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Business Combinations, Intangibles and Goodwill - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
acquisition
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
Business Acquisition [Line Items]      
Cash paid $ 49us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired $ 1,068us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired  
Number of Businesses Acquired 2us-gaap_NumberOfBusinessesAcquired    
Aggregate allocation to goodwill 16,174us-gaap_Goodwill   16,134us-gaap_Goodwill
All 2015 Acquisitions      
Business Acquisition [Line Items]      
Aggregate consideration 49us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= emc_All2015AcquisitionsMember
   
Aggregate allocation to goodwill 38us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= emc_All2015AcquisitionsMember
   
Aggregate allocation to intangibles 16us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= emc_All2015AcquisitionsMember
   
Aggregate allocation to net liabilities $ (5)us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= emc_All2015AcquisitionsMember
   
Weighted average amortization period of intangible assets acquired 3 years 6 months 20 days