Effect of Changes in Ownership Interest in VMware on Equity (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	$ 832,046,000	$ 605,649,000	$ 546,494,000	$ 477,148,000	$ 628,559,000	$ 472,516,000	$ 426,216,000	$ 372,704,000	$ 2,461,337,000	$ 1,899,995,000	$ 1,088,077,000
Transfers (to) from the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.:
Increase in EMC Corporation's additional paid-in-capital for VMware's equity issuances									117,793,000	151,274,000
Decrease in EMC Corporation's additional paid-in-capital for VMware's other equity activity									(419,758,000)	(337,451,000)
Net transfers (to) from non-controlling interest									(301,965,000)	(186,177,000)
Change from net income attributable to EMC Corporation and transfers from the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.									$ 2,159,372,000	$ 1,713,818,000