Non-controlling Interests - Effect of Changes in Ownership Interest in VMware on Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	$ 487	$ 589	$ 739	$ 980
Transfers (to) from the non-controlling interests in VMware, Inc.:
Net transfers (to) from non-controlling interest			(901)	(401)
VMware
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Net income attributable to EMC Corporation			739	980
Transfers (to) from the non-controlling interests in VMware, Inc.:
Increase in EMC Corporation’s additional paid-in-capital for VMware’s equity issuances			29	51
Decrease in EMC Corporation’s additional paid-in-capital for VMware’s other equity activity			(711)	(427)
Net transfers (to) from non-controlling interest			(682)	(376)
Change from net income attributable to EMC Corporation and transfers from the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.			$ 57	$ 604