Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Net operating loss carryforwards and tax credits	$ 19,500,000	$ 46,900,000	$ 68,900,000
Income before income taxes from foreign operations	1,800,000,000	1,200,000,000	900,000,000
Income before income taxes from domestic operations	1,500,000,000	1,400,000,000	500,000,000
Basis differences related to investments in foreign subsidiaries consisted of undistributed earnings	6,400,000,000	5,100,000,000
Total cash, cash equivalents, and short-term and long-term investments	10,843,129,000	9,546,055,000
Unrecognized tax benefits, if recognized, would have been recorded as a reduction to income tax expense	192,300,000	221,800,000	195,100,000
Recognition (reversal) of previously recorded interest expense resulting from third party settlement	1,200,000	1,100,000	(4,300,000)
Unrecognized tax benefits, accrued Interest and penalties	31,600,000	30,500,000	29,900,000
International reorganization of acquired companies	0.00%	3.20%	4.40%
Gross federal net operating loss	279,000,000
Gross foreign net operating loss	86,500,000
Net operating loss carryforwards expiration	Certain of these net operating losses will begin to expire in 2014, while others have an unlimited carryforward period.
Net reduction in uncertain tax positions	71,000,000		66,700,000
Valuation allowances	5,293,000	4,350,000
One Year from Balance Sheet Date | Maximum
Unrecognized tax positions may be recognized within one year as a result of the lapse of statutes of limitations and the resolution of agreements with various tax authorities	14,800,000
Parent | International Entities
Total cash, cash equivalents, and short-term and long-term investments	1,500,000,000
VMware
Total cash, cash equivalents, and short-term and long-term investments	4,500,000,000
VMware | International Entities
Total cash, cash equivalents, and short-term and long-term investments	2,100,000,000
Federal
Credit carryforwards	22,600,000
State and Local Jurisdiction
Credit carryforwards	$ 46,100,000
Federal and State
Credit carryforwards expiration	Certain of these credits will begin to expire in 2012, while others have an unlimited carryforward period.