Acquisitions - Aggregate Allocation of the Purchase Price of Acquisitions to Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013
All 2014 Acquisitions, excluding Airwatch
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles	$ 484
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Weighted-average useful life	6 years
2012 Acquisitions, excluding Nicira
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles		311
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Weighted-average useful life		5 years
All 2013 Acquisitions
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles			182
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Weighted-average useful life			4 years
Purchased / Developed technology | All 2014 Acquisitions, excluding Airwatch
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles	460
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Weighted-average useful life	6 years
Purchased / Developed technology | 2012 Acquisitions, excluding Nicira
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles		255
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Weighted-average useful life		5 years
Purchased / Developed technology | All 2013 Acquisitions
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles			138
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Weighted-average useful life			5 years
Customer relationships | All 2014 Acquisitions, excluding Airwatch
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles	10
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Weighted-average useful life	5 years
Customer relationships | 2012 Acquisitions, excluding Nicira
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles		54
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Weighted-average useful life		6 years
Customer relationships | All 2013 Acquisitions
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles			34
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Weighted-average useful life			4 years
Tradename and trademark | All 2014 Acquisitions, excluding Airwatch
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles	14
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Weighted-average useful life	4 years
Tradename and trademark | 2012 Acquisitions, excluding Nicira
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles		2
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Weighted-average useful life		3 years
In-process research and development | All 2013 Acquisitions
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles			10
VMware | Nicira
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles		335
VMware | AirWatch
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles	250
VMware | Purchased / Developed technology | Nicira
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles		266
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Weighted-average useful life		7 years
VMware | Purchased / Developed technology | AirWatch
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles	118
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Weighted-average useful life	6 years
VMware | Customer relationships and customer lists | AirWatch
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles	78
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Weighted-average useful life	8 years
VMware | Tradename and trademark | Nicira
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles		20
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Weighted-average useful life		10 years
VMware | Tradename and trademark | AirWatch
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles	40
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Weighted-average useful life	8 years
VMware | In-process research and development | Nicira
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles		49
VMware | Other | AirWatch
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles	$ 14
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Weighted-average useful life	3 years