net of income taxes	888				810			619
	Discontinued operations	—				1			8
	Related income tax benefit	—				—			(3		)
	Discontinued operations, net of income taxes	—				1			5
		$	888			$	811		$	624
	The Company recorded $242 million, $270 million and $165 million in share-based compensation expense during fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, related to share-based awards granted during those periods. The remaining share-based compensation expense was primarily related to share-based awards granted in earlier periods and share-based awards assumed. In addition, for fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011, $231 million, $168 million and $183 million, respectively, were reclassified to reduce net cash provided by operating activities with an offset to net cash provided (used) by financing activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows to reflect the incremental tax benefits from stock options exercised and restricted stock units and other share-based awards that vested in those periods. The amount of compensation cost capitalized related to share-based awards was negligible for all periods presented.
Litigation	'
	Litigation. The Company is currently involved in certain legal proceedings. The Company records its best estimate of a loss related to pending litigation when the loss is considered probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Where a range of loss can be reasonably estimated with no best estimate in the range, the Company records the minimum estimated liability related to the claim. As additional information becomes available, the Company assesses the potential liability related to the Company’s pending litigation and revises its estimates. The Company’s legal costs associated with defending itself are recorded to expense as incurred.
Foreign Currency	'
	Foreign Currency. Certain foreign subsidiaries use a local currency as the functional currency. Resulting translation gains or losses are recognized as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income.
	Transaction gains or losses related to balances denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations. Net foreign currency transaction losses included in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations were $4 million, $7 million and $8 million for fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Income Taxes	'
	Income Taxes. The asset and liability approach is used to recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and liabilities. Tax law and rate changes are reflected in income in the period such changes are enacted. The Company records a valuation allowance to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. The Company includes interest and penalties related to income taxes, including unrecognized tax benefits, within the income tax provision.
	The Company’s income tax returns are based on calculations and assumptions that are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and other tax authorities. In addition, the calculation of the Company’s tax liabilities involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex tax regulations. The Company recognizes liabilities for uncertain tax positions based on a two-step process. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely of being realized upon settlement. While the Company believes it has appropriate support for the positions taken on its tax returns, the Company regularly assesses the potential outcomes of examinations by tax authorities in determining the adequacy of its provision for income taxes. The Company continually assesses the likelihood and amount of potential adjustments and adjusts the income tax provision, income taxes payable and deferred taxes in the period in which the facts that give rise to a revision become known.
	The Company recognizes windfall tax benefits associated with share-based awards directly to stockholders’ equity only when realized. A windfall tax benefit occurs when the actual tax benefit realized by the Company upon an employee’s disposition of a share-based award exceeds the deferred tax asset, if any, associated with the award that the Company had recorded. When assessing whether a tax benefit relating to share-based compensation has been realized, the Company follows the tax law ordering method, under which current year share-based compensation deductions are assumed to be utilized before net operating loss carryforwards and other tax attributes.
Earnings Per Common Share	'
	Earnings Per Common Share. Basic earnings per common share are computed by dividing net income attributable to Qualcomm by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period. Diluted earnings per common share are computed by dividing net income attributable to Qualcomm by the combination of dilutive common share equivalents, comprised of shares issuable under the Company’s share-based compensation plans and shares subject to written put options, and the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period. Dilutive common share equivalents include the dilutive effect of in-the-money share equivalents, which are calculated based on the average share price for each period using the treasury stock method. Under the treasury stock method, the exercise price of an award, if any, the amount of compensation cost for future service that the Company has not yet recognized, if any, and the estimated tax benefits that would be recorded in paid-in capital when an award is settled, if any, are assumed to be used to repurchase shares in the current period. The incremental dilutive common share equivalents, calculated using the treasury stock method, for fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011 were 38,670,000, 40,978,000 and 32,908,000, respectively.
	Employee stock options to purchase 355,000, 1,590,000 and 20,224,000 shares of common stock during fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, were outstanding but not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per common share because the effect would be anti-dilutive. Put options outstanding during fiscal 2012 and 2011 were not included in the earnings per common share computation because the put options’ exercise prices were less than the average market price of the common stock while they were outstanding, and therefore, the effect on diluted earnings per common share would be anti-dilutive. No put options were outstanding during fiscal 2013. In addition, other common stock equivalents of 152,000, 1,947,000 and 1,963,000 shares outstanding during fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, were not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per common share because the effect would be anti-dilutive or certain performance conditions were not satisfied at the end of the period.
Comprehensive Income	'
	Comprehensive Income. Comprehensive income is defined as the change in equity of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources, including foreign currency translation adjustments and unrealized gains and losses on marketable securities and derivative instruments. Other comprehensive income includes reclassification adjustments for: foreign currency translation gains and losses recognized in the statements of operations as a result of deconsolidation of subsidiaries; net realized gains and losses recognized in the statements of operations when marketable securities are sold or derivative instruments are settled; and unrealized losses on marketable securities recognized in the statements of operations when they are no longer viewed as temporary. The portion of other-than-temporary impairment losses related to noncredit factors and subsequent changes in fair value included in comprehensive income are shown separately from other unrealized gains or losses on marketable securities.
	The components of accumulated other comprehensive income in Qualcomm stockholders’ equity were as follows (in millions):
		September 29, 2013				September 30, 2012
	Foreign currency translation	$	(115	)		$	(107	)
	Noncredit other-than-temporary impairment losses and subsequent changes in fair value related to certain available-for-sale debt securities, net of income taxes	25				29
	Net unrealized gains on other available-for-sale securities, net of income taxes	825				942
	Net unrealized gains on derivative instruments, net of income taxes	18				2
		$	753			$	866
	At September 29, 2013 and September 30, 2012, accumulated other comprehensive income included $1 million and $7 million, respectively, of other-than-temporary losses on marketable debt securities related to factors other than credit, net of income taxes.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	'
	Recent Accounting Pronouncements. In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued guidance on disclosure requirements for items reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income. This new guidance requires entities to present (either on the face of the statement of operations or in the notes to the financial statements) the effects on the line items in the statement of operations for amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income. The new guidance will be effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2014. The adoption of the guidance will impact the Company’s financial statement presentation and/or disclosure but will not impact its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Fair_Value_Measurements_Fair_V

Fair Value Measurements Fair Value Measurements (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy	'
	Cash Equivalents. The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are comprised of money market funds, commercial paper, government agencies’ securities and certain bank time deposits. The carrying amounts approximate fair value due to the short maturities of these instruments.
	The Company considers all highly liquid investments, including repurchase agreements, with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are comprised of money market funds, certificates of deposit, commercial paper, government agencies’ securities and repurchase agreements fully collateralized by government agencies’ securities.

The_Company_and_Its_Significan2

The Company and Its Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Notional Amounts of Outstanding Derivative Positions [Table Text Block]	'
	The gross notional amounts of the Company's foreign currency and investment portfolio derivatives by instrument type were as follows (in millions):
		September 29, 2013				September 30, 2012
	Options	$	609			$	1,093
	Currency forwards	544				468
	Futures	106				115
	Swaps	18				190
	Other	—				4
		$	1,277			$	1,870
	The gross notional amounts by currency were as follows (in millions):
		September 29, 2013				September 30, 2012
	Japanese yen	$	617			$	687
	Indian rupee	205				119
	Euro	161				312
	United States dollar	108				375
	Canadian dollar	62				105
	British pound sterling	46				110
	Australian dollar	11				126
	Other	67				36
		$	1,277			$	1,870
Weighted-average amortization periods for finite-lived intangible assets, by class	'
	Weighted-average amortization periods for finite-lived intangible assets, by class, were as follows (in years):
		September 29, 2013		September 30, 2012
	Wireless spectrum	14		5
	Marketing-related	9		9
	Technology-based	11		11
	Customer-related	2		6
	Total finite-lived intangible assets	11		11
Share-based compensation disclosure, weighted-average assumptions	'
	The following table presents the weighted-average assumptions (annualized) used to estimate the fair values of employee stock options granted or assumed in the periods presented:
		2012			2011
	Volatility	31.5	%		30.8	%
	Risk-free interest rate	1	%		2.1	%
	Dividend yield	1.5	%		1.5	%
	Post-vest forfeiture rate	9	%		9.8	%
	Suboptimal exercise factor	1.7			1.8
Share-based compensation expense, related to all share-based awards	'
	Total share-based compensation expense, related to all of the Company’s share-based awards, was comprised as follows (in millions):
		2013				2012			2011
	Cost of equipment and services revenues	$	71			$	75		$	67
	Research and development	643				546			397
	Selling, general and administrative	391				414			349
	Continuing operations	1,105				1,035			813
	Related income tax benefit	(217		)		(225		)	(194		)
	Continuing operations, net of income taxes	888				810			619
	Discontinued operations	—				1			8
	Related income tax benefit	—				—			(3		)
	Discontinued operations, net of income taxes	—				1			5
		$	888			$	811		$	624
Components of accumulated other comprehensive income	'
	omponents of accumulated other comprehensive income in Qualcomm stockholders’ equity were as follows (in millions):
		September 29, 2013				September 30, 2012
	Foreign currency translation	$	(115	)		$	(107	)
	Noncredit other-than-temporary impairment losses and subsequent changes in fair value related to certain available-for-sale debt securities, net of income taxes	25				29
	Net unrealized gains on other available-for-sale securities, net of income taxes	825				942
	Net unrealized gains on derivative instruments, net of income taxes	18				2
		$	753			$	866

Composition_of_Certain_Financi1

Composition of Certain Financial Statement Captions (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Accounts Receivable	'
	Accounts Receivable (in millions)	September 29, 2013			September 30, 2012
	Trade, net of allowances for doubtful accounts of $2 and $1, respectively	$	2,066		$	1,418
	Long-term contracts	27			32
	Other	49			9
		$	2,142		$	1,459
Inventories	'
	Inventories (in millions)	September 29, 2013			September 30, 2012
	Raw materials	$	2		$	19
	Work-in-process	631			531
	Finished goods	669			480
		$	1,302		$	1,030
Property, Plant and Equipment	'
	Property, Plant and Equipment (in millions)	September 29, 2013			September 30, 2012
	Land	$	212		$	203
	Buildings and improvements	1,733			1,392
	Computer equipment and software	1,425			1,409
	Machinery and equipment	2,013			1,828
	Furniture and office equipment	87			80
	Leasehold improvements	218			237
	Construction in progress	480			774
		6,168			5,923
	Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	(3,173		)	(3,072		)
		$	2,995		$	2,851
Goodwill	'
	Goodwill was allocable to reporting units included in the Company’s reportable and nonreportable segments, as described in Note 8, as follows (in millions):
		September 29, 2013			September 30, 2012
	QCT	$	2,875		$	2,816
	QTL	706			707
	QWI	107			128
	Nonreportable segments	288			266
		$	3,976		$	3,917
Intangible assets	'
	The components of other intangible assets, net were as follows (in millions):
		September 29, 2013						September 30, 2012
		Gross Carrying			Accumulated			Gross Carrying		Accumulated
		Amount			Amortization			Amount		Amortization
	Wireless spectrum	$	19		$	(8	)	$	20	$	(3	)
	Marketing-related	76			(37		)	79		(28		)
	Technology-based	3,964			(1,512		)	3,960		(1,158		)
	Customer-related	87			(36		)	101		(33		)
		$	4,146		$	(1,593	)	$	4,160	$	(1,222	)
Other Current Liabilities	'
	Other Current Liabilities (in millions)	September 29, 2013			September 30, 2012
	Customer incentives and other customer-related liabilities	$	1,706		$	1,107
	Other	570			616
		$	2,276		$	1,723

Investment_Income_Tables

Investment Income (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Investment Income [Table Text Block]	'
	Investment income, net was comprised as follows (in millions):
		2013			2012			2011
	Interest and dividend income	$	697		$	609		$	500
	Interest expense	(23		)	(90		)	(114		)
	Net realized gains on marketable securities	317			342			335
	Net realized gains on other investments	52			27			2
	Net impairment losses on marketable securities	(72		)	(71		)	(39		)
	Impairment losses on other investments	(13		)	(12		)	(13		)
	Net gains (losses) on derivative instruments	—			84			(3		)
	Net gains on deconsolidation of subsidiaries	12			—			—
	Equity in losses of investees	(6		)	(9		)	(7		)
		$	964		$	880		$	661

