| Component: (Network and Table) | |
|---|---|
| Network | 2405404 - Disclosure - Amortized Cost and Fair Value of Available for Sale Securities by Expected Maturity (Detail) (http://www.publix.com/role/AmortizedCostAndFairValueOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesByExpectedMaturityDetail)  | 
| Table | Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Table] | 
| Reporting Entity [Axis] | 0000081061 (http://www.sec.gov/CIK) | 
| Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] | Period [Axis] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2013-12-28  | 2012-12-29  | |||||
| Major Types of Debt and Equity Securities [Axis] | Major Types of Debt and Equity Securities [Axis] | |||||
| Restricted Investments [Member] | Equity Securities [Member] | Major Types of Debt and Equity Securities [Domain] | Restricted Investments [Member] | Equity Securities [Member] | Major Types of Debt and Equity Securities [Domain] | |
Amortized Cost  | ||||||
Due in one year or less  | ||||||
Due after one year through five years  | ||||||
Due after five years through ten years  | ||||||
Due after ten years  | ||||||
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, Amortized Cost Basis, Total  | ||||||
Amortized cost of available-for-sale securities  | 170,000,000    | 790,975,000    | 5,836,904,000    | 170,000,000    | 510,613,000    | 4,938,090,000    | 
Fair Value  | ||||||
Due in one year or less  | ||||||
Due after one year through five years  | ||||||
Due after five years through ten years  | ||||||
Due after ten years  | ||||||
Fair value of available for sale securities, debt  | ||||||
Fair value of available-for-sale securities  | 169,914,000    | 926,194,000    | 5,991,486,000    | 170,431,000    | 556,745,000    | 5,033,106,000    |