CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital [Abstract]
Accounts and notes receivable	$ 521	$ (207)
Inventories	(382)	(337)
Other assets	122	63
Accounts payable	45	119
Accrued expenses	(321)	(226)
Income taxes payable	(176)	372
Deferred revenue	1,006	1,059
Other liabilities	20	0
Cash flows from operating activities:
Cash received from customers	18,065	16,557
Cash paid to suppliers and employees	(12,740)	(11,951)
Dividends and interest received	118	65
Interest paid	(19)	(17)
Income taxes paid	(691)	(291)
Net cash provided by operating activities	4,733	4,363
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(673)	(523)
Capitalized software development costs	(342)	(316)
Purchases of short- and long-term available-for-sale securities	(8,630)	(5,012)
Sales of short- and long-term available-for-sale securities	3,540	4,154
Maturities of short- and long-term available-for-sale securities	1,386	844
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(616)	(1,878)
Purchases of strategic and other related investments	(109)	(62)
Sales of strategic and other related investments	10	79
Joint venture funding	(268)	(218)
Proceeds from divestiture of businesses	38	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(5,664)	(2,932)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from the issuance of EMC’s common stock	302	388
EMC repurchase of EMC’s common stock	(1,965)	(380)
EMC purchase of VMware’s common stock	(160)	(132)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	102	212
Payment of long-term and short-term obligations	(14)	(1,714)
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term and short-term obligations	5,460	4
Interest rate contract settlement	0	(70)
Dividend payment	(209)	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	3,414	(1,785)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(42)	(18)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	2,441	(372)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	4,714	4,492
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	7,155	4,120
Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net income	2,003	1,974
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	1,215	1,128
Non-cash interest expense on debt	82	34
Non-cash restructuring and other special charges	10	9
Stock-based compensation expense	700	659
Provision for (recovery of) doubtful accounts	(2)	21
Deferred income taxes, net	(31)	(73)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	(102)	(212)
Other, net	23	(20)
Net cash provided by operating activities	4,733	4,363
Pivotal
Cash flows from financing activities:
Third party contribution to Pivotal	105
VMware
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from the issuance of VMware’s common stock	185	214
EMC repurchase of EMC’s common stock	$ (392)	$ (307)