Restructuring and Acquisition-Related Charges - Activity For Restructuring Program (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision	$ 31	$ 30	$ 175	$ 116
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring 2014 Programs
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	101		0
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision	32		186
Restructuring Utilization	(35)		(88)
Ending Balance	98		98
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring 2014 Programs | Workforce reductions
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	98		0
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision	30		179
Restructuring Utilization	(33)		(84)
Ending Balance	95		95
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring 2014 Programs | Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	3		0
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision	2		7
Restructuring Utilization	(2)		(4)
Ending Balance	3		3
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring Other Programs
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	35	56	90	91
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision	(1)	1	(11)	2
Restructuring Utilization	(7)	(9)	(52)	(45)
Ending Balance	27	48	27	48
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring Other Programs | Workforce reductions
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	17	29	66	63
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision	(1)	0	(14)	(8)
Restructuring Utilization	(6)	(6)	(42)	(32)
Ending Balance	10	23	10	23
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring Other Programs | Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	18	27	24	28
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision	0	1	3	10
Restructuring Utilization	(1)	(3)	(10)	(13)
Ending Balance	17	25	17	25
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring 2013 Programs
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance		47		0
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision		29		114
Restructuring Utilization		(22)		(60)
Ending Balance		54		54
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring 2013 Programs | Workforce reductions
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance		45		0
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision		28		110
Restructuring Utilization		(21)		(58)
Ending Balance		52		52
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring 2013 Programs | Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance		2		0
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision		1		4
Restructuring Utilization		(1)		(2)
Ending Balance		2		2
VMware
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision		1		54
VMware | Restructuring 2013 Programs
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance		2		0
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision		1		54
Restructuring Utilization		(2)		(53)
Ending Balance		1		1
VMware | Restructuring 2013 Programs | Workforce reductions
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance		2		0
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision		1		54
Restructuring Utilization		(2)		(53)
Ending Balance		1		1
VMware | Restructuring 2013 Programs | Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance		0		0
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision		0		0
Restructuring Utilization		0		0
Ending Balance		$ 0		$ 0