Activity For Restructuring Program (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)	$ 81,700	$ 24,200
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring Other Programs
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	91,389	79,975
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)	2,252	(487)
Utilization	(17,610)	(19,995)
Ending Balance	76,031	59,493
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring Other Programs | Workforce reductions
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	62,962	49,863
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)	(4,878)	(2,876)
Utilization	(12,233)	(15,675)
Ending Balance	45,851	31,312
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring Other Programs | Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	28,427	30,112
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)	7,130	2,389
Utilization	(5,377)	(4,320)
Ending Balance	30,180	28,181
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring 2013 Programs
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	0
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)	79,409
Utilization	(13,515)
Ending Balance	65,894
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring 2013 Programs | Workforce reductions
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	0
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)	79,409
Utilization	(13,515)
Ending Balance	65,894
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring 2013 Programs | Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	0
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)	0
Utilization	0
Ending Balance	0
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring 2012 Programs
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance		0
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)		24,666
Utilization		(3,416)
Ending Balance		21,250
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring 2012 Programs | Workforce reductions
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance		0
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)		23,348
Utilization		(2,706)
Ending Balance		20,642
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring 2012 Programs | Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance		0
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)		1,318
Utilization		(710)
Ending Balance		608
VMware
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)	53,800
VMware | Restructuring 2013 Programs
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	0
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)	53,847
Utilization	(28,062)
Ending Balance	25,785
VMware | Restructuring 2013 Programs | Workforce reductions
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	0
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)	53,847
Utilization	(28,062)
Ending Balance	25,785
VMware | Restructuring 2013 Programs | Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	0
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)	0
Utilization	0
Ending Balance	$ 0