Income_Taxes_Tables

Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Components of income tax provision	'
	The components of the income tax provision were as follows (in millions):
		2013			2012			2011
	Current provision:
	Federal	$	324		$	140		$	179
	State	15			1			57
	Foreign	1,068			934			670
		1,407			1,075			906
	Deferred (benefit) provision:
	Federal	(32		)	208			170
	State	6			(16		)	62
	Foreign	(32		)	12			(6		)
		(58		)	204			226
		$	1,349		$	1,279		$	1,132
Components of income before income taxes	'
	The components of income from continuing operations before income taxes by United States and foreign jurisdictions were as follows (in millions):
		2013			2012			2011
	United States	$	3,798		$	3,525		$	2,984
	Foreign	4,396			3,037			2,703
		$	8,194		$	6,562		$	5,687
Reconciliation of the expected statutory federal income tax provision to actual income tax provision	'
	The following is a reconciliation of the expected statutory federal income tax provision to the Company’s actual income tax provision for continuing operations (in millions):
		2013			2012			2011
	Expected income tax provision at federal statutory tax rate	$	2,868		$	2,297		$	1,991
	State income tax provision, net of federal benefit	26			24			283
	Foreign income taxed at other than U.S. rates	(1,362		)	(1,045		)	(1,074		)
	Tax credits	(195		)	(36		)	(151		)
	Valuation allowance	(3		)	55			42
	Revaluation of deferred taxes	8			—			69
	Other	7			(16		)	(28		)
		$	1,349		$	1,279		$	1,132
Summary of Income Tax Holiday [Table Text Block]	'
		2013			2012
	Additional income tax expense	$	758		$	193
	Reduction to basic earnings per share	$	0.44		$	0.11
	Reduction to diluted earnings per share	$	0.43		$	0.11
Deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities	'
	The Company had deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities as follows (in millions):
		September 29, 2013			September 30, 2012
	Unearned revenues	$	1,305		$	1,340
	Share-based compensation	497			623
	Unrealized losses on marketable securities	293			232
	Accrued liabilities and reserves	305			260
	Unused net operating losses	91			105
	Capitalized start-up and organizational costs	71			78
	Tax credits	29			50
	Other	49			102
	Total gross deferred assets	2,640			2,790
	Valuation allowance	(51		)	(142		)
	Total net deferred assets	2,589			2,648
	Unrealized gains on marketable securities	(536		)	(552		)
	Intangible assets	(265		)	(261		)
	Property, plant and equipment	(129		)	(115		)
	Other	(27		)	(7		)
	Total deferred liabilities	(957		)	(935		)
	Net deferred assets	$	1,632		$	1,713
	Reported as:
	Current deferred tax assets	$	573		$	309
	Non-current deferred tax assets	1,059			1,412
	Non-current assets held for sale	2			—
	Current deferred tax liabilities (1)	—			(1		)
	Non-current deferred tax liabilities (1)	(2		)	(7		)
		$	1,632		$	1,713
	-1	Current deferred tax liabilities and non-current deferred tax liabilities were included in other current liabilities and other liabilities, respectively, in the consolidated balance sheets.
Changes in the amount of unrecognized tax benefits	'
	A summary of the changes in the amount of unrecognized tax benefits for fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011 follows (in millions):
		2013			2012			2011
	Beginning balance of unrecognized tax benefits	$	86		$	96		$	353
	Additions based on prior year tax positions	1			—			64
	Reductions for prior year tax positions and lapse in statute of limitations	—			(18		)	(10		)
	Additions for current year tax positions	145			10			12
	Settlements with taxing authorities	(11		)	(2		)	(323		)
	Ending balance of unrecognized tax benefits	$	221		$	86		$	96

Capital_Stock_Tables

Capital Stock (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Cash dividends	'
	Dividends charged to retained earnings in fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011 were as follows (in millions, except per share data):
		2013				2012				2011
		Per Share		Total		Per Share		Total		Per Share		Total
	First quarter	$	0.25	$	435	$	0.215	$	368	$	0.19	$	314
	Second quarter	0.25		439		0.215		377		0.19		319
	Third quarter	0.35		615		0.25		429		0.215		360
	Fourth quarter	0.35		604		0.25		438		0.215		368
		$	1.2	$	2,093	$	0.93	$	1,612	$	0.81	$	1,361

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Tables

Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Summary of stock option and RSU transactions for all equity compensation plans	'
	A summary of stock option transactions for all equity compensation plans follows:
		Number of Shares		Weighted- Average		Average Remaining		Aggregate Intrinsic
				Exercise		Contractual Term		Value
				Price
		(In thousands)				(Years)		(In billions)
	Stock options outstanding at September 30, 2012	106,601		$	39.96
	Stock options canceled/forfeited/expired	(652	)	40.25
	Stock options exercised	(34,923	)	37.51
	Stock options outstanding at September 29, 2013	71,026		$	41.17	4.2		$	1.9
	Exercisable at September 29, 2013	65,243		$	41.09	4		$	1.7
	A summary of RSU transactions for all equity compensation plans follows:
		Number of Shares		Weighted-Average		Aggregate Intrinsic
				Grant Date Fair		Value
				Value
		(In thousands)				(In billions)
	RSUs outstanding at September 30, 2012	32,922		$	53.22
	RSUs granted	15,509		64.2
	RSUs canceled/forfeited	(1,549	)	56.69
	RSUs vested	(15,804	)	50.5
	RSUs outstanding at September 29, 2013	31,078		$	59.91	$	2.1

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Future minimum lease payments for all capital leases and operating leases	'
	The future minimum lease payments for all capital leases and operating leases at September 29, 2013 were as follows (in millions):
		Capital		Operating		Total
		Leases		Leases
	2014	$	2	$	89	$	91
	2015	2		74		76
	2016	1		62		63
	2017	1		46		47
	2018	1		25		26
	Thereafter	29		47		76
	Total minimum lease payments	36		$	343	$	379
	Deduct: Amounts representing interest	19
	Present value of minimum lease payments	17
	Deduct: Current portion of capital lease obligations	—
	Long-term portion of capital lease obligations	$	17

Segment_Information_Tables

Segment Information (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Revenues, EBT and total assets for reportable segments	'
		QCT			QTL			QWI			QSI			Reconciling			Total
														Items
	2013
	Revenues	$	16,715		$	7,554		$	613		$	—		$	(16	)	$	24,866
	EBT	3,189			6,590			(8		)	56			(1,633		)	8,194
	Total assets	3,305			28			53			511			41,619			45,516
	2012
	Revenues	$	12,141		$	6,327		$	633		$	—		$	20		$	19,121
	EBT	2,296			5,585			(15		)	(170		)	(1,134		)	6,562
	Total assets	2,278			63			129			1,424			39,118			43,012
	2011
	Revenues	$	8,859		$	5,422		$	656		$	—		$	20		$	14,957
	EBT	2,056			4,753			(152		)	(132		)	(838		)	5,687
	Total assets	1,569			36			136			2,386			32,295			36,422
Revenues aggregated into the QWI reportable segment	'
	Revenues from each of the Company’s divisions aggregated into the QWI reportable segment were as follows (in millions):
		2013			2012			2011
	Omnitracs	$	372		$	371		$	395
	QIS	138			151			150
	QGOV	102			109			100
	QRS	1			2			11
		$	613		$	633		$	656
Reconciling items - revenue	'
	Other reconciling items were comprised as follows (in millions):
		2013			2012			2011
	Revenues
	Nonreportable segments	$	(12	)	$	24		$	23
	Intersegment eliminations	(4		)	(4		)	(3		)
		$	(16	)	$	20		$	20
	EBT
	Unallocated cost of equipment and services revenues	$	(335	)	$	(300	)	$	(210	)
	Unallocated research and development expenses	(789		)	(702		)	(553		)
	Unallocated selling, general and administrative expenses	(502		)	(549		)	(506		)
	Unallocated other expense	(173		)	—			—
	Unallocated investment income, net	877			928			756
	Nonreportable segments	(711		)	(511		)	(324		)
	Intersegment eliminations	—			—			(1		)
		$	(1,633	)	$	(1,134	)	$	(838	)
Reconciling items - EBT	'
	Other reconciling items were comprised as follows (in millions):
		2013			2012			2011
	Revenues
	Nonreportable segments	$	(12	)	$	24		$	23
	Intersegment eliminations	(4		)	(4		)	(3		)
		$	(16	)	$	20		$	20
	EBT
	Unallocated cost of equipment and services revenues	$	(335	)	$	(300	)	$	(210	)
	Unallocated research and development expenses	(789		)	(702		)	(553		)
	Unallocated selling, general and administrative expenses	(502		)	(549		)	(506		)
	Unallocated other expense	(173		)	—			—
	Unallocated investment income, net	877			928			756
	Nonreportable segments	(711		)	(511		)	(324		)
	Intersegment eliminations	—			—			(1		)
		$	(1,633	)	$	(1,134	)	$	(838	)
	Amounts included in unallocated expenses related to the amortization and impairment of certain intangible assets, contract terminations and the recognition of the step-up of inventories to fair value that resulted from acquisitions were as follows (in millions):
		2013			2012			2011
	Unallocated cost of equipment and services revenues	$	264		$	225		$	143
	Unallocated research and development expenses	3			—			6
	Unallocated selling, general and administrative expenses	26			43			59
Revenues from external customers and intersegment revenues	'
	included in QSI EBT was $8 million, $19 million and $20 million, respectively, and interest expense included in QSI EBT was $18 million, $79 million and $99 million, respectively. Interest income and interest expense recorded by other segments were negligible in all periods presented.
Sales information by geographic area	'
	Sales information by geographic area was as follows (in millions):
		2013			2012			2011
	China	$	12,288		$	7,971		$	4,744
	South Korea	4,983			4,203			2,887
	Taiwan	2,683			2,648			2,550
	United States	805			967			897
	Other foreign	4,107			3,332			3,879
		$	24,866		$	19,121		$	14,957

Acquisitions_Schedule_of_Purch

Acquisitions Schedule of Purchase Price Allocation (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Acquisitions [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Certain Acquired Goodwill Assets by Segment [Table Text Block]	'
	Goodwill recognized in these acquisitions was assigned to the Company’s reportable segments as follows (in millions):
		2013		2012		2011
	QCT	$	65	$	364	$	1,998
	QWI	—		—		36
	QTL	—		22		6
	Nonreportable segments	17		131		8
		$	82	$	517	$	2,048

Discontinued_Operations_Tables

Discontinued Operations (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]	'
Schedule of Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations, Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures [Table Text Block]	'
		2012			2011
	Revenues	$	—		$	5
	Income (loss) from discontinued operations	$	1,203		$	(507	)
	Income tax (expense) benefit	(427		)	194
	Discontinued operations, net of income taxes	$	776		$	(313	)

Fair_Value_Measurements_Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Fair value hierarchy for assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis [Table Text Block]	'
		Level 1			Level 2			Level 3				Total
	Assets
	Cash equivalents	$	4,206		$	1,346		$	—			$	5,552
	Marketable securities
	U.S. Treasury securities and government-related securities	648			434			—				1,082
	Corporate bonds and notes	—			11,870			—				11,870
	Mortgage- and asset-backed securities	—			938			239				1,177
	Auction rate securities	—			—			83				83
	Common and preferred stock	1,541			818			—				2,359
	Equity funds	960			—			—				960
	Debt funds	2,157			3,576			—				5,733
	Total marketable securities	5,306			17,636			322				23,264
	Derivative instruments	—			40			—				40
	Other investments	243			—			—				243
	Total assets measured at fair value	$	9,755		$	19,022		$	322			$	29,099
	Liabilities
	Derivative instruments	$	2		$	21		$	—			$	23
	Other liabilities	244			—			—				244
	Total liabilities measured at fair value	$	246		$	21		$	—			$	267
Activity for marketable securities classified within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy	'
	The following table includes the activity for marketable securities and other liabilities classified within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy (in millions):
		2013							2012
		Auction Rate			Mortgage- and Asset-Backed				Auction Rate				Mortgage- and Asset-Backed			Other Liabilities
		Securities			Securities				Securities				Securities
	Beginning balance of Level 3	$	118		$	203			$	124			$	27		$	7
	Total realized and unrealized gains or losses:
	Included in investment income, net	—			8				—				5			(7		)
	Included in other comprehensive income	1			(6		)		—				7			—
	Purchases	—			163				—				149			—
	Sales	—			(70		)		—				—			—
	Settlements	(36		)	(77		)		(6		)		(28		)	—
	Transfers into Level 3	—			18				—				43			—
	Ending balance of Level 3	$	83		$	239			$	118			$	203		$	—

