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Debt - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
Share data in Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 1 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Jun. 30, 2012
Jan. 07, 2014
Nov. 30, 2006
Jan. 09, 2012
Mar. 17, 2014
Dec. 31, 2010
Jan. 07, 2013
Nov. 13, 2006
Jun. 30, 2013
Aggregate amount paid for purchased options $ 0us-gaap_PaymentsForHedgeFinancingActivities $ 0us-gaap_PaymentsForHedgeFinancingActivities $ 70,000,000us-gaap_PaymentsForHedgeFinancingActivities                  
Interest rate swap contract                        
Aggregate notional amount of interest rate swap contracts designated as cash flow hedges                 900,000,000invest_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       40,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsLossRecognizedInIncomeIneffectivePortionAndAmountExcludedFromEffectivenessTesting
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
               
Unrealized gain on derivatives       176,000,000us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCumulativeChangesInNetGainLossFromCashFlowHedgesEffectNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
               
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income, Effective Portion, Net (11,000,000)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
                     
Convertible Senior Notes 2013                        
Senior Notes                     1,725,000,000us-gaap_SeniorNotes
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= emc_ConvertibleSeniorNotes2013Member
 
Cash payment to noteholders for outstanding principal of converted Notes         1,700,000,000us-gaap_RepaymentsOfConvertibleDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= emc_ConvertibleSeniorNotes2013Member
             
Shares issued to noteholders for the excess of the conversion value over the principal amount of converted Notes         35us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesConversionOfConvertibleSecurities
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= emc_ConvertibleSeniorNotes2013Member
             
Value of the conversion value over the principal amount of converted Notes         858,000,000us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueConversionOfConvertibleSecurities
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= emc_ConvertibleSeniorNotes2013Member
             
Observation period         20 days              
Conversion rate for the 2013 Notes will be 62.1978 shares of our common stock per one thousand dollars of principal amount of 2013 Notes         62.6978us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionRatio1
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= emc_ConvertibleSeniorNotes2013Member
             
Conversion premium         26.50%us-gaap_DebtConversionConvertedInstrumentRate
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= emc_ConvertibleSeniorNotes2013Member
             
Conversion price                   $ 15.95emc_DebtConversionConvertedInstrumentPricePerShare
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= emc_ConvertibleSeniorNotes2013Member
   
Semi-annual interest rate                     1.75%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= emc_ConvertibleSeniorNotes2013Member
 
Debt Instrument, frequency of periodic payment           semi-annually            
Convertible Senior Notes 2011                        
Cash payment to noteholders for outstanding principal of converted Notes             1,700,000,000us-gaap_RepaymentsOfConvertibleDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= emc_ConvertibleSeniorNotes2011Member
         
Shares issued to noteholders for the excess of the conversion value over the principal amount of converted Notes             30us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesConversionOfConvertibleSecurities
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= emc_ConvertibleSeniorNotes2011Member
         
Value of the conversion value over the principal amount of converted Notes             661,000,000us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueConversionOfConvertibleSecurities
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= emc_ConvertibleSeniorNotes2011Member
         
Convertible Senior Notes 2011 and 2013                        
Proceeds from issuance of senior unsecured obligations           3,500,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromUnsecuredNotesPayable
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= emc_ConvertibleSeniorNotes2011And2013Member
           
Effective interest rate   5.60%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateDuringPeriod
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= emc_ConvertibleSeniorNotes2011And2013Member
5.60%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateDuringPeriod
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= emc_ConvertibleSeniorNotes2011And2013Member
                 
Purchased Options                        
Incremental common shares attributable to call options and warrants           215us-gaap_IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToCallOptionsAndWarrants
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= emc_PurchasedOptionsMember
           
Aggregate amount paid for purchased options           669,000,000us-gaap_PaymentsForHedgeFinancingActivities
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= emc_PurchasedOptionsMember
           
Purchased options shares received         35emc_PurchasedOptionsSharesReceived
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= emc_PurchasedOptionsMember
             
Purchased options remaining   108emc_PurchasedOptionsRemaining
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= emc_PurchasedOptionsMember
                   
Sold Warrants                        
Incremental common shares attributable to call options and warrants           215us-gaap_IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToCallOptionsAndWarrants
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= emc_WarrantsSoldMember
           
Common stock at an exercise price           19.55emc_StockExercisePricePerShare
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= emc_WarrantsSoldMember
        $ 19.31emc_StockExercisePricePerShare
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= emc_WarrantsSoldMember
 
Proceeds from issuance of warrants           391,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfWarrants
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= emc_WarrantsSoldMember
           
Conversion premium based on the closing price           53.20%us-gaap_DebtConversionOriginalDebtInterestRateOfDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= emc_WarrantsSoldMember
           
Closing price per share                     $ 12.61emc_ClosingStockPrice
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= emc_WarrantsSoldMember
 
Exercised Warrants                        
Shares issues for exercised warrants               29us-gaap_ConversionOfStockSharesIssued1
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= emc_ExercisedWarrantsMember
       
Warrant                        
Warrants and Rights Outstanding               109,000,000us-gaap_WarrantsAndRightsOutstanding
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= us-gaap_WarrantMember
       
Long-term Debt                        
Debt Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure                       $ 5,500,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LongTermDebtMember