Financial Services, Allowances for Losses (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Oct. 28, 2011	Oct. 29, 2010	Oct. 28, 2011	Oct. 29, 2010
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	$ 210	$ 277	$ 241	$ 237
Incremental allowance due to VIE consolidation			0	16
Principal charge-offs	(47)	(69)	(158)	(189)
Interest charge-offs	(8)	(12)	(28)	(29)
Recoveries	10	9	42	20
Provision and adjustments charged to income statement	32	52	100	202
Balance at end of period	197	257	197	257
Fixed term loans [Member]
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	21	29	27	13
Incremental allowance due to VIE consolidation			0	16
Principal charge-offs	(2)	(3)	(6)	(14)
Interest charge-offs	0	0	0	0
Recoveries	1	0	3	0
Provision and adjustments charged to income statement	2	3	(2)	14
Balance at end of period	22	29	22	29
Revolving Loans [Member]
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	189	248	214	224
Incremental allowance due to VIE consolidation			0	0
Principal charge-offs	(45)	(66)	(152)	(175)
Interest charge-offs	(8)	(12)	(28)	(29)
Recoveries	9	9	39	20
Provision and adjustments charged to income statement	30	49	102	188
Balance at end of period	$ 175	$ 228	$ 175	$ 228

Reflects the gross amount of interest charged against earnings during the period as credit losses (bad debt expense) based on review of the loan and lease portfolio and application of the methodology for estimating credit losses.

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Namespace Prefix:	dell
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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Reflects the gross amount of principal charged against earnings during the period as credit losses (bad debt expense) based on review of the loan and lease portfolio and application of the methodology for estimating credit losses.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	dell
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Reflects the net amount of other additions and reductions in the reserve for credit losses due to consolidation of Variable Interest Entities.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	dell
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Additions to the allowance for credit losses related to collections on financing receivables which have been partially or fully charged off as bad debts.

+ Details

Name:	dell_FinancingReceivablesAllowanceForCreditLossesRecoveries
Namespace Prefix:	dell
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AllowanceForLoanAndLeaseLossesRollForward
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

A valuation allowance for financing receivables that are expected to be uncollectible.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 11B

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=SL6953423-111524

-Subparagraph (c)(1)

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Charge to expense for financing receivables that are expected to be uncollectible.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration