v2.4.1.9
Summary of Accelerated Share Repurchase Activity and Related Information (Detail) (USD $)
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended 5 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 27, 2014
Dec. 27, 2014
Dec. 27, 2014
Mar. 31, 2014
August 2014 ASR        
Accelerated Share Repurchases [Line Items]        
Purchase Period End Date      [1]    
Number of Shares 8,300us-gaap_StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares
/ us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis
= aapl_AcceleratedShareRepurchaseAgreementAugustTwentyFourteenMember		 68,273us-gaap_StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares
/ us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis
= aapl_AcceleratedShareRepurchaseAgreementAugustTwentyFourteenMember		 [1]    
Average Repurchase Price Per Share      [1]    
ASR Amount   $ 9,000aapl_UpfrontPaymentUnderAcceleratedShareRepurchaseProgram
/ us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis
= aapl_AcceleratedShareRepurchaseAgreementAugustTwentyFourteenMember		    
January 2014 ASR        
Accelerated Share Repurchases [Line Items]        
Purchase Period End Date     December 2014  
Number of Shares     134,247us-gaap_StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares
/ us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis
= aapl_AcceleratedShareRepurchaseAgreementJanuaryTwentyFourteenMember		  
Average Repurchase Price Per Share     $ 89.39us-gaap_AcceleratedShareRepurchasesFinalPricePaidPerShare
/ us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis
= aapl_AcceleratedShareRepurchaseAgreementJanuaryTwentyFourteenMember		  
ASR Amount     12,000aapl_UpfrontPaymentUnderAcceleratedShareRepurchaseProgram
/ us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis
= aapl_AcceleratedShareRepurchaseAgreementJanuaryTwentyFourteenMember		  
April 2013 ASR        
Accelerated Share Repurchases [Line Items]        
Purchase Period End Date       March 2014
Number of Shares       172,548us-gaap_StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares
/ us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis
= aapl_AcceleratedShareRepurchaseAgreementAprilTwentyThirteenMember
Average Repurchase Price Per Share       $ 69.55us-gaap_AcceleratedShareRepurchasesFinalPricePaidPerShare
/ us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis
= aapl_AcceleratedShareRepurchaseAgreementAprilTwentyThirteenMember
ASR Amount       $ 12,000aapl_UpfrontPaymentUnderAcceleratedShareRepurchaseProgram
/ us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis
= aapl_AcceleratedShareRepurchaseAgreementAprilTwentyThirteenMember
[1] Includes 8.3 million net shares delivered and retired under the August 2014 ASR in the first quarter of 2015. "Number of Shares" represents those shares delivered in advance of settlement and does not represent the final number of shares to be delivered under the ASRs. The total number of shares ultimately delivered, and therefore the average repurchase price paid per share, will be determined at the end of the applicable purchase period based on the volume weighted-average price of the Company's common stock during that period. The August 2014 ASR purchase period will end in or before February 2015.