Restructuring and Acquisition-Related Charges - Additional information (Detail) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) position	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($) position
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and acquisition-related charges	$ 49	$ 135
Lease termination costs for facilities	5	6
EMC Information Infrastructure Plus Pivotal
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment	(5)
Restructuring charges		111
Acquisition-related charges		1
VMware
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	53	22
Acquisition-related charges	$ 1	1
Restructuring 2015 Programs \| EMC Information Infrastructure Plus Pivotal
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges		$ 113
Restructuring and Related Cost, Number of Positions Eliminated \| position		1,320
Restructuring 2015 Programs \| VMware
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and Related Cost, Number of Positions Eliminated \| position		350
Restructuring 2016 Programs \| VMware
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and Related Cost, Number of Positions Eliminated \| position	800

Restructuring and Acquisition-related Charges

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	emc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents acquisition-related costs incurred to effect a business combination which costs have been expensed during the period. Such costs include finder's fees; advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other professional or consulting fees; general administrative costs, including the costs of maintaining an internal acquisitions department; and may include costs of registering and issuing debt and equity securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 25
-Paragraph 23
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34752592&loc=d3e1043-128460

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of other expenses associated with exit or disposal activities pursuant to an authorized plan. Excludes expenses associated with a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140864-122747

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 5
-Section P
-Subsection 3, 4

+ Details

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- Definition

The number of positions eliminated during the period as a result of restructuring activities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of expenses associated with exit or disposal activities pursuant to an authorized plan. Excludes expenses related to a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
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-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 5
-Section P
-Subsection 3, 4

+ Details

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- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of (expense) reversal of expense related to a previously accrued restructuring cost liability. Excludes adjustments for costs incurred, costs settled, and foreign currency translation adjustments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section 40
-Paragraph 1
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-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 5
-Section P
-Subsection 3, 4

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