Estimate of Fair Value of Each Option Granted Using Black-Scholes option-pricing model with Weighted-Average Assumptions (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expected volatility		29.00%	37.20%
Risk-free interest rate		0.70%	1.20%
Expected term (in years)		2.0	2.3
EMC Information Infrastructure | Stock Option
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Dividend yield	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Expected volatility	33.30%	32.90%	35.40%
Risk-free interest rate	1.60%	1.80%	2.40%
Expected term (in years)	4.9	4.8	4.5
Weighted-average fair value at grant date	$ 8.00	$ 6.25	$ 5.04
EMC Information Infrastructure | Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Dividend yield			0.00%
Expected volatility			58.10%
Risk-free interest rate			0.40%
Expected term (in years)			0.5
Weighted-average fair value at grant date			$ 3.16
VMware Virtual Infrastructure Within EMC
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted-average fair value at grant date	$ 91.51	$ 74.87	$ 33.63
VMware Virtual Infrastructure Within EMC | Stock Option
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Dividend yield	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Expected volatility	37.70%	38.00%	36.10%
Risk-free interest rate	1.00%	1.50%	1.90%
Expected term (in years)	3.0	3.5	3.7
Weighted-average fair value at grant date	$ 88.40	$ 18.05	$ 12.18
VMware Virtual Infrastructure Within EMC | Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Dividend yield	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Expected volatility	34.90%	33.10%	50.90%
Risk-free interest rate	0.20%	0.20%	0.30%
Expected term (in years)	0.5	0.5	0.5
Weighted-average fair value at grant date	$ 23.69	$ 15.18	$ 7.79