CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 2,172	$ 2,894	$ 3,093
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes (benefits):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(169)	(135)	(44)
Changes in market value of investments:
Changes in unrealized gains (losses), net of taxes (benefits) of $(9), $36 and $(13)	(16)	57	(22)
Reclassification adjustment for net gains realized in net income, net of taxes of $27, $23 and $6	(43)	(39)	(11)
Net change in market value of investments	(59)	18	(33)
Changes in market value of derivatives:
Changes in unrealized gains, net of taxes of $3, $2 and $3	21	24	13
Reclassification adjustment for net gains included in net income, net of benefits (taxes) of $5, $0 and $(2)	(11)	(18)	(10)
Net change in the market value of derivatives	10	6	3
Change in actuarial net gain (loss) from pension and other postretirement plans:
Recognition of actuarial net gain (loss) from pension and other postretirement plans, net of taxes (benefits) of $(6), $(12) and $20	(7)	(22)	34
Reclassification adjustments for net losses from pension and other postretirement plans, net of benefits $5, $3 and $6	8	6	9
Net change in actuarial gain (loss) from pension and other postretirement plans	1	(16)	43
Other comprehensive loss	(217)	(127)	(31)
Comprehensive income	1,955	2,767	3,062
Less: Net income attributable to the non-controlling interests	(182)	(180)	(204)
Less: Other comprehensive loss attributable to the non-controlling interests	4	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to EMC Corporation	$ 1,777	$ 2,587	$ 2,858