Effect of Changes in Ownership Interest in VMware on Equity (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	$ 586,842,000	$ 477,148,000
Transfers (to) from the non-controlling interest in VMware:
Increase in EMC Corporation's additional paid-in-capital for VMware's equity issuances	37,982,000	35,069,000
Decrease in EMC Corporation's additional paid-in-capital for VMware's other equity activity	(37,052,000)	(104,915,000)
Net transfers (to) from non-controlling interest	930,000	(69,846,000)
Change from net income attributable to EMC Corporation and transfers from the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.	$ 587,772,000	$ 407,302,000