Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) - Quarterly Financial Data (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Total consolidated revenues	$ 7,014	$ 6,079	$ 5,997	$ 5,613	$ 7,048	$ 6,032	$ 5,880	$ 5,479	$ 24,704	$ 24,440	$ 23,222
Gross profit	4,360	3,705	3,587	3,339	4,505	3,743	3,654	3,347	14,991	15,249	14,473
Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	$ 771	$ 480	$ 487	$ 252	$ 1,147	$ 587	$ 589	$ 392	$ 1,990	$ 2,714	$ 2,889
Net income per weighted average share, diluted: common shareholders	$ 0.39	$ 0.25	$ 0.25	$ 0.13	$ 0.56	$ 0.28	$ 0.28	$ 0.19	$ 1.01	$ 1.32	$ 1.33