Marketable_Securities_Tables

Marketable Securities (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Marketable securities	'
	Marketable securities were comprised as follows (in millions):
		Current								Noncurrent
		September 29, 2013				September 30, 2012				September 29, 2013				September 30, 2012
	Trading:
	U.S. Treasury securities and government-related securities	$	241			$	196			$	49			$	254
	Corporate bonds and notes	269				283				256				176
	Mortgage- and asset-backed securities	—				—				104				120
	Total trading	$	510			479				409				550
	Available-for-sale:
	U.S. Treasury securities and government-related securities	$	721			$	362			$	71			$	592
	Corporate bonds and notes	4,533				4,554				6,812				7,570
	Mortgage- and asset-backed securities	745				1,157				328				241
	Auction rate securities	—				—				83				118
	Common and preferred stock	8				57				2,351				2,030
	Equity funds	—				—				960				1,126
	Debt funds	2,307				1,958				2,889				1,716
	Total available-for-sale	8,314				8,088				13,494				13,393
	Fair value option:
	Debt fund	—				—				537				520
	Total marketable securities	$	8,824			$	8,567			$	14,440			$	14,463
Available-for-sale securities	'
	At September 29, 2013, the contractual maturities of available-for-sale debt securities were as follows (in millions):
	Years to Maturity																No Single
	Less Than				One to				Five to				Greater Than				Maturity
	One Year				Five Years				Ten Years				Ten Years				Date		Total
	$	1,695			$	6,842			$	2,303			$	1,296			$	6,353	$	18,489
	Debt securities with no single maturity date included debt funds, mortgage- and asset-backed securities and auction rate securities.
	The Company recorded realized gains and losses on sales of available-for-sale securities as follows (in millions):
	Fiscal Year	Gross Realized Gains				Gross Realized Losses				Net Realized Gains
	2013	$	430			$	(142	)		$	288
	2012	296				(25		)		271
	2011	356				(30		)		326
	Available-for-sale securities were comprised as follows (in millions):
		Cost				Unrealized				Unrealized				Fair Value
						Gains				Losses
	September 29, 2013
	Equity securities	$	2,570			$	793			$	(44	)		$	3,319
	Debt securities (including debt funds)	18,255				396				(162		)		18,489
		$	20,825			$	1,189			$	(206	)		$	21,808
	September 30, 2012
	Equity securities	$	2,599			$	628			$	(14	)		$	3,213
	Debt securities (including debt funds)	17,714				573				(19		)		18,268
		$	20,313			$	1,201			$	(33	)		$	21,481
Investments in a continuous unrealized loss position	'
	The following table shows the gross unrealized losses and fair values of the Company’s investments in individual securities that are classified as available-for-sale and have been in a continuous unrealized loss position deemed to be temporary for less than 12 months and for more than 12 months, aggregated by investment category (in millions):
		September 29, 2013
		Less than 12 months								More than 12 months
		Fair Value				Unrealized				Fair Value				Unrealized
						Losses								Losses
	U.S. Treasury securities and government-related securities	$	42			$	(1	)		$	—			$	—
	Corporate bonds and notes	2,084				(31		)		24				(1		)
	Mortgage- and asset-backed securities	367				(5		)		24				—
	Auction rate securities	—				—				83				(1		)
	Common and preferred stock	291				(41		)		—				—
	Debt funds	2,776				(123		)		4				—
	Equity funds	82				(3		)		—				—
		$	5,642			$	(204	)		$	135			$	(2	)
		September 30, 2012
		Less than 12 months								More than 12 months
		Fair Value				Unrealized				Fair Value				Unrealized
						Losses								Losses
	Corporate bonds and notes	$	723			$	(8	)		$	256			$	(9	)
	Mortgage- and asset-backed securities	143				(1		)		7				—
	Auction rate securities	—				—				115				(1		)
	Common and preferred stock	105				(5		)		9				—
	Equity funds	64				(4		)		36				(5		)
		$	1,035			$	(18	)		$	423			$	(15	)
Activity for credit loss portion of other-than-temporary impairments on debt securities	'
	The following table shows the activity for the credit loss portion of other-than-temporary impairments on debt securities held by the Company (in millions):
		2013				2012				2011
	Beginning balance of credit losses	$	31			$	46			$	109
	Reductions in credit losses related to securities the Company intends to sell	(7		)		(1		)		(40		)
	Credit losses recognized on securities previously not impaired	1				5				2
	Additional credit losses recognized on securities previously impaired	1				2				—
	Reductions in credit losses related to securities sold	(21		)		(21		)		(20		)
	Accretion of credit losses due to an increase in cash flows expected to be collected	(1		)		—				(5		)
	Ending balance of credit losses	$	4			$	31			$	46

Summarized_Quarterly_Data_Unau1

Summarized Quarterly Data (Unaudited) (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Summarized Quarterly Data [Text Block]	'
	The table below presents quarterly data for fiscal 2013 and 2012 (in millions, except per share data):
		1st Quarter			2nd Quarter		3rd Quarter			4th Quarter
	2013 (1)
	Revenues	$	6,018		$	6,124	$	6,243		$	6,480
	Operating income	2,088			1,877		1,677			1,588
	Net income	1,903			1,863		1,578			1,501
	Net income attributable to Qualcomm	1,906			1,866		1,580			1,501
	Basic earnings per share attributable to Qualcomm (2)	$	1.12		$	1.08	$	0.91		$	0.88
	Diluted earnings per share attributable to Qualcomm (2)	$	1.09		$	1.06	$	0.9		$	0.86
	2012 (1)
	Revenues	$	4,681		$	4,943	$	4,626		$	4,871
	Operating income	1,551			1,514		1,382			1,235
	Income from continuing operations	1,400			1,438		1,206			1,240
	Discontinued operations, net of tax	(5		)	761		(3		)	23
	Net income	1,395			2,199		1,203			1,263
	Net income attributable to Qualcomm	1,401			2,230		1,207			1,271
	Basic earnings per share attributable to Qualcomm (2):
	Continuing operations	$	0.83		$	0.86	$	0.7		$	0.73
	Discontinued operations	—			0.45		—			0.02
	Net income	0.83			1.31		0.7			0.75
	Diluted earnings per share attributable to Qualcomm (2):
	Continuing operations	$	0.81		$	0.84	$	0.69		$	0.72
	Discontinued operations	—			0.44		—			0.01
	Net income	0.81			1.28		0.69			0.73
	-1	Amounts, other than per share amounts, are rounded to millions each quarter. Therefore, the sum of the quarterly amounts may not equal the annual amounts reported.
	-2	Earnings per share attributable to Qualcomm are computed independently for each quarter and the full year based upon respective average shares outstanding. Therefore, the sum of the quarterly earnings per share amounts may not equal the annual amounts reported.

Valuation_and_Qualifying_Accou1

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Schedule to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Changes in valuation allowances	'
	VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
	(In millions)
		Balance at			(Charged)			Deductions		Other				Balance at
		Beginning of			Credited to									End of
		Period			Costs and									Period
					Expenses
	Year ended September 29, 2013
	Allowances:
	— trade receivables	$	(1	)	$	(1	)	$	—	$	—			$	(2	)
	— notes receivables	(7		)	(5		)	—		2			(b)	(10		)
	Valuation allowance on deferred tax assets	(142		)	15			—		76			(c)	(51		)
		$	(150	)	$	9		$	—	$	78			$	(63	)
	Year ended September 30, 2012
	Allowances:
	— trade receivables	$	(2	)	$	—		$	1	$	—			$	(1	)
	— notes receivable	(3		)	(4		)	—		—				(7		)
	Valuation allowance on deferred tax assets	(98		)	(43		)	—		(1		)	(d)	(142		)
		$	(103	)	$	(47	)	$	1	$	(1	)		$	(150	)
	Year ended September 25, 2011
	Allowances:
	— trade receivables	$	(3	)	$	—		$	1	$	—			$	(2	)
	— notes receivable	(3		)	—			—		—				(3		)
	— investment receivables (a)	(9		)	6			3		—				—
	Valuation allowance on deferred tax assets	(39		)	(42		)	—		(17		)	(e)	(98		)
		$	(54	)	$	(36	)	$	4	$	(17	)		$	(103	)
	(a)	This amount represents the allowance for investment receivables due for redemptions of money market investments.
	(b)	This amount represents notes receivable on strategic investments that were converted to cost method investments.
	(c)	This amount represents $88 million recorded as part of the gain on deconsolidation of certain subsidiaries, partially offset by $12 million recorded as a component of other comprehensive income.
	(d)	This amount was recorded as a component of other comprehensive income.
	(e)	This amount represents $12 million recorded as a result of an acquisition and $5 million recorded as a component of other comprehensive loss.

The_Company_and_Its_Significan3

The Company and Its Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011
Revenue Recognition [Abstract]	'	'	'
Revenues from services	'less than 10%	'less than 10%	'less than 10%
License fees recognized over estimated period of license benefit, duration	'5 to 15 years	'	'
Share-Based Compensation [Abstract]	'	'	'
Weighted-average estimated fair value of employee stock options granted, per share	'	$14.70	$13.17
Weighted-average expected life of employee stock options granted, in years	'	'5 years 3 months 18 days	'5 years 7 months 6 days
Weighted-average estimated fair values of employee RSUs granted, per share	$64.21	$58.57	$50.14
Pre-vesting forfeiture rate	3.00%	3.00%	3.00%
Share-based compensation expense related to share-based awards granted	$242	$270	$165
Incremental tax benefits from stock options exercised and restricted stock units vested	231	168	183
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs, Capitalized Amount	0	0	0
Foreign Currency [Abstract]	'	'	'
Net foreign currency transaction losses	4	7	8
Designated as hedging instrument [Member] | Foreign currency hedges [Member]	'	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'	'
Derivative maturity, low end of range	'4 months	'	'
Derivative maturity, high end of range	'28 months	'	'
Derivative asset, fair value recorded in total assets	38	11	'
Derivative liability, fair value recorded in total liabilities	9	6	'
Not designated as hedging instrument [Member] | Foreign currency hedges [Member]	'	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'	'
Derivative asset, fair value recorded in total assets	0	'	'
Not designated as hedging instrument [Member] | Put option in connection with stock repurchase program [Member]	'	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'	'
Derivative liability, fair value recorded in total liabilities	0	0	'
Not designated as hedging instrument [Member] | Investment Portfolio Derivatives [Member]	'	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'	'
Derivative maturity, high end of range	'29 years	'	'
Derivative asset, fair value recorded in total assets	'	5	'
Derivative liability, fair value recorded in total liabilities	$14	$5	'

