Segment Information - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended							3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014 segment	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014 EMC Information Infrastructure segment	Mar. 31, 2014 United States	Dec. 31, 2013 United States	Mar. 31, 2014 International Segment	Dec. 31, 2013 International Segment	Mar. 31, 2014 Geographic Concentration Sales Revenue, Segment Country	Mar. 31, 2013 Geographic Concentration Sales Revenue, Segment Country	Mar. 31, 2014 Geographic Concentration Long-lived Assets, Total Country	Mar. 31, 2013 Geographic Concentration Long-lived Assets, Total
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of federated businesses	3
Number of operating segments			3
Payments to Acquire Interest in Joint Venture	$ 0	$ 95
Number of countries other than the US that accounted for 10% or more								0	0	0	0
Long-lived assets, excluding financial instruments, deferred tax assets, goodwill and intangible assets				$ 4,480	$ 4,433	$ 961	$ 877