CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital [Abstract]
Accounts and notes receivable	$ 549	$ 243
Inventories	(183)	(178)
Other assets	96	119
Accounts payable	(241)	(28)
Accrued expenses	(279)	(211)
Income taxes payable	(336)	(290)
Deferred revenue	701	766
Other liabilities	21	(10)
Statement [Line Items]
Proceeds from Other Debt	0	5,463
Cash flows from operating activities:
Cash received from customers	12,644	12,007
Cash paid to suppliers and employees	(9,320)	(8,485)
Dividends and interest received	97	79
Interest paid	0	(18)
Income taxes paid	(829)	(642)
Net cash provided by operating activities	2,592	2,941
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(472)	(437)
Capitalized software development costs	(245)	(219)
Purchases of short- and long-term available-for-sale securities	(5,765)	(6,456)
Sales of short- and long-term available-for-sale securities	4,974	2,394
Maturities of short- and long-term available-for-sale securities	1,716	564
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(1,694)	(207)
Purchases of strategic and other related investments	(83)	(46)
Proceeds from Sale of Other Investments	10	0
Joint venture funding	(63)	(158)
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses	0	31
Increase in Restricted Cash	(76)	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,698)	(4,534)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from the issuance of EMC’s common stock	234	175
EMC repurchase of EMC’s common stock	(994)	(991)
EMC purchase of VMware’s common stock	0	(160)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	45	63
Payment of long- and short-term obligations	(1,665)	(21)
Dividend payment	(407)	0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(3,095)	4,447
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(3)	(42)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(2,204)	2,812
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	7,891	4,714
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	5,687	7,526
Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net income	1,054	1,365
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	903	803
Non-cash interest expense on debt	0	24
Non-cash restructuring and other special charges	9	7
Stock-based compensation expense	498	441
Provision for (recovery of) doubtful accounts	2	(3)
Deferred income taxes, net	(168)	(55)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	(45)	(63)
Gain on previously held interests in strategic investments	(45)	0
Impairment of strategic investment	33	0
Other, net	23	11
Net cash provided by operating activities	2,592	2,941
VMware
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from the issuance of VMware’s common stock	99	115
EMC repurchase of EMC’s common stock	(407)	(302)
Pivotal
Statement [Line Items]
Proceeds from Issuance of Preferred Stock and Preference Stock	$ 0	$ 105