The_Company_and_Its_Significan4

The Company and Its Significant Accounting Policies Derivatives (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Notional Amount of Derivatives [Abstract]	'	'
Notional Amount of Derivatives	$1,277	$1,870
Japanese yen	'	'
Notional Amount of Derivatives [Abstract]	'	'
Notional Amount of Derivatives	617	687
Indian rupee	'	'
Notional Amount of Derivatives [Abstract]	'	'
Notional Amount of Derivatives	205	119
Euro	'	'
Notional Amount of Derivatives [Abstract]	'	'
Notional Amount of Derivatives	161	312
United States dollar	'	'
Notional Amount of Derivatives [Abstract]	'	'
Notional Amount of Derivatives	108	375
Canadian dollar	'	'
Notional Amount of Derivatives [Abstract]	'	'
Notional Amount of Derivatives	62	105
British pound sterling	'	'
Notional Amount of Derivatives [Abstract]	'	'
Notional Amount of Derivatives	46	110
Australian dollar	'	'
Notional Amount of Derivatives [Abstract]	'	'
Notional Amount of Derivatives	11	126
Other	'	'
Notional Amount of Derivatives [Abstract]	'	'
Notional Amount of Derivatives	67	36
Options [Member]	'	'
Notional Amount of Derivatives [Abstract]	'	'
Notional Amount of Derivatives	609	1,093
Currency forwards [Member]	'	'
Notional Amount of Derivatives [Abstract]	'	'
Notional Amount of Derivatives	544	468
Futures [Member]	'	'
Notional Amount of Derivatives [Abstract]	'	'
Notional Amount of Derivatives	106	115
Swaps [Member]	'	'
Notional Amount of Derivatives [Abstract]	'	'
Notional Amount of Derivatives	18	190
Other [Member]	'	'
Notional Amount of Derivatives [Abstract]	'	'
Notional Amount of Derivatives	$0	$4

The_Company_and_Its_Significan5

The Company and Its Significant Accounting Policies Property, Plant and Equipment (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011
Property, Plant and Equipment on Owned Land [Line Items]	'	'	'
Interest Costs Capitalized	$65	$29	$0
Buildings [Member] | Maximum [Member]	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment on Owned Land [Line Items]	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'30 years 0 months 0 days	'	'
Building Improvements on Owned Land [Member] | Maximum [Member]	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment on Owned Land [Line Items]	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'15 years 0 months 0 days	'	'
Leasehold Improvements on Owned Land [Member] | Maximum [Member]	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment on Owned Land [Line Items]	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'15 years 0 months 0 days	'	'
Buildings on Leased Land [Member] | Maximum [Member]	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment on Owned Land [Line Items]	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'30 years 0 months 0 days	'	'
Other property, plant and equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment on Owned Land [Line Items]	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'2 years 0 months 0 days	'	'
Other property, plant and equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment on Owned Land [Line Items]	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'25 years 0 months 0 days	'	'

The_Company_and_Its_Significan6

The Company and Its Significant Accounting Policies Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Weighted-Average Amortization Periods for Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, by Class [Line Items]	'	'
Weighted-average amortization period (in years)	'11 years 0 months 0 days	'11 years 0 months 0 days
Wireless spectrum [Member]	'	'
Weighted-Average Amortization Periods for Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, by Class [Line Items]	'	'
Weighted-average amortization period (in years)	'14 years 0 months 0 days	'5 years 0 months 0 days
Marketing-related [Member]	'	'
Weighted-Average Amortization Periods for Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, by Class [Line Items]	'	'
Weighted-average amortization period (in years)	'9 years 0 months 0 days	'9 years 0 months 0 days
Technology-based [Member]	'	'
Weighted-Average Amortization Periods for Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, by Class [Line Items]	'	'
Weighted-average amortization period (in years)	'11 years 0 months 0 days	'11 years 0 months 0 days
Customer-related [Member]	'	'
Weighted-Average Amortization Periods for Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, by Class [Line Items]	'	'
Weighted-average amortization period (in years)	'2 years 0 months 0 days	'6 years 0 months 0 days

The_Company_and_Its_Significan7

The Company and Its Significant Accounting Policies Concentration Risk (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011
Revenues [Member]	'	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'	'
Concentration risk, number of companies	'2	'2	'2
Revenues [Member] | Customer Concentration Risk [Member]	'	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'	'
Concentration risk, percentage	24.00%	20.00%	13.00%
Concentration risk, percentage	19.00%	18.00%	13.00%
Accounts Receivable [Member]	'	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'	'
Concentration risk, number of companies	'2	'3	'
Concentration risk, percentage	43.00%	48.00%	'

The_Company_and_Its_Significan8

The Company and Its Significant Accounting Policies Share-Based Compensation (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'
Volatility	31.50%	30.80%
Risk-free interest rate	1.00%	2.10%
Dividend yield	1.50%	1.50%
Post-vest forfeiture rate	9.00%	9.80%
Suboptimal exercise factor	1.7	1.8

The_Company_and_Its_Significan9

The Company and Its Significant Accounting Policies Share-Based Compensation Expense (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Period during which the term structure of volatility is used	'two years	'	'
Cost of equipment and services revenues	$71	$75	$67
Research and development	643	546	397
Selling, general and administrative	391	414	349
Continuing operations	1,105	1,035	813
Related income tax benefit	-217	-225	-194
Continuing operations, net of income taxes	888	810	619
Discontinued operations	0	1	8
Related income tax benefit	0	0	-3
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes	0	1	5
Share-based compensation expense, net of income taxes	$888	$811	$624

Recovered_Sheet1

The Company and Its Significant Accounting Policies Earnings Per Common Share (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011
Incremental Dilutive Common Share Equivalents [Abstract]	'	'	'
Incremental dilutive common share equivalents	38,670,000	40,978,000	32,908,000
Employee Stock Option [Member]	'	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Diluted Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'	'
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of diluted EPS	355,000	1,590,000	20,224,000
Other Common Stock Equivalents [Member]	'	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Diluted Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'	'
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of diluted EPS	152,000	1,947,000	1,963,000

Recovered_Sheet2

The Company and Its Significant Accounting Policies Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Other-than-temporary losses on marketable debt securities, other than credit, included in AOCI, net of income taxes	$1	$7
Foreign currency translation	-115	-107
Noncredit other-than-temporary impairment losses and subsequent changes in fair value related to certain available-for-sale debt securities, net of income taxes	25	29
Net unrealized gains on other available-for-sale securities, net of income taxes	825	942
Net unrealized gains on derivative instruments, net of income taxes	18	2
Total accumulated other comprehensive income	$753	$866

Composition_of_Certain_Financi2

Composition of Certain Financial Statement Items (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Depreciation and amortization expense	'	$515	$427	$704
Gross book values of property under capital leases included in buildings and improvements	'	18	64	'
Capital lease additions	'	0	0	1
Buildings and improvements and leasehold improvements leased to third parties or held for lease to third parties, aggregate net book value	'	0	13	'
Future minimum rental income - thereafter	'	0	'	'
Goodwill [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
In-process research and development intangible assets not subject to amortization	'	54	'	'
Amortization expense related to intangible assets	'	499	473	357
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use	158	'	'	'
Expected Amortization Expense for Intangible Assets [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Expected amortization expense during the next twelve months	'	484	'	'
Expected amortization expense during the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year	'	444	'	'
Expected amortization expense during the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year	'	340	'	'
Expected amortization expense during the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year	'	226	'	'
Expected amortization expense during the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year	'	193	'	'
Expected amortization expense thereafter	'	867	'	'
QMT [Member]	'	'	'	'
Goodwill [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use	'	$158	$54	'

Composition_of_Certain_Financi3

Composition of Certain Financial Statement Items Accounts Receivable (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Accounts Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable	$2	$1
Trade, net of allowances for doubtful accounts	2,066	1,418
Long-term contracts	27	32
Other	49	9
Accounts receivable, net	$2,142	$1,459

Composition_of_Certain_Financi4

Composition of Certain Financial Statement Items Inventories (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Inventory, Net [Abstract]	'	'
Raw materials	$2	$19
Work-in-process	631	531
Finished goods	669	480
Inventories	$1,302	$1,030

Composition_of_Certain_Financi5

Composition of Certain Financial Statement Items Property, Plant and Equipment (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Land	$212	$203
Buildings and improvements	1,733	1,392
Computer equipment and software	1,425	1,409
Machinery and equipment	2,013	1,828
Furniture and office equipment	87	80
Leasehold improvements	218	237
Construction in progress	480	774
Property, plant and equipment, gross	6,168	5,923
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	-3,173	-3,072
Property, plant and equipment, net	2,995	2,851
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease, Net	$0	$13

Composition_of_Certain_Financi6

Composition of Certain Financial Statement Items Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011	Sep. 29, 2013
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Goodwill	$3,917	'	$3,976
QCT [Member]	'	'	'
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Goodwill	2,816	'	2,875
QTL [Member]	'	'	'
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Goodwill	707	'	706
QWI [Member]	'	'	'
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Goodwill	128	'	107
Nonreportable segments [Member]	'	'	'
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Goodwill	266	'	288
QMT [Member]	'	'	'
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Goodwill	'	'	133
Long-lived asset groups, carrying value	'	'	707
QRS [Member]	'	'	'
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Goodwill	'	'	17
Goodwill and long-lived asset impairment charges	$23	$114	'

Composition_of_Certain_Financi7

Composition of Certain Financial Statement Items Other Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Gross carrying amount	$4,146	$4,160
Accumulated amortization	-1,593	-1,222
Wireless spectrum [Member]	'	'
Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Gross carrying amount	19	20
Accumulated amortization	-8	-3
Marketing-related [Member]	'	'
Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Gross carrying amount	76	79
Accumulated amortization	-37	-28
Technology-based [Member]	'	'
Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Gross carrying amount	3,964	3,960
Accumulated amortization	-1,512	-1,158
Customer-related [Member]	'	'
Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Gross carrying amount	87	101
Accumulated amortization	($36)	($33)

Composition_of_Certain_Financi8

Composition of Certain Financial Statement Items Other Current Liabilities (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Other Liabilities, Current [Abstract]	'	'
Customer incentives and other customer-related liabilities	$1,706	$1,107
Other	570	616
Other current liabilities	$2,276	$1,723

Composition_of_Certain_Financi9

Composition of Certain Financial Statement Items Assets and Liabilities Held for Sale (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 29, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 24, 2012
Weighted-Average Amortization Periods for Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, by Class [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Consideration For Sale Of Business	$800,000,000	'	'	'
Assets held for sale	'	'	1,100,000,000	'
Assets held for sale	139,000,000	'	'	'
Liabilities held for sale	$43,000,000	'	'	'
Company's ownership percentage in BWA subsidiaries	7.00%	49.00%	'	51.00%

Investment_Income_Details

Investment Income (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011
Investment Income (Loss), Net [Line Items]	'	'	'
Net impairment losses on marketable securities related to the noncredit portion of losses on debt securities recognized in other comprehensive income	$0	$0	$0
Interest and dividend income	697	609	500
Interest expense	-23	-90	-114
Net realized gains on marketable securities	317	342	335
Net realized gains on other investments	52	27	2
Impairment losses on marketable securities	-72	-71	-39
Impairment losses on other investments	-13	-12	-13
Net gains (losses) on derivative instruments	0	84	-3
Net gains on deconsolidation of subsidiaries	12	0	0
Equity in losses of investees	-6	-9	-7
Investment income, net	$964	$880	$661

