| Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited, USD $) | ||
| In Thousands, except Share data | Dec. 31, 2008
| Mar. 31, 2008
|
| Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value [Abstract] | ||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $1,796,279 | $1,719,948 |
| Accounts Receivable, Net, Current [Abstract] | ||
| Accounts receivable,net | 2,907,353 | 3,550,942 |
| Allowance for doubtful accounts | 31,563 | 16,732 |
| Inventory, Net [Abstract] | ||
| Inventories | 3,500,955 | 4,118,550 |
| Other current assets | 977,472 | 923,497 |
| Total current assets | 9,182,059 | 10,312,937 |
| Property, Plant and Equipment, Net [Abstract] | ||
| Property and equipment, net | 2,474,235 | 2,465,656 |
| Goodwill | 5,559,351 | |
| Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill) [Abstract] | ||
| Other intangible assets, net | 310,641 | 317,390 |
| Other assets | 807,194 | 869,581 |
| Total assets | 12,774,129 | 19,524,915 |
| Debt, Current [Abstract] | ||
| Bank borrowings, current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations | 213,227 | 28,591 |
| Deferred Compensation Liability, Current [Abstract] | ||
| Accounts payable | 4,830,123 | 5,311,337 |
| Accrued payroll | 379,059 | 399,718 |
| Other current liabilities | 1,766,843 | 1,661,369 |
| Total current liabilities | 7,189,252 | 7,401,015 |
| Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations [Abstract] | ||
| Long-term debt and capital lease obligations, net of current portion | 2,959,740 | 3,388,337 |
| Other liabilities | 573,765 | 571,119 |
| Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] | ||
| Ordinary shares | 8,602,375 | 8,538,723 |
| Ordinary shares, no par value | 0 | 0 |
| Ordinary shares, issued | 839,364,115 | 835,202,669 |
| Ordinary shares, outstanding | 809,584,393 | 835,202,669 |
| Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract] | ||
| Accumulated deficit | (6,218,520) | (372,170) |
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (72,409) | (2,109) |
| Treasury stock, at cost | (260,074) | |
| Treasury stock, shares | 29,779,722 | |
| Total shareholders' equity | 2,051,372 | 8,164,444 |
| Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | $12,774,129 | $19,524,915 |
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited, USD $) | ||||
| In Thousands, except Per Share data | 3 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2008 | 3 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2007 | 9 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2008 | 9 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2007 |
| Revenues [Abstract] | ||||
| Net sales | $8,153,289 | $9,068,658 | $25,366,051 | $19,782,783 |
| Cost of Revenue [Abstract] | ||||
| Cost of sales | 7,855,950 | 8,538,958 | 24,168,167 | 18,648,730 |
| Restructuring charges | 211,780 | 26,317 | 221,533 | |
| Gross profit | 297,339 | 317,920 | 1,171,567 | 912,520 |
| Research and Development Expense [Abstract] | ||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 275,922 | 261,586 | 783,235 | 560,725 |
| Amortization of Deferred Charges [Abstract] | ||||
| Intangible amortization | 32,613 | 21,058 | 108,176 | 51,444 |
| Goodwill impairment charge | 5,949,977 | 5,949,977 | ||
| Restructuring Charges [Abstract] | ||||
| Restructuring charges | 34,052 | 2,898 | 34,973 | |
| Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract] | ||||
| Other charges (income), net | (2,627) | 61,078 | 9,310 | 61,078 |
| Interest and other expense, net | 53,641 | 36,921 | 141,254 | 59,349 |
| Income (loss) before income taxes | (6,012,187) | (96,775) | (5,823,283) | 144,951 |
| Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Abstract] | ||||
| Provision for income taxes | 2,947 | 677,636 | 23,067 | 691,477 |
| Net loss | ($6,015,134) | ($774,411) | ($5,846,350) | ($546,526) |
| Earnings Per Share [Abstract] | ||||
| Basic and diluted loss per share | -7.43 | -0.94 | -7.09 | -0.8 |
| Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding | 809,536 | 828,147 | 824,737 | 682,024 |
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited, USD $) | ||
| In Thousands | 9 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2008 | 9 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2007 |
| Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations [Abstract] | ||
| Net loss | ($5,846,350) | ($546,526) |
| Depreciation [Abstract] | ||
