Stockholders' Equity - Reconciliation from Basic To Diluted Earnings Per Share for both Numerators and Denominators (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Numerator:
Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	$ 869,919	$ 626,338	$ 649,514	$ 586,842	$ 832,046	$ 605,649	$ 546,494	$ 477,148	$ 2,732,613	$ 2,461,337	$ 1,899,995
Incremental dilution from VMware									(9,977)	(14,082)	(9,267)
Net income – dilution attributable to EMC Corporation									$ 2,722,636	$ 2,447,255	$ 1,890,728
Denominator:
Weighted average shares, basic (in shares)									2,093,372	2,055,536	2,055,959
Weighted common stock equivalents (in shares)									40,238	52,460	49,616
Assumed conversion of the 2013 Notes and associated warrants (in shares)									72,029	121,117	42,356
Weighted average shares, diluted (in shares)									2,205,639	2,229,113	2,147,931