Income_Taxes_Details

Income Taxes (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011
Deferred Tax Liabilities Not Recognized [Abstract]	'	'	'
Unrecorded deferred tax liability related to United States federal and state income taxes and withholding taxes on undistributed earnings of certain non-United States subsidiaries	$7,600,000,000	'	'
Amount of undistributed earnings of certain non-United States subsidiaries indefinitely invested outside the United States	21,600,000,000	'	'
Amount by which income tax expense would have been higher without Singapore tax incentives	758,000,000	193,000,000	'
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Expense [Abstract]	'	'	'
Unrecognized tax benefits for tax positions that, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate	218,000,000	'	'
Cash amounts paid for income taxes, net of refunds received	1,100,000,000	1,300,000,000	2,100,000,000
BasicNetIncomePerShare [Member]	'	'	'
Deferred Tax Liabilities Not Recognized [Abstract]	'	'	'
Amount by which basic and diluted EPS would have been lower without Singapore tax incentives	$0.44	$0.11	'
DilutedNetIncomePerShare [Member]	'	'	'
Deferred Tax Liabilities Not Recognized [Abstract]	'	'	'
Amount by which basic and diluted EPS would have been lower without Singapore tax incentives	$0.43	$0.11	'
Foreign [Member]	'	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]	'	'	'
Unused net operating loss carryforwards	75,000,000	'	'
Federal [Member]	'	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]	'	'	'
Unused net operating loss carryforwards	131,000,000	'	'
State [Member]	'	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]	'	'	'
Unused net operating loss carryforwards	$604,000,000	'	'
Minimum [Member] | Foreign [Member]	'	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]	'	'	'
Expiration of unused net operating loss carryforwards	1-Jan-14	'	'
Minimum [Member] | Federal [Member]	'	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]	'	'	'
Expiration of unused net operating loss carryforwards	1-Jan-21	'	'
Minimum [Member] | State [Member]	'	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]	'	'	'
Expiration of unused net operating loss carryforwards	1-Jan-14	'	'
Maximum [Member] | Foreign [Member]	'	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]	'	'	'
Expiration of unused net operating loss carryforwards	1-Jan-21	'	'
Maximum [Member] | Federal [Member]	'	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]	'	'	'
Expiration of unused net operating loss carryforwards	1-Jan-31	'	'
Maximum [Member] | State [Member]	'	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]	'	'	'
Expiration of unused net operating loss carryforwards	1-Jan-33	'	'

Income_Taxes_Components_of_Inc

Income Taxes Components of Income Tax (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 29, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 25, 2011
Current provision [Abstract]	'		'		'
Federal	$324		$140		$179
State	15		1		57
Foreign	1,068		934		670
Total current provision	1,407		1,075		906
Deferred (benefit) provision [Abstract]	'		'		'
Federal	-32		208		170
State	6		-16		62
Foreign	-32		12		-6
Total deferred provision (benefit)	-58		204		226
Components of Income From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes [Abstract]	'		'		'
United States	3,798		3,525		2,984
Foreign	4,396		3,037		2,703
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	8,194		6,562		5,687
Reconciliation of the Expected Statutory Federal Income Tax Provision to Actual Income Tax Provision For Continuing Operations [Abstract]	'		'		'
Expected income tax provision at federal statutory tax rate	2,868		2,297		1,991
State income tax provision, net of federal benefit	26		24		283
Foreign income taxed at other than U.S. rates	-1,362		-1,045		-1,074
Tax credits	-195		-36		-151
Valuation allowance	-3		55		42
Revaluation of deferred taxes	8		0		69
Other	7		-16		-28
Income tax provision	1,349		1,279		1,132
Deferred Tax Assets and Deferred Tax Liabilities [Abstract]	'		'		'
Unearned revenues	1,305		1,340		'
Share-based compensation	497		623		'
Unrealized losses on marketable securities	293		232		'
Accrued liabilities and reserves	305		260		'
Tax Credits	29		50		'
Capitalized start-up and organizational costs	71		78		'
Unused net operating losses	91		105		'
Other	49		102		'
Total gross deferred assets	2,640		2,790		'
Valuation allowance	-51		-142		'
Total net deferred assets	2,589		2,648		'
Unrealized gains on marketable securities	-536		-552		'
Intangible assets	-265		-261		'
Property, plant and equipment	-129		-115		'
Other	-27		-7		'
Total deferred liabilities	-957		-935		'
Net deferred assets	1,632		1,713		'
Reported as [Abstract]	'		'		'
Current deferred tax assets	573		309		'
Non-current deferred tax assets	1,059		1,412		'
Non-current assets held for sale	2		0		'
Current deferred tax liabilities	0	[1]	-1	[1]	'
Non-current deferred tax liabilities	-2	[1]	-7	[1]	'
Net deferred assets	$1,632		$1,713		'
[1]	Current deferred tax liabilities and non-current deferred tax liabilities were included in other current liabilities and other liabilities, respectively, in the consolidated balance sheets.

Income_Taxes_Deferred_Tax_Asse

Income Taxes Deferred Tax Assets (Liabilities), Net (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]	'	'
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance	$51	$142
Tax Credit Carryforwards [Abstract]	'	'
Unused foreign tax credits	25	'
Year in which foreign tax credits begin to expire	'2014	'
certain foreign deferred tax assets [Domain]	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]	'	'
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance	21	'
state net operating losses [Domain]	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]	'	'
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance	17	'
net capital losses [Domain]	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]	'	'
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance	$13	'

Income_Taxes_Unrecognized_Tax_

Income Taxes Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011
Income Tax Uncertainties [Abstract]	'	'	'
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Expense	$0	$0	$0
Changes in the Amount of Unrecognized Tax Benefits [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Beginning balance of unrecognized tax benefits	86	96	353
Additions based on prior year tax positions	1	0	64
Reductions for prior year tax positions and lapse in statute of limitations	0	-18	-10
Additions for current year tax positions	145	10	12
Settlements with taxing authorities	-11	-2	-323
Ending balance of unrecognized tax benefits	221	86	96
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued	$0	$0	$0

Capital_Stock_Details

Capital Stock (Details) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

Sep. 29, 2013

Jun. 30, 2013

Mar. 31, 2013

Dec. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2012

Jun. 24, 2012

Mar. 25, 2012

Dec. 25, 2011

Sep. 25, 2011

Jun. 26, 2011

Mar. 27, 2011

Dec. 26, 2010

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 25, 2011

Oct. 24, 2013

Scenario, Forecast [Member]

Preferred Stock [Abstract]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Shares of preferred stock authorized for issuance

8,000,000

'

'

'

8,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

8,000,000

8,000,000

'

'

Number of preferred stock series

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'one or more

'one or more

'

'

Par value of preferred stock authorized for issuance

$0.00

'

'

'

$0.00

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$0.00

$0.00

'

'

Shares of preferred stock designated as series A junior participating preferred stock

4,000,000

'

'

'

4,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

4,000,000

4,000,000

'

'

Preferred stock, shares outstanding

0

'

'

'

0

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

0

'

'

Preferred Share Purchase Rights Agreement [Abstract]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Purchase price of series A junior participating preferred stock

180

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

180

'

'

'

Minimum percentage of beneficial ownership by an acquiring person at which rights are exercisable

20.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

20.00%

'

'

'

Expiration date of rights

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

25-Sep-15

'

'

'

Redemption price per right

0.001

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.001

'

'

'

Stock Repurchase Program [Abstract]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Authorized dollar amount for repurchase of common stock under current stock repurchase program

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$5,000,000,000

'

'

'

Authorized dollar amount for repurchase of common stock under prior stock repurchase program

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

5,000,000,000

'

'

'

Authorized dollar amount remaining available under prior stock repurchase program

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

791,000,000

'

'

'

Shares repurchased and retired, shares

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

71,696,000

23,893,000

2,878,000

'

Shares repurchased and retired, amount, before commissions

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

4,600,000,000

1,300,000,000

142,000,000

'

Authorized dollar amount remaining available under current stock repurchase program

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

4,900,000,000

'

'

'

Gains (losses) on put options recorded in net investment income

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

80,000,000

-5,000,000

'

Dividends [Abstract]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Dividends charged to retained earnings - per share

$0.35

$0.35

$0.25

$0.25

$0.25

$0.25

$0.22

$0.22

$0.22

$0.22

$0.19

$0.19

$1.20

$0.93

$0.81

$0.35

Amount of increased quarterly dividend per share announced

'

$0.35

'

'

'

$0.25

'

'

'

$0.22

'

'

'

'

'

'

Dividends charged to retained earnings - total

$604,000,000

$615,000,000

$439,000,000

$435,000,000

$438,000,000

$429,000,000

$377,000,000

$368,000,000

$368,000,000

$360,000,000

$319,000,000

$314,000,000

$2,093,000,000

$1,612,000,000

$1,361,000,000

'

Cash dividends, date announced

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

24-Oct-13

'

'

'

Cash dividends, date payable

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

19-Dec-13

'

'

'

Cash dividends, date of record

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2-Dec-13

'

'

'

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Details

Employee Benefit Plans (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011
Employee Savings and Retirement Plan [Abstract]	'	'	'
Percentage of eligible employee compensation that can be contributed to 401(k) plan	100.00%	'	'
Company's contribution expense to 401(k) plan	$70	$60	$52

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Equity_

Employee Benefit Plans Equity Compensation Plans (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 25, 2011	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011
	Qualcomm Equity Compensation Plans [Member]	Atheros Equity Compensation Plans [Member]	Atheros Equity Compensation Plans [Member]	Equity Compensation Plans Consolidated [Member]	Equity Compensation Plans Consolidated [Member]	Equity Compensation Plans Consolidated [Member]
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Shares authorized	573,284,000	'	'	'	'	'
Shares Approved By Stockholders	90,000,000	'	'	'	'	'
Reserved shares remaining	270,380,000	'	4,075,000	'	'	'
Stock awards assumed as a result of acquisitions	'	9,564,000	'	'	'	'
Net share-based awards, after forfeitures and cancellations, granted as a percentage of outstanding shares as of the beginning of each fiscal year	'	'	'	0.80%	0.90%	0.70%
Total share based awards granted as a percentage of outstanding shares as of the end of each fiscal year	'	'	'	1.00%	1.00%	0.90%

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Summary

Employee Benefit Plans Summary of Stock Option Transactions for All Stock Option Plans (Details) (Employee Stock Option [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
Share data in Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011
Employee Stock Option [Member]	'	'	'
Summary of Stock Option Transactions for All Stock Option Plans [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Options outstanding - Beginning balance	106,601	'	'
Options canceled/forfeited/expired	-652	'	'
Options exercised	-34,923	'	'
Options outstanding - Ending balance	71,026	106,601	'
Options exercisable at end of period	65,243	'	'
Summary of Stock Option Transactions for All Stock Option Plans [Abstract]	'	'	'
Total intrinsic value of stock options exercised	$949,000,000	$1,000,000,000	$1,100,000,000
Options outstanding at beginning of period, weighted average exercise price	$39.96	'	'
Options canceled/forfeited/ expired, weighted average exercise price	$40.25	'	'
Options exercised, weighted average exercise price	$37.51	'	'
Options outstanding at end of period, weighted average exercise price	$41.17	$39.96	'
Options exercisable at end of period, weighted average exercise price	$41.09	'	'
Options outstanding at end of period, average remaining contractual term (years)	'4 years 2 months 9 days	'	'
Options exercisable at end of period, average remaining contractual term (years)	'4 years 0 months 15 days	'	'
Options outstanding at end of period, aggregate intrinsic value	1,900,000,000	'	'
Options exercisable at end of period, aggregate intrinsic value	1,700,000,000	'	'
Employee Service Share-Based Compensation, Aggregate Disclosures [Abstract]	'	'	'
Vesting period	'5 years 0 months 0 days	'	'
Stock option exercisable period after grant date	'exercisable for up to 10 years from the grant date	'	'
Unrecognized compensation expense related to nonvested awards	51,000,000	'	'
Weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation expense related to nonvested awards is expected to be recognized	'6 months	'	'
Cash received from exercise of stock options	1,300,000,000	1,500,000,000	2,500,000,000
Tax benefits related to exercise of stock options	$659,000,000	$438,000,000	$421,000,000

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Summary1

Employee Benefit Plans Summary of RSU Transactions (Details) (Restricted Stock Units [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011
Restricted Stock Units [Member]	'	'	'
Summary of RSU Transactions for All Equity Compensation Plans, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]	'	'	'
RSUs outstanding at beginning of period, weighted average grant date fair value	$53.22	'	'
RSUs granted, weighted average grant date fair value	$64.20	'	'
RSUs canceled/forfeited, weighted average grant date fair value	$56.69	'	'
RSUs vested, weighted average grant date fair value	$50.50	'	'
RSUs outstanding at end of period, weighted average grant date fair value	$59.91	$53.22	'
RSUs outstanding at end of period, aggregate intrinsic value	$2,100,000,000	'	'
Unrecognized compensation expense related to nonvested awards	1,300,000,000	'	'
Tax withholding related to vesting of restricted stock units, number of shares	5,805,000	1,965,000	243,000
Total payments for employees tax obligations to taxing authorities	374,000,000	131,000,000	14,000,000
Weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation expense related to nonvested awards is expected to be recognized	'1 year 9 months 18 days	'	'
Maximum vesting period	'3 years 0 months 0 days	'	'
Total vest-date fair value of restricted stock units that vested during the period	$1,000,000,000	$352,000,000	$43,000,000
Summary of Restricted Stock Units [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
RSUs outstanding at beginning of period	32,922,000	'	'
RSUs granted	15,509,000	'	'
RSUs canceled/forfeited	-1,549,000	'	'
RSUs vested	-15,804,000	'	'
RSUs outstanding at end of period	31,078,000	32,922,000	'

