Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract] Consolidated Statements of Operations [Abstract] Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract] Earnings per share Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Basic Basic Earnings Per Share, Basic Diluted Earnings Per Share, Diluted Cost of sales Cost of Goods and Services Sold [Abstract] Operating expenses Operating Expenses [Abstract] Net income Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Provision for income taxes Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Income before income taxes Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Cumulative Effects of Changes in Accounting Principles, Noncontrolling Interest Income before income taxes Investment income Investment Income, Net Income from operations Operating Income (Loss), Total Operating Income (Loss) Total operating expenses Operating Expenses Litigation Gain (Loss) Related to Litigation Settlement Selling, marketing and administration Selling, General and Administrative Expense, Total Selling, General and Administrative Expense Research and development Research and Development Expense, Total Research and Development Expense Gross margin Gross Profit Assets Assets [Abstract] Total Assets Assets Deferred income tax asset Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Noncurrent Goodwill Goodwill, Beginning Balance Goodwill, Ending Balance Goodwill Property, plant and equipment, net Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Total Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Beginning Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Ending Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Long-term investments Long-term Investments, Total Long-term Investments Total Current Assets Assets, Current, Total Assets, Current Deferred income tax asset Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Beginning Balance Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Ending Balance Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current Other current assets Other Assets, Current Inventories Inventory, Net, Total Inventory, Net Other receivables Other Receivables Accounts receivable, net Accounts Receivable, Net, Current, Total Accounts Receivable, Net, Current Short-term investments Short-term Investments, Total Short-term Investments Cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value, Total Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year Cash and cash equivalents, end of year Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Liabilities Liabilities [Abstract] Shareholders' Equity Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Total Shareholders' Equity Balance as Balance as Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Accumulated other comprehensive income Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Retained earnings Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Total Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Beginning Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Ending Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Treasury shares (notes 10 and 11) February 27, 2010 - x,xxx,xxx (February 28, 2009 - nil) Treasury Stock, Value, Beginning Balance Treasury Stock, Value, Ending Balance Treasury Stock, Value Commitments and contingencies Commitments and Contingencies Total Liabilities Liabilities Income taxes payable Accrued Income Taxes, Noncurrent Deferred income tax liability Deferred Tax Liabilities, Noncurrent Total Current Liabilities Liabilities, Current, Total Liabilities, Current Deferred income tax liability Deferred Tax Liabilities, Current Deferred revenue Deferred Revenue, Current, Total Deferred Revenue, Current Income taxes payable Accrued Income Taxes, Current Accrued liabilities Accrued Liabilities, Current, Total Accrued Liabilities, Current Accounts payable Accounts Payable, Current, Total Accounts Payable, Current Cash flows from financing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract] Cash flows from investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract] Cash flows from operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents for the year Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease), Total Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Effect of foreign exchange gain (loss) on cash and cash equivalents Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents Net cash provided by operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Net cash used in investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities Issuance of common shares Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock Proceeds on sale or maturity of short-term investments Proceeds from Sale and Maturity of Marketable Securities Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired, Total Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired Acquisition of intangible assets Payments to Acquire Intangible Assets Acquisition of property, plant and equipment Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Net changes in working capital items Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital Share-based Compensation, Total Stock-based compensation Share-based Compensation Deferred income taxes Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Total Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Net income Consolidated Statement of Shareholders' Equity [Abstract] Net change in unrealized gains on available-for-sale investments Other Comprehensive Income, Unrealized Holding Gain (Loss) on Securities Arising During Period, Net of Tax Additional paid-in capital Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Other Paid In Capital Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital, Other Paid In Capital. Exercise of stock options Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised Transfers to capital stock from stock option exercises Stock Issued During Period Value Transfers To Capital Stock From Stock Option Exercises Stock Issued During Period Value Transfers To Capital Stock From Stock Option Exercises. Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Tax Effect from Share-based Compensation Treasury stock Treasury Stock, Shares, Beginning Balance Treasury Stock, Shares, Ending Balance Treasury Stock, Shares Inventories [Abstract] INVENTORIES Inventory Disclosure [Text Block] Property, Plant and Equipment, net [Abstract] PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block] Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract] Business Aquisitions [Abstract] Business Aquisitions. Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract] Commitments And Contingencies. INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block] BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block] Income Taxes [Abstract] INCOME TAXES Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Product Warranty [Abstract] PRODUCT WARRANTY Product Warranty Disclosure [Text Block] EARNINGS PER SHARE Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract] COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) Comprehensive Income Note [Text Block] Supplemental Information [Abstract] SEGMENT DISCLOSURES Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Document Type Document Period End Date Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Statement [Table] Statement [Line Items] Statement, Equity Components [Axis] Equity Component [Domain] Parent [Member] Capital Stock Additional Paid-In Capital Treasury Stock Retained Earnings Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Revenue Sales Revenue, Net [Abstract] Capital Stock Additional Paid-In Capital Treasury Shares Retained Earnings Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Repayments of Long-term Debt, Total Repayment of debt Repayments of Long-term Debt Acquisition of property, plant and equipment Acquisition of intangible assets Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired Other Adjustments, Noncash Items, to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Other Income taxes payable Other Tax Expense (Benefit) Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Treasury stock (note 11) February 27, 2010 - 1,458,950 (February 28, 2009 - nil) Intangible assets, net Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net, Total Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net Additional paid-in capital Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock, Beginning Balance Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock, Ending Balance Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock Research in Motion Limited and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] Research in Motion Limited and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] ADOPTION OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES Schedule of New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Text Block] Recently Issued Pronouncements [Abstract] Recently Issued Pronouncements [Abstract] Capital Stock Capital Stock [Abstract] CAPITAL STOCK CAPITAL STOCK Text Block Disclosure and information regarding share capital and stock-based compensation. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Text Block] Segment Disclosures [Abstract] Segment Disclosures [Abstract] Segment Disclosures. Net change in fair value of derivatives designated as cash flow hedges during the year Other Comprehensive Income, Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax Comprehensive income (loss): Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Shares issued: Shares issued Abstract Shares issued. Stock-based compensation Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition, Value Service and software Revenue Service And Software Revenue recognized during the period from services and software. Service revenues are generated from billings to the subscriber account base. Software revenue includes fees from licensing BlackBerry Enterprise Server software, client access licenses, maintenance and upgrades to software and technical support. Devices and other Cost Of Sales Devices And Other Cost of sales recognized during the period from hardware sales of devices and other revenue which consists of the sale of accessories, repair and maintenance programs and non-recurring engineering services. Service and software Cost Of Sales Service And Software Service And Software Cost of Sales recognized during the period from services and software. Service revenues are generated from billings to the subscriber account base. Software revenue includes fees from licensing BlackBerry Enterprise Server software, client access licenses, maintenance and upgrades to software and technical support. Adoption of Accounting Policies [Abstract] Adoption of Accounting Policies [Abstract] Adoption of Accounting Policies. Total revenue Revenues Total cost of sales Cost of Revenue Devices and other Revenue Devices And Other Revenue recognized during the period from hardware sales of devices and other revenue which consists of the sale of accessories, repair and maintenance programs and non-recurring engineering services. Acquisition of long-term investments Payments to acquire long-term marketable securities and other investments The cash outflow associated with the purchase by the entity of long-term marketable securities (trading, held-to-maturity, or available-for-sale) and other investments during the period. Proceeds on sale or maturity of long-term investments Proceeds from sale and maturity of long-term marketable securities and other investments The cash inflow associated with the aggregate amount received by the entity through sale or maturity of long-term marketable securities (trading, held-to-maturity, or available-for-sale) and other investments during the period. Payments to Acquire Marketable Securities, Total Acquisition of short-term investments Payments to Acquire Marketable Securities Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Cost Method Purchase of treasury stock (note 11) Common shares repurchased Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock Amortization Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction, Total Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction Preferred shares, authorized unlimited number of non-voting, cumulative, redeemable and retractable. Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Total Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning Balance Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Ending Balance Preferred Stock, Value, Issued Common shares, authorized unlimited number of non-voting, redeemable, retractable Class A common shares and unlimited number of voting common shares. Issued - 557,328,394 voting common shares (February 28, 2009 - 566,218,819) Common Stock, Value, Issued, Total Common Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued, Ending Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued Amounts reclassified to earnings during the year Other Comprehensive Income, Amounts reclassified to earnings, during the period, net of tax Other Comprehensive Income, Amounts reclassified to earnings, during the period, net of tax. Other paid-in capital Common shares repurchased Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Value RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] Fair Value Measurements [Abstract] Fair Value Disclosures Abstract. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] Supplemental Information Disclosures Cash Flow And Other Text Block Supplemental information regarding the cash flows from net changes in working capital, cash flow information related to interest and income taxes paid, accrued liabilities information and other additional information. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION Derivative Financial Instruments [Abstract] Derivative Financial Instruments Abstract. Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding Capital stock, shares issued Amortization Depreciation, Amortization and Accretion, Net, Total Depreciation, Amortization and Accretion, Net RECENTLY ISSUED PRONOUNCEMENTS Recently Issued Pronouncements Text Block Recently Issued Pronouncements. Additional paid-in capital Purchase of treasury stock Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Document And Entity Information. Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments [Abstract] Cash Cash Equivalents And Investments. CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND INVESTMENTS Cash Cash Equivalents And Investments Text Block Cash Cash Equivalents And Investments. Acquisition of long-term investments Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Acquisition of short-term investments Litigation Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation Amendment Description