CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Net income	$ 2,608,885,000	$ 1,969,686,000	$ 1,121,801,000
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes (benefits):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(3,797,000)	(4,634,000)	14,950,000
Changes in market value of investments:
Unrealized gain (loss), net of taxes (benefits) of $(19,730), $15,578 and $15,470	(20,525,000)	44,826,000	47,952,000
Less: reclassification adjustment for net gains realized in net income, net of taxes (benefits) of $4,174, $4,178 and $7,911	(5,201,000)	(11,792,000)	(12,897,000)
Net change in market value of investments	(25,726,000)	33,034,000	35,055,000
Changes in market value of derivatives:
Change in market value of derivatives, net of taxes (benefits) of $(59,282), $(4,909) and $1,443	(91,095,000)	(1,614,000)	(3,439,000)
Less: reclassification for net (gains) losses included in net income, net of taxes (benefits) of $475, $907 and $(736)	(3,417,000)	(6,531,000)	6,626,000
Net change in market value of derivatives	(94,512,000)	(8,145,000)	3,187,000
Recognition of actuarial net gain (loss) from pension and other postretirement plans, net of taxes (benefits) of $(11,410), $(1,392) and $13,092	(22,050,000)	(4,057,000)	21,877,000
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(146,085,000)	16,198,000	75,069,000
Comprehensive income	2,462,800,000	1,985,884,000	1,196,870,000
Less: Net income attributable to the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.	(147,548,000)	(69,691,000)	(33,724,000)
Less: Other comprehensive (income) loss attributable to the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.	3,693,000	(3,093,000)	(839,000)
Comprehensive income attributable to EMC Corporation	$ 2,318,945,000	$ 1,913,100,000	$ 1,162,307,000