Stock-Based Compensation - Additional Information (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	May. 31, 2009 shares	May. 31, 2007 Plan	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Plan $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2012 shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Exercise price for a stock option, minimum percentage of fair market value			100.00%
Period from date of grant that options expire (no later than ten years after the date of grant)			10 years
Number of other stock option plans, in addition to 2003 Plan | Plan			4
Number of plans consolidated into the 2003 Plan | Plan		4
Common stock, shares reserved for future issuance			1,022,000,000
Outstanding and unvested, intrinsic value | $ / shares			$ 1,554,000,000
ESPP, stock-based compensation expense | $			$ 59	$ 57	$ 54
Unrecognized compensation expense | $			$ 1,811
Unrecognized compensation expense, weighted-average remaining period			1 year 5 months
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense | $			$ 1,093	$ 1,021	$ 935
Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Period from date of grant that options become exercisable			5 years
Period from date of grant that options expire (no later than ten years after the date of grant)			10 years
Common Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares authorized for grant			460,000,000
Number of shares available for grant			53,000,000
EMC Employee Stock Purchase - 1989 Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Other Employee Related Liabilities, Current | $			$ 80
Common stock, shares reserved for future issuance			183,000,000
EMC Employee Stock Purchase - 1989 Plan | Common Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Purchase price of common stock, as a percent of fair market value			85.00%
VMware 2007 Equity and Incentive Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares available for grant			18,000,000
Increase in number of shares available for issuance	122,000,000
Number of shares assumed in business acquisitions			4,000,000
VMware Stock Repurchase Plan | VMware Class A common stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock repurchase plan, amount remaining for repurchase | $			$ 835
VMware Employee Stock Purchase Plan - 2007 Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares available for grant			5,000,000
VMware Employee Stock Purchase Plan - 2007 Plan | VMware Class A common stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Common stock, shares reserved for future issuance			14,000,000
Purchase price of stock, percent of market value on grant date			85.00%
Purchase price of stock, percent of market value on exercise date			85.00%
ESPP withholding payable | $			$ 48
Vesting Upon Fulfilling Service Conditions
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expected to vest (in shares)			49,000,000
Vesting Accelerated Upon Achieving Performance Conditions
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expected to vest (in shares)			4,000,000
Vesting Upon Achieving Certain Performance Conditions
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expected to vest (in shares)			11,000,000
VMware Restricted Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Outstanding and unvested (in shares)			19,000,000	13,000,000	13,000,000	12,000,000
Outstanding and unvested, intrinsic value | $ / shares			$ 1,057,000,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested in Period, Fair Value | $			$ 379	$ 480	$ 340
VMware Stock Options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Options, exercisable, aggregate intrinsic value | $			$ 26
Options, exercisable			2,000,000
Options, vested and expected to vest			3,000,000
Options, vested and expected to vest, weighted average remaining contractual term			4 years 11 months
Options, vested and expected to vest, aggregate intrinsic value | $			$ 43
Closing stock price | $ / shares			$ 56.57
Options, exercised, aggregate intrinsic value | $			$ 136	147	256
Stock options exercisable, weighted-average remaining contractual term			4 years 6 months
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested in Period, Fair Value | $			$ 60	64	60
VMware Stock Options | VMware 2007 Equity and Incentive Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted stock vesting period			3 years
Purchase price of common stock, as a percent of fair market value			25.00%
VMware Stock Options | VMware 2007 Equity and Incentive Plan | Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Period from date of grant that options expire (no later than ten years after the date of grant)			6 years
VMware Stock Options | VMware 2007 Equity and Incentive Plan | Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Period from date of grant that options expire (no later than ten years after the date of grant)			7 years
VMware Stock Options | VMware | VMware 2007 Equity and Incentive Plan | VMware Class A common stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Purchase price of common stock, as a percent of fair market value			100.00%
EMC Information Infrastructure Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted stock vesting period			2 years
Number of shares reserved for every one share issued in connection with awards			2
Vested, intrinsic value | $			$ 514	$ 388	$ 404
Outstanding and unvested (in shares)			61,000,000	53,000,000	48,000,000	47,000,000
EMC Information Infrastructure Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units | Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted stock vesting period			2 years
EMC Information Infrastructure Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units | Pro Rata Vesting | Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted stock vesting period			3 years
EMC Information Infrastructure Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units | Pro Rata Vesting | Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted stock vesting period			4 years
EMC Information Infrastructure Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units | Cliff Vesting | Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted stock vesting period			3 years
EMC Information Infrastructure Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units | Cliff Vesting | Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted stock vesting period			5 years
EMC Information Infrastructure Stock Options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted average remaining contractual term			2 years 10 months
Options, exercisable, aggregate intrinsic value | $			$ 215
Options, exercisable			22,000,000
Options, vested and expected to vest			26,000,000
Options, vested and expected to vest, weighted average remaining contractual term			2 years 7 months
Options, vested and expected to vest, aggregate intrinsic value | $			$ 323
Closing stock price | $ / shares			$ 25.68
Options, exercised, aggregate intrinsic value | $			$ 203	$ 353	$ 240
Cash proceeds from the exercise of stock options | $			142	317	260
Income tax benefits realized from the exercise of stock options | $			28	$ 61	$ 45
Retirement Benefit Stock Match
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense | $			$ 47