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Employe

Employee Benefit Plans Employee Stock Purchase Plan (Details) (Employee Stock Purchase Plans [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011
Employee Stock Purchase Plans [Member]	'	'	'
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Percentage applied to fair market value of the Company's common stock to determine purchase price	85.00%	'	'
Maximum amount of employee compensation that can be withheld	15.00%	'	'
Shares authorized	46,709,000	'	'
Shares Reserved for future issuance	10,713,000	'	'
Shares issued in period	4,044,000	3,654,000	3,778,000
Share issued in period, average price per share	$52.70	$48.31	$36.82
Employee Service Share-Based Compensation, Aggregate Disclosures [Abstract]	'	'	'
Unrecognized compensation expense related to nonvested awards	$21	'	'
Cash received from exercise of purchase rights	$213	$177	$139

Commitments_and_Contingencies_1

Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 29, 2013
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Amount of damages verdict	$173
Litigation Charge in Other Expenses	$173
SEC/DOJ Investigations	'As previously disclosed, the Company has discovered, and as a part of its ongoing cooperation with these investigations has informed the SEC and the DOJ of, instances in which special hiring consideration, gifts or other benefits (collectively, benefits) were provided to several individuals associated with Chinese state-owned companies or agencies. Based on the facts currently known, the Company believes the aggregate monetary value of the benefits in question to be less than $250,000, excluding employment compensation. The Company is continuing to cooperate with the SEC and the DOJ, but is unable to predict the outcome of their investigations.

Commitments_and_Contingencies_2

Commitments and Contingencies Loans and Debentures (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended					3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 29, 2013	Oct. 15, 2013
	DoT loan [Member]	Total Loans and Debentures [Member]	Total Loans and Debentures [Member]	Total Loans and Debentures [Member]	Loans Payable [Member]	Debentures [Member]	Loans Payable [Member]	DoT loan [Member]	Subsequent Event [Member]
									DoT loan [Member]
Total Debt [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Payment made to India's Department of Telecommunications	$81	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Repayments of short-term debt	'	'	'	'	'	492	'	'	'
Cash paid for interest	'	92	88	94	'	'	'	'	'
Interest rate at end of period	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	10.20%	'
Debt Instrument Basis Spread On Variable Rate	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0.25%	'
Maturity date	'	'	'	'	18-Dec-12	'	1-Dec-14	'	'
Repayments of Long-term Debt	'	'	'	'	'	'	$368	'	$67

Commitments_and_Contingencies_3

Commitments and Contingencies Purchase Obligations (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 29, 2013
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'
Unrecorded noncancelable obligations for the next twelve months	$3,300,000,000
Unrecorded noncancelable obligations for the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year	202,000,000
Unrecorded noncancelable obligations for the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year	54,000,000
Unrecorded noncancelable obligations for the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year	6,000,000
Unrecorded noncancelable obligations for the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year	3,000,000
Unrecorded noncancelable obligations thereafter	10,000,000
Inventories [Member]	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'
Unrecorded noncancelable obligations for the next twelve months	2,700,000,000
Unrecorded noncancelable obligations for the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year	$81,000,000

Commitments_and_Contingencies_4

Commitments and Contingencies Capital and Operating Leases (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011
	periods
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]	'	'	'
Maximum number of capital lease renewal periods	5	'	'
High end in years of range of initial capital lease terms	'7	'	'
Low end in years of range of initial capital lease terms	'5	'	'
Capital leases due in next twelve months	$2	'	'
Capital leases due in the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year	2	'	'
Capital leases due in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year	1	'	'
Capital leases due in the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year	1	'	'
Capital leases due in the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year	1	'	'
Capital leases due thereafter	29	'	'
Total minimum lease payments - Capital leases	36	'	'
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]	'	'	'
Rental expense	90	87	87
High end of range of noncancelable operating lease terms	'31 years	'	'
Low end of range of noncancelable operating lease terms	'less than one year	'	'
Operating leases due in next twelve months	89	'	'
Operating leases due in the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year	74	'	'
Operating leases due in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year	62	'	'
Operating leases due in the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year	46	'	'
Operating leases due in the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year	25	'	'
Operating leases due thereafter	47	'	'
Operating leases total minimum lease payments	343	'	'
Total Capital and Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due [Abstract]	'	'	'
Total due in next twelve months	91	'	'
Total due in the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year	76	'	'
Total due in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year	63	'	'
Total due in the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year	47	'	'
Total due in the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year	26	'	'
Total due thereafter	76	'	'
Total minimum lease payments	379	'	'
Deduct: Amounts representing interest - Capital leases	19	'	'
Present value of minimum lease payments - Capital leases	17	'	'
Deduct: Current portion of capital lease obligations	0	'	'
Long-term portion of capital lease obligations	$17	'	'

Segment_Information_Details

Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011
	divisions
Revenues, EBT and Total Assets for Reportable Segments [Line items]	'	'	'
Number of divisions aggregated into the QWI segment	4	'	'
Number of divisions aggregated into the QSI segment	2	'	'
FLO TV assets included in QSI's assets	'	$59	$913
Investments in equity method investees included in QSI's assets	17	11	20
QMT goodwill and other assets included in reconciling items	892	1,200	806
Net book values of long-lived assets located in the United States	896	1,100	629
Interest Expense	23	90	114
QCT [Member]	'	'	'
Revenues, EBT and Total Assets for Reportable Segments [Line items]	'	'	'
Investment Income, Interest	0	0	0
Interest Expense	0	0	0
QTL [Member]	'	'	'
Revenues, EBT and Total Assets for Reportable Segments [Line items]	'	'	'
Investment Income, Interest	0	0	0
Interest Expense	0	0	0
QWI [Member]	'	'	'
Revenues, EBT and Total Assets for Reportable Segments [Line items]	'	'	'
Investment Income, Interest	0	0	0
Interest Expense	0	0	0
United States [Member]	'	'	'
Revenues, EBT and Total Assets for Reportable Segments [Line items]	'	'	'
Net book values of long-lived assets located in the United States	$2,100	$1,800	$1,800

Segment_Information_EBT_and_To

Segment Information EBT and Total Assets for Reportable Segments (Details) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

In Millions, unless otherwise specified

Sep. 29, 2013

Jun. 30, 2013

Mar. 31, 2013

Dec. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2012

Jun. 24, 2012

Mar. 25, 2012

Dec. 25, 2011

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 25, 2011

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Revenues

$6,480

[1]

$6,243

[1]

$6,124

[1]

$6,018

[1]

$4,871

[1]

$4,626

[1]

$4,943

[1]

$4,681

[1]

$24,866

$19,121

$14,957

EBT

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

8,194

6,562

5,687

Total assets

45,516

'

'

'

43,012

'

'

'

45,516

43,012

36,422

QCT [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Revenues

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

16,715

12,141

8,859

EBT

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3,189

2,296

2,056

Total assets

3,305

'

'

'

2,278

'

'

'

3,305

2,278

1,569

QTL [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Revenues

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

7,554

6,327

5,422

EBT

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

6,590

5,585

4,753

Total assets

28

'

'

'

63

'

'

'

28

63

36

QWI [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Revenues

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

613

633

656

EBT

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-8

-15

-152

Total assets

53

'

'

'

129

'

'

'

53

129

136

QSI [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Revenues

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

0

0

EBT

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

56

-170

-132

Total assets

511

'

'

'

1,424

'

'

'

511

1,424

2,386

Reconciling Items [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Revenues

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-16

20

20

EBT

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-1,633

-1,134

-838

Total assets

$41,619

'

'

'

$39,118

'

'

'

$41,619

$39,118

$32,295

[1]

Amounts, other than per share amounts, are rounded to millions each quarter. Therefore, the sum of the quarterly amounts may not equal the annual amounts reported.

Segment_Information_QWI_Report

Segment Information QWI Reportable Segment (Details) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

In Millions, unless otherwise specified

Sep. 29, 2013

Jun. 30, 2013

Mar. 31, 2013

Dec. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2012

Jun. 24, 2012

Mar. 25, 2012

Dec. 25, 2011

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 25, 2011

Revenues Aggregated into the QWI Reportable Segment [Line items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Revenues from divisions aggregated into the QWI reportable segment

$6,480

[1]

$6,243

[1]

$6,124

[1]

$6,018

[1]

$4,871

[1]

$4,626

[1]

$4,943

[1]

$4,681

[1]

$24,866

$19,121

$14,957

SegmentReportingInfoRevenue

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

613

633

656

Omnitracs [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Revenues Aggregated into the QWI Reportable Segment [Line items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Revenues from divisions aggregated into the QWI reportable segment

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

372

371

395

QIS [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Revenues Aggregated into the QWI Reportable Segment [Line items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Revenues from divisions aggregated into the QWI reportable segment

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

138

151

150

QGOV [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Revenues Aggregated into the QWI Reportable Segment [Line items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Revenues from divisions aggregated into the QWI reportable segment

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

102

109

100

QRS [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Revenues Aggregated into the QWI Reportable Segment [Line items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Revenues from divisions aggregated into the QWI reportable segment

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$1

$2

$11

[1]

Amounts, other than per share amounts, are rounded to millions each quarter. Therefore, the sum of the quarterly amounts may not equal the annual amounts reported.

Segment_Information_Other_Reco

Segment Information Other Reconciling Items (Details) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

In Millions, unless otherwise specified

Sep. 29, 2013

Jun. 30, 2013

Mar. 31, 2013

Dec. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2012

Jun. 24, 2012

Mar. 25, 2012

Dec. 25, 2011

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 25, 2011

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Revenues

$6,480

[1]

$6,243

[1]

$6,124

[1]

$6,018

[1]

$4,871

[1]

$4,626

[1]

$4,943

[1]

$4,681

[1]

$24,866

$19,121

$14,957

EBT

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

8,194

6,562

5,687

Nonreportable segments [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Revenues

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-12

24

23

EBT

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-711

-511

-324

Intersegment eliminations [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Revenues

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-4

-4

-3

EBT

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

0

-1

Unallocated cost of equipment and services revenues [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

EBT

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-335

-300

-210

Unallocated research and development expenses [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

EBT

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-789

-702

-553

Unallocated selling, general and administrative expenses [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

EBT

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-502

-549

-506

UnallocatedOtherExpenseMember [Domain]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

EBT

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-173

0

0

Unallocated investment income (loss), net [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

EBT

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

877

928

756

Reconciling items [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Revenues

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-16

20

20

EBT

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

($1,633)

($1,134)

($838)

[1]

Amounts, other than per share amounts, are rounded to millions each quarter. Therefore, the sum of the quarterly amounts may not equal the annual amounts reported.

Segment_Information_Specified_

Segment Information Specified Items Included in Segment EBT (Details) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

In Millions, unless otherwise specified

Sep. 29, 2013

Jun. 30, 2013

Mar. 31, 2013

Dec. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2012

Jun. 24, 2012

Mar. 25, 2012

Dec. 25, 2011

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 25, 2011

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Unallocated cost of equipment and services revenues

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$264

$225

$143

Total revenues

6,480

[1]

6,243

[1]

6,124

[1]

6,018

[1]

4,871

[1]

4,626

[1]

4,943

[1]

4,681

[1]

24,866

19,121

14,957

Interest expense

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

23

90

114

Unallocated research and development expenses

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3

0

6

Unallocated selling, general and administrative expenses

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

26

43

59

QCT [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Total revenues

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

16,715

12,141

8,859

Interest income

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

0

0

Interest expense

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

0

0

RevenuesFromTransactionsWithOtherOperatingSegmentsOfTheSameEntity

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3

4

3

QTL [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Total revenues

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

7,554

6,327

5,422

Interest income

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

0

0

Interest expense

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

0

0

QWI [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Total revenues

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

613

633

656

Interest income

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

0

0

Interest expense

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

0

0

QSI [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Total revenues

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

0

0

Interest income

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

8

19

20

Interest expense

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$18

$79

$99

[1]

Amounts, other than per share amounts, are rounded to millions each quarter. Therefore, the sum of the quarterly amounts may not equal the annual amounts reported.

Segment_Information_Sales_by_G

Segment Information Sales by Geographic Area (Details) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

In Millions, unless otherwise specified

Sep. 29, 2013

Jun. 30, 2013

Mar. 31, 2013

Dec. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2012

Jun. 24, 2012

Mar. 25, 2012

Dec. 25, 2011

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 25, 2011

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Revenues

$6,480

[1]

$6,243

[1]

$6,124

[1]

$6,018

[1]

$4,871

[1]

$4,626

[1]

$4,943

[1]

$4,681

[1]

$24,866

$19,121

$14,957

China [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Revenues

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

12,288

7,971

4,744

South Korea [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Revenues

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

4,983

4,203

2,887

Taiwan [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Revenues

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2,683

2,648

2,550

United States [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Revenues

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

805

967

897

Other Foreign [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Revenues

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$4,107

$3,332

$3,879

[1]

Amounts, other than per share amounts, are rounded to millions each quarter. Therefore, the sum of the quarterly amounts may not equal the annual amounts reported.

Acquisitions_Details

Acquisitions (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011
	projects	businesses	businesses
	businesses	projects
Acquisitions [Abstract]	'	'	'
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Goodwill Amt	$82,000,000	$517,000,000	$2,048,000,000
Value of stock awards assumed in acquisition	'	'	106,000,000
Atheros Communications, Inc. [Member]	'	'	'
Acquisitions [Abstract]	'	'	'
Amortizable intangible assets	856,000,000	'	'
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation In-process Research and Development	3,000,000	'	150,000,000
BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocOtherNoncurrentAssets	'	'	691,000,000
Number of In-process research and development projects	1	'	'
Acquired in-process research and development estimated completion period remaining	1	'	'
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	'	'	3,100,000,000
Cash Acquired from Acquisition	'	'	233,000,000
Value of stock awards assumed in acquisition	'	'	106,000,000
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired, Goodwill, and Liabilities Assumed, Net	'	'	3,500,000,000
Atheros Communications, Inc. [Member] | Technology-based [Member]	'	'	'
Acquisitions [Abstract]	'	'	'
Weighted-average useful life of intangible assets acquired	'	'	'4 years 0 months 0 days
Atheros Communications, Inc. [Member] | Marketing-related [Member]	'	'	'
Acquisitions [Abstract]	'	'	'
Weighted-average useful life of intangible assets acquired	'	'	'6 years 0 months 0 days
Atheros Communications, Inc. [Member] | Customer-related [Member]	'	'	'
Acquisitions [Abstract]	'	'	'
Weighted-average useful life of intangible assets acquired	'	'	'3 years 0 months 0 days
Atheros Communications, Inc. [Member] | QCT [Member]	'	'	'
Acquisitions [Abstract]	'	'	'
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Goodwill Amt	'	'	1,800,000,000
Acquirees other than Atheros [Member]	'	'	'
Acquisitions [Abstract]	'	'	'
Number of businesses acquired	5	8	9
Cash consideration paid for businesses acquired	115,000,000	774,000,000	466,000,000
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Goodwill Amt	82,000,000	517,000,000	276,000,000
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation In-process Research and Development	51,000,000	62,000,000	'
Number of In-process research and development projects	6	10	'
Acquired in-process research and development estimated completion period remaining	2	'	'
Goodwill recognized from businesses acquired, expected to be deductible for tax purposes	21,000,000	71,000,000	234,000,000
Acquirees other than Atheros [Member] | Technology-based [Member]	'	'	'
Acquisitions [Abstract]	'	'	'
Amortizable intangible assets	24,000,000	164,000,000	150,000,000
Weighted-average useful life of intangible assets acquired	'6 years 0 months 0 days	'6 years 0 months 0 days	'5 years 0 months 0 days
Acquirees other than Atheros [Member] | In Process Research and Development [Member]	'	'	'
Acquisitions [Abstract]	'	'	'
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	3	'	'
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Maximum	9	'	'
Acquirees other than Atheros [Member] | QCT [Member]	'	'	'
Acquisitions [Abstract]	'	'	'
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Goodwill Amt	65,000,000	364,000,000	1,998,000,000
Acquirees other than Atheros [Member] | QWI [Member]	'	'	'
Acquisitions [Abstract]	'	'	'
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Goodwill Amt	0	0	36,000,000
Acquirees other than Atheros [Member] | QTL [Member]	'	'	'
Acquisitions [Abstract]	'	'	'
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Goodwill Amt	0	22,000,000	6,000,000
Acquirees other than Atheros [Member] | Other Nonreportable Segments [Member]	'	'	'
Acquisitions [Abstract]	'	'	'
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Goodwill Amt	$17,000,000	$131,000,000	$8,000,000

Acquisitions_Business_Acquisit

Acquisitions Business Acquisition Pro Forma (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Billions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 25, 2011
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Revenue	$15.60
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Net Income (Loss)	$4.30

Deconsolidation_of_and_Retaine1

Deconsolidation of and Retained Investment in the BWA Subsidiaries Deconsolidation of and Retained Investment in the BWA Subsidiaries (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 24, 2012	Sep. 29, 2013
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]	'	'	'
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests	$11,000,000	$85,000,000	'
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent	49.00%	51.00%	7.00%
Deconsolidation, Gain (Loss) in net investment income	6,000,000	'	'
Decrease in total assets due to deconsolidation	1,000,000,000	'	'
Decrease in total liabilities due to deconsolidation	999,000,000	'	'
Fair value of retained noncontrolling interest	$34,000,000	'	'

Discontinued_Operations_Detail

Discontinued Operations (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012		Jun. 24, 2012		Mar. 25, 2012		Dec. 25, 2011		Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]	'		'		'		'		'	'	'
Date of completed sale of spectrum	'		'		'		'		'	'12/27/2011	'
Proceeds from Sale of Other Assets	'		'		'		'		$0	$1,925	$0
Gain on sale of wireless spectrum	'		'		'		'		0	1,179	0
Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operation, Income Statement Disclosures [Abstract]	'		'		'		'		'	'	'
Revenues	'		'		'		'		'	0	5
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	'		'		'		'		'	1,203	-507
Income tax (expense) benefit	'		'		'		'		'	-427	194
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes	$23	[1]	($3)	[1]	$761	[1]	($5)	[1]	$0	$776	($313)
[1]	Amounts, other than per share amounts, are rounded to millions each quarter. Therefore, the sum of the quarterly amounts may not equal the annual amounts reported.

Fair_Value_Measurements_Detail

Fair Value Measurements (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011	Sep. 29, 2013
Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'	'
Goodwill carrying value	$3,917	'	$3,976
QRS [Member]	'	'	'
Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'	'
Goodwill and long-lived asset impairment charges	23	114	'
Goodwill carrying value	'	'	$17

Fair_Value_Measurements_Fair_V1

Fair Value Measurements Fair Value Hierarchy (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 29, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Assets [Abstract]	'
Cash equivalents	$5,552
Marketable Securities [Abstract]	'
U.S. Treasury securities and government-related securities	1,082
Corporate bonds and notes	11,870
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities	1,177
Auction rate securities	83
Common and preferred stock	2,359
Equity funds	960
Debt funds	5,733
Total marketable securities	23,264
Derivative instruments	40
Other investments	243
Total assets measured at fair value	29,099
Liabilities [Abstract]	'
Derivative instruments	23
Other liabilities	244
Total liabilities measured at fair value	267
Level 1 [Member]	'
Assets [Abstract]	'
Cash equivalents	4,206
Marketable Securities [Abstract]	'
U.S. Treasury securities and government-related securities	648
Corporate bonds and notes	0
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities	0
Auction rate securities	0
Common and preferred stock	1,541
Equity funds	960
Debt funds	2,157
Total marketable securities	5,306
Derivative instruments	0
Other investments	243
Total assets measured at fair value	9,755
Liabilities [Abstract]	'
Derivative instruments	2
Other liabilities	244
Total liabilities measured at fair value	246
Level 2 [Member]	'
Assets [Abstract]	'
Cash equivalents	1,346
Marketable Securities [Abstract]	'
U.S. Treasury securities and government-related securities	434
Corporate bonds and notes	11,870
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities	938
Auction rate securities	0
Common and preferred stock	818
Equity funds	0
Debt funds	3,576
Total marketable securities	17,636
Derivative instruments	40
Other investments	0
Total assets measured at fair value	19,022
Liabilities [Abstract]	'
Derivative instruments	21
Other liabilities	0
Total liabilities measured at fair value	21
Level 3 [Member]	'
Assets [Abstract]	'
Cash equivalents	0
Marketable Securities [Abstract]	'
U.S. Treasury securities and government-related securities	0
Corporate bonds and notes	0
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities	239
Auction rate securities	83
Common and preferred stock	0
Equity funds	0
Debt funds	0
Total marketable securities	322
Derivative instruments	0
Other investments	0
Total assets measured at fair value	322
Liabilities [Abstract]	'
Derivative instruments	0
Other liabilities	0
Total liabilities measured at fair value	$0

Fair_Value_Measurements_Activi

Fair Value Measurements Activity Between Levels of the Fair Value Hierarchy (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Other Liabilities [Member]	'	'
Activity for Marketable Securities Classified Within Level 3 of the Valuation Hierarchy [Roll Forward]	'	'
Beginning balance of Level 3	'	$7
Total realized and unrealized gains or losses:	'	'
Included in investment income, net	'	-7
Included in other comprehensive income	'	0
Purchases	'	0
Sales	'	0
Settlements	'	0
Transfers into Level 3	'	0
Ending balance of Level 3	'	0
Auction Rate Securities [Member]	'	'
Activity for Marketable Securities Classified Within Level 3 of the Valuation Hierarchy [Roll Forward]	'	'
Beginning balance of Level 3	118	124
Total realized and unrealized gains or losses:	'	'
Included in investment income, net	0	0
Included in other comprehensive income	1	0
Purchases	0	0
Sales	0	0
Settlements	-36	-6
Transfers into Level 3	0	0
Ending balance of Level 3	83	118
Mortgage and Asset-Backed Securities [Member]	'	'
Activity for Marketable Securities Classified Within Level 3 of the Valuation Hierarchy [Roll Forward]	'	'
Beginning balance of Level 3	203	27
Total realized and unrealized gains or losses:	'	'
Included in investment income, net	8	5
Included in other comprehensive income	-6	7
Purchases	163	149
Sales	-70	0
Settlements	-77	-28
Transfers into Level 3	18	43
Ending balance of Level 3	$239	$203

Fair_Value_Measurements_Nonrec

Fair Value Measurements Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurements (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011	Sep. 29, 2013
				QMT [Member]	QMT [Member]	QRS [Member]	QRS [Member]	QRS [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Equipment, carrying value	'	'	'	$707	'	'	'	'
Equipment impairment	158	'	'	158	54	'	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	'	2,995	2,851	724	'	'	'	'
Fair value of retained noncontrolling interest	34	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	'	'	'	'	'	23	114	'
Goodwill	'	$3,976	$3,917	$133	'	'	'	$17

