Effect of Changes in Ownership Interest in VMware on Equity (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	$ 605,649,000	$ 472,516,000	$ 1,629,291,000	$ 1,271,436,000
Transfers (to) from the non-controlling interest in VMware:
Increase in EMC Corporation's additional paid-in-capital for VMware's equity issuances			102,612,000	123,970,000
Decrease in EMC Corporation's additional paid-in-capital for VMware's other equity activity			(370,881,000)	(275,509,000)
Net transfers to non-controlling interest			(268,269,000)	(151,539,000)
Change from net income attributable to EMC Corporation and transfers from the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.			$ 1,361,022,000	$ 1,119,897,000