Stockholders' Equity - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) Share data in Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended			22 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2014	Nov. 30, 2006	Mar. 17, 2014	Dec. 09, 2014	Dec. 01, 2014	Jul. 30, 2014	Apr. 17, 2014	Feb. 06, 2014	Dec. 12, 2013	Aug. 01, 2013	May 30, 2013	Feb. 28, 2013	Jan. 01, 2015	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013	Nov. 30, 2012	Feb. 29, 2012
Sold warrants to acquire shares of our common stock, exercise price per share					19.55
Common stock excluded from calculation of diluted earnings per share	2	4	4
Stock Repurchase Program, Number of Shares Authorized to be Repurchased	500			500				250							250
Total Repurchases of Common Stock, shares	107			201
Total Repurchases of Common Stock	$ 3,000,000,000	$ 3,000,000,000		$ 5,400,000,000
Stock repurchase program, remaining number of shares authorized to be repurchased	299			299
Cash dividends declared per common share	$ 0.45	$ 0.30	$ 0
Dividends Payable, Amount Per Share							$ 0.115		$ 0.115	$ 0.115	$ 0.10	$ 0.10	$ 0.10	$ 0.10
Sold Warrants
Sold warrants to acquire shares of our common stock					215
Warrant
Warrants and Rights Outstanding						109,000,000
Exercised Warrants
Conversion of Stock, Shares Issued						29
VMware Stock Repurchase Plan | VMware Class A common stock
Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized Amount																1,000,000,000	1,000,000,000	700,000,000	250,000,000	600,000,000
Total Repurchases of Common Stock, shares	8	7	5
Total Repurchases of Common Stock	$ 700,000,000	$ 500,000,000	$ 500,000,000
Stock Repurchased During Period, Amount Per Share	$ 91.61	$ 76.58	$ 91.10