Financial Services, Financing Receivables by Credit Quality Indicator (Details 4) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 03, 2012	Feb. 03, 2012
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable
Customer receivables, gross	$ 4,330	$ 4,539
Revolving Loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable
Customer receivables, gross	1,869	2,096
Fixed-term loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable
Customer receivables, gross	2,461	2,443
Dell Preferred Account (DPA) | Owned since inception | Revolving Loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable
Best	191	220
Good	385	412
Mixed	753	814
Customer receivables, gross	1,329	1,446
Dell Preferred Account (DPA) | Purchased | Revolving Loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable
Best	21	28
Good	63	80
Mixed	166	229
Customer receivables, gross	250	337
Non-Commercial | Owned since inception | Fixed-term loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable
Best	3	2
Good	21	14
Mixed	19	14
Customer receivables, gross	43	30
Non-Commercial | Purchased | Fixed-term loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable
Best	3	4
Good	23	32
Mixed	20	31
Customer receivables, gross	46	67
Dell Business Credit (DBC) | Revolving Loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable
Best	99	111
Good	89	98
Mixed	102	104
Customer receivables, gross	290	313
Small Commercial | Fixed-term loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable
Best	100	91
Good	75	74
Mixed	85	85
Customer receivables, gross	260	250
Medium & Large Commerical | Fixed-term loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable
Best	1,336	1,504
Good	540	363
Mixed	236	229
Customer receivables, gross	$ 2,112	$ 2,096