Marketable_Securities_Details

Marketable Securities (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011
Schedule of Marketable Securities [Line Items]	'	'	'
Less than 12 months - Fair value	$5,642	$1,035	'
Less than 12 months - Unrealized losses	-204	-18	'
Marketable Securities [Abstract]	'	'	'
Effective ownership interest in debt fund (fair value option)	21.00%	'	'
Increases in fair value of debt fund (fair value option) recognized in investment income	17	45	9
Net (losses) gains recognized on debt securities classified as trading that are still held at the end of the period	-20	22	'
More than 12 months - Fair value	135	423	'
More than 12 months - Unrealized losses	-2	-15	'
Asset-backed Securities [Member]	'	'	'
Schedule of Marketable Securities [Line Items]	'	'	'
Less than 12 months - Fair value	367	143	'
Less than 12 months - Unrealized losses	-5	-1	'
Marketable Securities [Abstract]	'	'	'
More than 12 months - Fair value	24	7	'
More than 12 months - Unrealized losses	$0	$0	'

Marketable_Securities_Marketab

Marketable Securities Marketable Securities Table (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011
Schedule of Marketable Securities [Line Items]	'	'	'
Marketable Securities - Current	$8,824	$8,567	'
Marketable Securities - Noncurrent	14,440	14,463	'
Trading Securities [Abstract]	'	'	'
Trading Securities - Current	510	479	'
Trading Securities - Noncurrent	409	550	'
Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]	'	'	'
Available-for-sale - Current	8,314	8,088	'
Available-for-sale - Noncurrent	13,494	13,393	'
Fair Value Option [Abstract]	'	'	'
Debt fund - Current	0	0	'
Debt fund - Noncurrent	537	520	'
Contractual Maturities of Available-for-sale Debt Securities [Abstract]	'	'	'
Years to Maturity - Less Than One Year	1,695	'	'
Years to Maturity - One to Five Years	6,842	'	'
Years to Maturity - Five to Ten Years	2,303	'	'
Years to Maturity - Greater Than Ten Years	1,296	'	'
Years to Maturity - No Single Maturity Date	6,353	'	'
Total	18,489	'	'
Realized Gains and Losses on Sales of Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]	'	'	'
Gross Realized Gains	430	296	356
Gross Realized Losses	-142	-25	-30
Net Realized Gains	288	271	326
Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]	'	'	'
Available For Sale Securities Cost	20,825	20,313	'
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Gains	1,189	1,201	'
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Loss	-206	-33	'
Available For Sale Securities Fair Value	21,808	21,481	'
Investments in a Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]	'	'	'
Less than 12 months - Fair value	5,642	1,035	'
Less than 12 months - Unrealized losses	-204	-18	'
More than 12 months - Fair value	135	423	'
More than 12 months - Unrealized losses	-2	-15	'
Activity for Credit Loss Portion of Other-than-temporary Impairments on Debt Securities [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Beginning balance of credit losses	31	46	109
Reductions in credit losses related to securities the Company intends to sell	-7	-1	-40
Credit losses recognized on securities previously not impaired	1	5	2
Additional credit losses recognized on securities previously impaired	1	2	0
Reductions in credit losses related to securities sold	-21	-21	-20
Accretion of credit losses due to an increase in cash flows expected to be collected	-1	0	-5
Ending balance of credit losses	4	31	46
U.S. Treasury securities and government-related securities [Member]	'	'	'
Trading Securities [Abstract]	'	'	'
Trading Securities - Current	241	196	'
Trading Securities - Noncurrent	49	254	'
Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]	'	'	'
Available-for-sale - Current	721	362	'
Available-for-sale - Noncurrent	71	592	'
Investments in a Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]	'	'	'
Less than 12 months - Fair value	42	'	'
Less than 12 months - Unrealized losses	-1	'	'
More than 12 months - Fair value	0	'	'
More than 12 months - Unrealized losses	0	'	'
Corporate bonds and notes [Member]	'	'	'
Trading Securities [Abstract]	'	'	'
Trading Securities - Current	269	283	'
Trading Securities - Noncurrent	256	176	'
Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]	'	'	'
Available-for-sale - Current	4,533	4,554	'
Available-for-sale - Noncurrent	6,812	7,570	'
Investments in a Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]	'	'	'
Less than 12 months - Fair value	2,084	723	'
Less than 12 months - Unrealized losses	-31	-8	'
More than 12 months - Fair value	24	256	'
More than 12 months - Unrealized losses	-1	-9	'
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities [Member]	'	'	'
Trading Securities [Abstract]	'	'	'
Trading Securities - Current	0	0	'
Trading Securities - Noncurrent	104	120	'
Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]	'	'	'
Available-for-sale - Current	745	1,157	'
Available-for-sale - Noncurrent	328	241	'
Investments in a Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]	'	'	'
Less than 12 months - Fair value	367	143	'
Less than 12 months - Unrealized losses	-5	-1	'
More than 12 months - Fair value	24	7	'
More than 12 months - Unrealized losses	0	0	'
Auction rate securities [Member]	'	'	'
Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]	'	'	'
Available-for-sale - Current	0	0	'
Available-for-sale - Noncurrent	83	118	'
Investments in a Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]	'	'	'
Less than 12 months - Fair value	0	0	'
Less than 12 months - Unrealized losses	0	0	'
More than 12 months - Fair value	83	115	'
More than 12 months - Unrealized losses	-1	-1	'
Common and preferred stock [Member]	'	'	'
Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]	'	'	'
Available-for-sale - Current	8	57	'
Available-for-sale - Noncurrent	2,351	2,030	'
Investments in a Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]	'	'	'
Less than 12 months - Fair value	291	105	'
Less than 12 months - Unrealized losses	-41	-5	'
More than 12 months - Fair value	0	9	'
More than 12 months - Unrealized losses	0	0	'
Equity funds [Member]	'	'	'
Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]	'	'	'
Available-for-sale - Current	0	0	'
Available-for-sale - Noncurrent	960	1,126	'
Investments in a Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]	'	'	'
Less than 12 months - Fair value	82	64	'
Less than 12 months - Unrealized losses	-3	-4	'
More than 12 months - Fair value	0	36	'
More than 12 months - Unrealized losses	0	-5	'
Debt funds [Member]	'	'	'
Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]	'	'	'
Available-for-sale - Current	2,307	1,958	'
Available-for-sale - Noncurrent	2,889	1,716	'
Investments in a Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]	'	'	'
Less than 12 months - Fair value	2,776	'	'
Less than 12 months - Unrealized losses	-123	'	'
More than 12 months - Fair value	4	'	'
More than 12 months - Unrealized losses	0	'	'
Equity Securities [Member]	'	'	'
Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]	'	'	'
Available For Sale Securities Cost	2,570	2,599	'
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Gains	793	628	'
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Loss	-44	-14	'
Available For Sale Securities Fair Value	3,319	3,213	'
Debt Securities (including debt funds) [Member]	'	'	'
Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]	'	'	'
Available For Sale Securities Cost	18,255	17,714	'
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Gains	396	573	'
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Loss	-162	-19	'
Available For Sale Securities Fair Value	$18,489	$18,268	'

Summarized_Quarterly_Data_Unau2

Summarized Quarterly Data (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified

Sep. 29, 2013

Jun. 30, 2013

Mar. 31, 2013

Dec. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2012

Jun. 24, 2012

Mar. 25, 2012

Dec. 25, 2011

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 25, 2011

Summarized Quarterly Data (Unaudited) [Abstract]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Revenues

$6,480

[1]

$6,243

[1]

$6,124

[1]

$6,018

[1]

$4,871

[1]

$4,626

[1]

$4,943

[1]

$4,681

[1]

$24,866

$19,121

$14,957

Operating income

1,588

[1]

1,677

[1]

1,877

[1]

2,088

[1]

1,235

[1]

1,382

[1]

1,514

[1]

1,551

[1]

7,230

5,682

5,026

Income from continuing operations

'

'

'

'

1,240

[1]

1,206

[1]

1,438

[1]

1,400

[1]

6,845

5,283

4,555

Discontinued operations, net of tax

'

'

'

'

23

[1]

-3

[1]

761

[1]

-5

[1]

0

776

-313

Net income

1,501

[1]

1,578

[1]

1,863

[1]

1,903

[1]

1,263

[1]

1,203

[1]

2,199

[1]

1,395

[1]

6,845

6,059

4,242

Net income attributable to Qualcomm

$1,501

[1]

$1,580

[1]

$1,866

[1]

$1,906

[1]

$1,271

[1]

$1,207

[1]

$2,230

[1]

$1,401

[1]

$6,853

$6,109

$4,260

Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Qualcomm:

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Continuing operations

$0.88

[2]

$0.91

[2]

$1.08

[2]

$1.12

[2]

$0.73

[2]

$0.70

[2]

$0.86

[2]

$0.83

[2]

$3.99

$3.14

$2.76

Discontinued operations

'

'

'

'

$0.02

[2]

$0

[2]

$0.45

[2]

$0

[2]

$0

$0.45

($0.19)

Net income

'

'

'

'

$0.75

[2]

$0.70

[2]

$1.31

[2]

$0.83

[2]

$3.99

$3.59

$2.57

Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Qualcomm:

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Continuing operations

$0.86

[2]

$0.90

[2]

$1.06

[2]

$1.09

[2]

$0.72

[2]

$0.69

[2]

$0.84

[2]

$0.81

[2]

$3.91

$3.06

$2.70

Discontinued operations

'

'

'

'

$0.01

[2]

$0

[2]

$0.44

[2]

$0

[2]

$0

$0.45

($0.18)

Net income

'

'

'

'

$0.73

[2]

$0.69

[2]

$1.28

[2]

$0.81

[2]

$3.91

$3.51

$2.52

[1]

Amounts, other than per share amounts, are rounded to millions each quarter. Therefore, the sum of the quarterly amounts may not equal the annual amounts reported.

[2]

Earnings per share attributable to Qualcomm are computed independently for each quarter and the full year based upon respective average shares outstanding. Therefore, the sum of the quarterly earnings per share amounts may not equal the annual amounts reported.

Valuation_and_Qualifying_Accou2

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 29, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 25, 2011		Sep. 26, 2010
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line items]	'		'		'		'
Valuation Allowances and Reserves,(Charged) Credited to Costs and Expenses	($9)		($47)		($36)		'
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Deductions	0		1		4		'
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Other	78		-1		-17		'
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Balance	-63		-150		-103		-54
Deconsolidation, Gain (Loss), Amount	88		'		'		'
Adjustment to allowances and reserves from an acquisition	'		'		12		'
Adjustment charged to other comprehensive income (loss)	12		'		5		'
Allowances - trade receivables [Member]	'		'		'		'
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line items]	'		'		'		'
Valuation Allowances and Reserves,(Charged) Credited to Costs and Expenses	-1		0		0		'
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Deductions	0		1		1		'
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Other	0		0		0		'
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Balance	-2		-1		-2		-3
Allowances - notes receivables [Member]	'		'		'		'
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line items]	'		'		'		'
Valuation Allowances and Reserves,(Charged) Credited to Costs and Expenses	-5		-4		0		'
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Deductions	0		0		0		'
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Other	2	[1]	0		0		'
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Balance	-10		-7		-3		-3
Allowances - investment receivables [Member]	'		'		'		'
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line items]	'		'		'		'
Valuation Allowances and Reserves,(Charged) Credited to Costs and Expenses	'		'		-6	[2]	'
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Deductions	'		'		3	[2]	'
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Other	'		'		0	[2]	'
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Balance	'		'		0	[2]	-9	[2]
Valuation allowance on deferred tax assets [Member]	'		'		'		'
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line items]	'		'		'		'
Valuation Allowances and Reserves,(Charged) Credited to Costs and Expenses	-15		-43		-42		'
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Deductions	0		0		0		'
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Other	76	[3]	-1	[4]	-17	[5]	'
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Balance	($51)		($142)		($98)		($39)
[1]	This amount represents notes receivable on strategic investments that were converted to cost method investments.
[2]	This amount represents the allowance for investment receivables due for redemptions of money market investments.
[3]	This amount represents $88 million recorded as part of the gain on deconsolidation of certain subsidiaries, partially offset by $12 million recorded as a component of other comprehensive income.
[4]	This amount was recorded as a component of other comprehensive income.
[5]	This amount represents $12 million recorded as a result of an acquisition and $5 million recorded as a component of other comprehensive loss.