EMC 10-Q 7 Nov 13 2013 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Document Type	'10-Q
Amendment Flag	'false
Document Period End Date	30-Sep-13
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q3
Trading Symbol	'EMC
Entity Registrant Name	'EMC CORP
Entity Central Index Key	'0000790070
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31
Entity Filer Category	'Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	2,057,846,730

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$7,155	$4,714
Short-term investments	3,442	1,422
Accounts and notes receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $63 and $68	2,934	3,433
Inventories	1,375	1,201
Deferred income taxes	986	942
Other current assets	555	465
Total current assets	16,447	12,177
Long-term investments	6,869	5,260
Property, plant and equipment, net	3,373	3,145
Intangible assets, net	1,831	2,035
Goodwill	14,306	13,840
Other assets, net	1,776	1,612
Total assets	44,602	38,069
Current liabilities:	'	'
Accounts payable	1,108	1,041
Accrued expenses	2,699	2,522
Income taxes payable	201	514
Convertible debt (See Note 4)	1,658	1,652
Deferred revenue	5,093	4,575
Total current liabilities	10,759	10,304
Income taxes payable	310	293
Deferred revenue	3,416	2,976
Deferred income taxes	505	575
Long-term debt (See Note 4)	5,493	0
Other liabilities	365	339
Total liabilities	20,848	14,487
Convertible debt (See Note 4)	9	58
Shareholders’ equity:	'	'
Preferred stock, par value $0.01; authorized 25 shares; none outstanding	0	0
Common stock, par value $0.01; authorized 6,000 shares; issued and outstanding 2,058 and 2,107 shares	21	21
Additional paid-in capital	2,289	3,691
Retained earnings	20,298	18,853
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	-291	-208
Total EMC Corporation’s shareholders’ equity	22,317	22,357
Non-controlling interests	1,428	1,167
Total shareholders’ equity	23,745	23,524
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$44,602	$38,069

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS_Pa

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Accounts and notes receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts	$63	$68
Preferred stock, par value (in usd per share)	$0.01	$0.01
Preferred stock, authorized (in shares)	0	0
Preferred stock, outstanding (in shares)	0	0
Common stock, par value (in usd per share)	$0.01	$0.01
Common stock, authorized (in shares)	6,000,000,000	6,000,000,000
Common stock, issued (in shares)	2,058,000,000	2,107,000,000
Common stock, outstanding (in shares)	2,058,000,000	2,107,000,000

CONSOLIDATED_INCOME_STATEMENTS

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Revenues:	'	'	'	'
Product sales revenue	$3,165	$3,084	$9,535	$9,332
Services	2,374	2,194	7,005	6,352
Total consolidated revenues	5,539	5,278	16,540	15,684
Costs and expenses:	'	'	'	'
Cost of product sales	1,324	1,292	4,020	3,849
Cost of services	773	698	2,271	2,087
Research and development	686	653	2,056	1,896
Selling, general and administrative	1,809	1,709	5,308	5,076
Restructuring and acquisition-related charges	40	27	195	81
Operating income	907	899	2,690	2,695
Non-operating income (expense):	'	'	'	'
Investment income	26	29	93	85
Interest expense	-58	-21	-109	-58
Other expense, net	55	63	197	158
Total non-operating income (expense)	-87	-55	-213	-131
Income before provision for income taxes	820	844	2,477	2,564
Income tax provision	181	185	474	590
Net income	639	659	2,003	1,974
Less: Net income attributable to the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.	-53	-33	-136	-111
Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	$586	$626	$1,867	$1,863
Net income per weighted average share, basic attributable to EMC Corporation common shareholders	$0.28	$0.30	$0.89	$0.89
Net income per weighted average share, diluted attributable to EMC Corporation common shareholders	$0.27	$0.28	$0.86	$0.84
Weighted average shares, basic	2,069	2,104	2,088	2,090
Weighted average shares, diluted	2,165	2,210	2,176	2,207
Cash dividends declared per common share	$0.10	$0	$0.20	$0

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_COM

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Net income	$639	$659	$2,003	$1,974
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes (benefits):	'	'	'	'
Foreign currency translation adjustments	12	16	-44	8
Changes in market value of investments:	'	'	'	'
Changes in unrealized gains (losses), net of taxes (benefits) of $0, $25, $(16) and $53	-1	44	-30	86
Reclassification adjustment for net losses (gains) realized in net income, net of benefits (taxes) of $0, $(2), $(4) and $(4)	1	-3	-7	-2
Net change in market value of investments	0	41	-37	84
Changes in market value of derivatives:	'	'	'	'
Changes in market value of derivatives, net of taxes (benefits) of $(1), $(6), $2 and $(20)	-1	-14	6	-38
Reclassification adjustment for net losses (gains) included in net income, net of benefits (taxes) of $0, $1, $(2) and $15	-1	7	-9	27
Net change in the market value of derivatives	-2	-7	-3	-11
Other comprehensive income (loss)	10	50	-84	81
Comprehensive income	649	709	1,919	2,055
Less: Net income attributable to the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.	-53	-33	-136	-111
Less: Other comprehensive income attributable to the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.	-1	0	1	-1
Comprehensive income attributable to EMC Corporation	$595	$676	$1,784	$1,943

