Shareholders' Equity - Reconciliation from Basic To Diluted Earnings Per Share for both Numerators and Denominators (Detail) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Numerator:
Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	$ 480	$ 587	$ 1,219	$ 1,568
Incremental dilution from VMware	(1)	(1)	(3)	(4)
Net income – dilution attributable to EMC Corporation	$ 479	$ 586	$ 1,216	$ 1,564
Denominator:
Weighted average shares, basic	1,934	2,032	1,945	2,033
Weighted common stock equivalents	14	25	18	26
Assumed conversion of the 2013 Notes and associated warrants	0	0	0	6
Weighted average shares, diluted	1,948	2,057	1,963	2,065