Acquisitions - Additional Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified					12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended					0 Months Ended		12 Months Ended					0 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013 All 2013 Acquisitions	Dec. 31, 2012 2012 Acquisitions Entity	Jun. 30, 2012 XtremIO	Dec. 31, 2011 All 2011 Acquisitions Entity	Dec. 31, 2013 EMC All 2013 Acquisitions Entity	Dec. 31, 2013 EMC 2012 Acquisitions Entity	Dec. 31, 2013 VMware All 2013 Acquisitions Entity	Dec. 31, 2012 VMware 2012 Acquisitions Entity	Aug. 24, 2012 VMware Nicira	Dec. 31, 2012 VMware Nicira	Dec. 31, 2011 VMware All 2011 Acquisitions Entity	Dec. 31, 2013 Developed Technology Rights All 2013 Acquisitions	Dec. 31, 2011 Developed Technology Rights All 2011 Acquisitions	Dec. 31, 2012 Developed Technology Rights VMware Nicira	Dec. 31, 2013 In-process research and development All 2013 Acquisitions	Aug. 24, 2012 In-process research and development VMware Nicira	Dec. 31, 2012 In-process research and development VMware Nicira	Dec. 31, 2013 Customer relationships All 2013 Acquisitions	Dec. 31, 2011 Customer relationships All 2011 Acquisitions
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life																				8 years
Business acquisition, aggregate consideration for businesses					$ 771	$ 1,060		$ 540					$ 1,100
Cash consideration for acquisition of business, net of cash acquired					770	1,053		537					1,083
Business acquisition, fair value of stock options issued					1	7		3					17
Number of stock options issued in acquisition													1
Number of shares of stock issued in acquisition													1
Acquisition-date closing share price													$ 92.21
Stock options issued in acquisition, expected term													2 years 8 months 12 days
Stock options issued in acquisition, risk-free interest rate					0.30%								0.30%
Stock options issued in acquisition, annualized volatility					26.40%								35.70%
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Dividend Rate					1.50%								0.00%
Number of Businesses Acquired					8	16		7	5	11	2	5			6
Business acquisition, adjustment to fair value of previously held interests, recognized in other income			(32)				32
Consideration of acquisitions allocated to goodwill	14,424	13,840		12,155	596	819		376						893
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles					182	311		157						335		138	98	266	10		49	34	58
Consideration of acquisitions allocated to net assets (liabilities)					$ (8)	$ (70)		$ (7)