| Depreciation, amortization and other impairment charges | 435,467 | 486,597 |
| Asset Impairment Charges [Abstract] | ||
| Goodwill impairment charge | 5,949,977 | |
| Deferred Income Taxes and Tax Credits [Abstract] | ||
| Deferred income taxes | (19,145) | 640,375 |
| Gain on divestiture of operations | (9,309) | |
| Gain on repurchase of 1% Convertible Subordinated Notes | (28,148) | |
| Provision for doubtful accounts | 66,588 | 1,164 |
| Non-cash other, net | 3,451 | 11,243 |
| Increase (Decrease) in Receivables [Abstract] | ||
| Accounts receivable | 486,341 | (371,529) |
| Increase (Decrease) in Inventories [Abstract] | ||
| Inventories | 631,966 | 20,951 |
| Other assets | 62,583 | (121,421) |
| Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable [Abstract] | ||
| Accounts payable | (505,430) | 858,593 |
| Other liabilities | (206,065) | 110,289 |
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 1,031,235 | 1,080,427 |
| Payments for (Proceeds from) Productive Assets [Abstract] | ||
| Purchases of property and equipment, net of dispositions | (373,266) | (210,435) |
| Payments for (Proceeds from) Loans Receivable, Alternative [Abstract] | ||
| Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired | (199,584) | (439,216) |
| Proceeds from divestitures of operations | 5,269 | 11,138 |
| Other investments and notes receivable, net | (8,085) | (62,798) |
| Net cash used in investing activities | (575,666) | (701,311) |
| Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt [Abstract] | ||
| Proceeds from bank borrowings and long-term debt, net of issuance costs | 9,317,918 | 4,596,822 |
| Repayments of Long-term Debt and Capital Securities [Abstract] | ||
| Repayments of bank borrowings, long-term debt and capital lease obligations | (9,289,583) | (3,893,594) |
| Payments for repurchase of long-term debt | (226,199) | |
| Payments for repurchases of ordinary shares | (260,074) | |
| Proceeds from Issuance or Sale of Equity [Abstract] | ||
| Net proceeds from issuance of ordinary shares | 12,842 | 29,097 |
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | (445,096) | 732,325 |
| Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract] | ||
| Effect of exchange rates on cash | 65,858 | (25,142) |
| Net increase in cash and cash equivalents | 76,331 | 1,086,299 |
| Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | 1,719,948 | 714,525 |
| Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | 1,796,279 | 1,800,824 |
| Issuance of ordinary shares for acquisition of business | 2,519,670 | |
| Fair value of vested options assumed in acquisition of business | $11,282 |
| Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) | |
| 9 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2008 USD / shares | |
| Financial Notes | |
| Organization of the company | ORGANIZATION OF THE COMPANY |
| Summary of accounting policies | SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
| Stock-based compensation | STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION |
| Earnings (loss) per share | EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE |
| Other comprehensive income | OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME |
| Bank borrowings and long-term debt | BANK BORROWINGS AND LONG-TERM DEBT |
| Trade receivables securitization | TRADE RECEIVABLES SECURITIZATION |
| Restructuring charges | RESTRUCTURING CHARGES |
| Other charges (income), net | OTHER CHARGES (INCOME), NET |
| Interest and other expense, net | INTEREST AND OTHER EXPENSE, NET |
| Commitments and contingencies | COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES |
| Business and asset acquisitions | BUSINESS AND ASSET ACQUISITIONS |
| Share repurchase plan | SHARE REPURCHASE PLAN |
| Document and Entity Information (USD $) | |
| In Thousands, except Share data | 9 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2008 |
| Document and Entity Information | |
| Entity Registrant Name | FLEXTRONICS INTERNATIONAL LTD. |
| Entity Central Index Key | 0000866374 |
| Document Type | 10-Q |
| Document Period End Date | 2008-12-31 |
| Amendment Flag | false |
| Amendment Description | N/A |
| Current Fiscal Year End Date | --03-31 |
| Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer | Yes |
| Entity Voluntary Filers | No |
| Entity Current Reporting Status | Yes |
| Entity Filer Category | Large Accelerated Filer |
| Entity Public Float | $2,073 |
| Entity Ordinary Shares Outstanding | 809,584 |
