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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Jun. 30, 2012
Dec. 31, 2010
Foreign currency translation          
Net losses from foreign currency transactions $ 30us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax $ 2us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax $ 16us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax    
Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable          
Current 72us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent 62us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent      
Non-current (included in other assets, net) 2us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableNoncurrent 3us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableNoncurrent      
Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable, total 74us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable 65us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable      
Software development costs          
Unamortized software development costs 829us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareGross 762us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareGross      
Amortization expense for software development costs 482us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAmortization 427us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAmortization 398us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAmortization    
Capitalized amounts for software development costs 549us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAdditions 487us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAdditions 432us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAdditions    
Advertising          
Advertising costs 25us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense 23us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense 30us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense    
Cash Flow Hedging          
Derivatives          
Derivative, Notional Amount 245invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember
384invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember
201invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember
   
Interest rate swap contract          
Derivatives          
Derivative, Notional Amount         900invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Accumulated realized losses in other comprehensive income related to previously-anticipated interest payments reclassified from other comprehensive income and recognized in the consolidated income statements       40us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsLossRecognizedInIncomeIneffectivePortionAndAmountExcludedFromEffectivenessTesting
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cumulative Changes in Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges, Effect Net of Tax       (176)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCumulativeChangesInNetGainLossFromCashFlowHedgesEffectNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
 
Advertising          
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income, Effective Portion, Net $ (11)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
       
Maximum          
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]          
Cash and cash equivalent, General Contract Maturity 90 days        
Maximum | Foreign Exchange Contract          
Derivatives          
Contract maturity 1 year        
Maximum | Cash Flow Hedging          
Derivatives          
Contract maturity 6 months        
Furniture and fixtures | Minimum          
Property, plant and equipment          
Useful life (in years) 5 years        
Furniture and fixtures | Maximum          
Property, plant and equipment          
Useful life (in years) 10 years        
Equipment and software | Minimum          
Property, plant and equipment          
Useful life (in years) 2 years        
Equipment and software | Maximum          
Property, plant and equipment          
Useful life (in years) 10 years        
Improvements | Minimum          
Property, plant and equipment          
Useful life (in years) 5 years        
Improvements | Maximum          
Property, plant and equipment          
Useful life (in years) 31 years        
Buildings | Minimum          
Property, plant and equipment          
Useful life (in years) 15 years        
Buildings | Maximum          
Property, plant and equipment          
Useful life (in years) 51 years        
Pivotal          
Principles of consolidation          
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent 84.00%us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= emc_PivotalMember
84.00%us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= emc_PivotalMember
     
VMware          
Principles of consolidation          
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent 80.00%us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= emc_VmwareMember
80.00%us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= emc_VmwareMember