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Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities - Composition of Investments (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
U.S. government and agency obligations    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Amortized Cost $ 2,261us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember
$ 1,951us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember
Unrealized Gains 5us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember
2us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember
Unrealized (Losses) (1)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember
(2)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember
Aggregate Fair Value 2,265us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember
1,951us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember
U.S. corporate debt securities    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Amortized Cost 2,390us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_UsCorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
1,998us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_UsCorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Unrealized Gains 6us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_UsCorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
1us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_UsCorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Unrealized (Losses) (1)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_UsCorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
(4)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_UsCorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Aggregate Fair Value 2,395us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_UsCorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
1,995us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_UsCorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
High yield corporate debt securities    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Amortized Cost 394us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_HighYieldCorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
570us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_HighYieldCorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Unrealized Gains 8us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_HighYieldCorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
9us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_HighYieldCorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Unrealized (Losses) (7)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_HighYieldCorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
(16)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_HighYieldCorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Aggregate Fair Value 395us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_HighYieldCorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
563us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_HighYieldCorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Asset-backed securities    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Amortized Cost 87us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember
53us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember
Unrealized Gains 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember
Unrealized (Losses) 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember
Aggregate Fair Value 87us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember
53us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember
Municipal obligations    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Amortized Cost 960us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_MunicipalObligationsMember
948us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_MunicipalObligationsMember
Unrealized Gains 2us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_MunicipalObligationsMember
2us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_MunicipalObligationsMember
Unrealized (Losses) 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_MunicipalObligationsMember
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_MunicipalObligationsMember
Aggregate Fair Value 962us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_MunicipalObligationsMember
950us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_MunicipalObligationsMember
Auction rate securities    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Amortized Cost 29us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_AuctionRateSecuritiesMember
29us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_AuctionRateSecuritiesMember
Unrealized Gains 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_AuctionRateSecuritiesMember
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_AuctionRateSecuritiesMember
Unrealized (Losses) (2)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_AuctionRateSecuritiesMember
(2)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_AuctionRateSecuritiesMember
Aggregate Fair Value 27us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_AuctionRateSecuritiesMember
27us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_AuctionRateSecuritiesMember
Foreign debt securities    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Amortized Cost 2,664us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_ForeignDebtSecuritiesMember
2,566us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_ForeignDebtSecuritiesMember
Unrealized Gains 5us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_ForeignDebtSecuritiesMember
2us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_ForeignDebtSecuritiesMember
Unrealized (Losses) (1)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_ForeignDebtSecuritiesMember
(4)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_ForeignDebtSecuritiesMember
Aggregate Fair Value 2,668us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_ForeignDebtSecuritiesMember
2,564us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_ForeignDebtSecuritiesMember
Fixed income securities    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Amortized Cost 8,785us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
8,115us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
Unrealized Gains 26us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
16us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
Unrealized (Losses) (12)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
(28)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
Aggregate Fair Value 8,799us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
8,103us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
Publicly traded equity securities    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Amortized Cost 201us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_PublicEquitySecuritiesMember
117us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_PublicEquitySecuritiesMember
Unrealized Gains 98us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_PublicEquitySecuritiesMember
103us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_PublicEquitySecuritiesMember
Unrealized (Losses) (14)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_PublicEquitySecuritiesMember
(11)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_PublicEquitySecuritiesMember
Aggregate Fair Value 285us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_PublicEquitySecuritiesMember
209us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= emc_PublicEquitySecuritiesMember
Fixed income and publicly traded equity securities    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Amortized Cost 8,986us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_SecuritiesAssetsMember
8,232us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_SecuritiesAssetsMember
Unrealized Gains 124us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_SecuritiesAssetsMember
119us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_SecuritiesAssetsMember
Unrealized (Losses) (26)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_SecuritiesAssetsMember
(39)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_SecuritiesAssetsMember
Aggregate Fair Value $ 9,084us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_SecuritiesAssetsMember
$ 8,312us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_SecuritiesAssetsMember