Non-controlling Interests - Effect of Changes in Ownership Interest in VMware on Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	$ 268	$ 252
Transfers (to) from the non-controlling interests:
Net transfers (to) from non-controlling interest	29	(415)
VMware
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	268	252
Transfers (to) from the non-controlling interests:
Increase in EMC Corporation’s additional paid-in-capital for VMware and Pivotal equity issuances	21	30
Decrease in EMC Corporation’s additional paid-in-capital for VMware’s and Pivotal’s other equity activity	(57)	(331)
Net transfers (to) from non-controlling interest	(36)	(301)
Change from net income attributable to EMC Corporation and transfers from the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.	$ 232	$ (49)