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_COM1

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Parenthetical) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) - taxes (benefits)	$0	$25	($16)	$53
Reclassification adjustment for net losses (gains) realized in net income - benefits (taxes)	0	-2	-4	-4
Changes in market value of derivatives - taxes (benefits)	-1	-6	2	-20
Reclassification adjustment for net losses (gains) realized in net income - benefits (taxes)	$0	$1	($2)	$15

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_CAS

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital [Abstract]	'	'
Accounts and notes receivable	$521	($207)
Inventories	-382	-337
Other assets	122	63
Accounts payable	45	119
Accrued expenses	-321	-226
Income taxes payable	-176	372
Deferred revenue	1,006	1,059
Other liabilities	20	0
Cash flows from operating activities:	'	'
Cash received from customers	18,065	16,557
Cash paid to suppliers and employees	-12,740	-11,951
Dividends and interest received	118	65
Interest paid	-19	-17
Income taxes paid	-691	-291
Net cash provided by operating activities	4,733	4,363
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Additions to property, plant and equipment	-673	-523
Capitalized software development costs	-342	-316
Purchases of short- and long-term available-for-sale securities	-8,630	-5,012
Sales of short- and long-term available-for-sale securities	3,540	4,154
Maturities of short- and long-term available-for-sale securities	1,386	844
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	-616	-1,878
Purchases of strategic and other related investments	-109	-62
Sales of strategic and other related investments	10	79
Joint venture funding	-268	-218
Proceeds from divestiture of businesses	38	0
Net cash used in investing activities	-5,664	-2,932
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Proceeds from the issuance of EMC’s common stock	302	388
EMC repurchase of EMC’s common stock	-1,965	-380
EMC purchase of VMware’s common stock	-160	-132
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	102	212
Payment of long-term and short-term obligations	-14	-1,714
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term and short-term obligations	5,460	4
Interest rate contract settlement	0	-70
Dividend payment	-209	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	3,414	-1,785
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	-42	-18
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	2,441	-372
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	4,714	4,492
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	7,155	4,120
Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'
Net income	2,003	1,974
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	1,215	1,128
Non-cash interest expense on debt	82	34
Non-cash restructuring and other special charges	10	9
Stock-based compensation expense	700	659
Provision for (recovery of) doubtful accounts	-2	21
Deferred income taxes, net	-31	-73
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	-102	-212
Other, net	23	-20
Net cash provided by operating activities	4,733	4,363
Pivotal	'	'
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Third party contribution to Pivotal	105	'
VMware	'	'
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Proceeds from the issuance of VMware’s common stock	185	214
EMC repurchase of EMC’s common stock	($392)	($307)

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_SHA

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $)	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Non-controlling Interests
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Balance, January 1, 2013 at Dec. 31, 2011	$20,280	$21	$3,405	$16,121	($235)	$968
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011	'	2,050	'	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stock issued through stock option and stock purchase plans (in shares)	'	30	'	'	'	'
Stock issued through stock option and stock purchase plans	388	0	388	'	'	'
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	257	'	257	'	'	'
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net (in shares)	'	10	'	'	'	'
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net	-120	0	-120	'	'	'
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)	'	-15	'	'	'	'
Repurchase of common stock	-410	'	-410	'	'	'
EMC purchase of VMware stock	-132	'	-114	'	'	-18
Stock options issued in business acquisitions	18	'	18	'	'	'
Stock-based compensation	661	'	661	'	'	'
Impact from equity transactions of non-controlling interests	-186	'	-275	'	'	89
Change in market value of investments	84	'	'	'	83	1
Change in market value of derivatives	-11	'	'	'	-11	'
Translation adjustment	8	'	'	'	8	'
Convertible debt conversions and warrant settlement (in shares)	'	32	'	'	'	'
Convertible debt conversions and warrant settlement	-2	-1	-1	'	'	'
Reclassification of convertible debt (to)/from mezzanine (Note 4)	-46	'	-46	'	'	'
Net income	1,974	'	'	1,863	'	111
Balance, September 30, 2013 at Sep. 30, 2012	22,855	20	3,855	17,984	-155	1,151
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2012	'	2,107	'	'	'	'
Balance, January 1, 2013 at Dec. 31, 2012	23,524	21	3,691	18,853	-208	1,167
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	2,107	2,107	'	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stock issued through stock option and stock purchase plans (in shares)	'	21	'	'	'	'
Stock issued through stock option and stock purchase plans	302	0	302	'	'	'
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	115	'	115	'	'	'
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net (in shares)	'	10	'	'	'	'
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net	-115	0	-115	'	'	'
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)	'	-80	'	'	'	'
Repurchase of common stock	-2,000	0	-2,000	'	'	'
EMC purchase of VMware stock	-150	'	-124	'	'	-26
Stock options issued in business acquisitions	1	'	1	'	'	'
Stock-based compensation	706	'	706	'	'	'
Cash dividends declared	-422	'	'	-422	'	'
Impact from equity transactions of non-controlling interests	-184	'	-336	'	'	152
Change in market value of investments	-37	'	'	'	-36	-1
Change in market value of derivatives	-3	'	'	'	-3	0
Translation adjustment	-44	'	'	'	-44	'
Reclassification of convertible debt (to)/from mezzanine (Note 4)	49	'	49	'	'	'
Net income	2,003	'	'	1,867	'	136
Balance, September 30, 2013 at Sep. 30, 2013	$23,745	$21	$2,289	$20,298	($291)	$1,428
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2013	2,058	2,058	'	'	'	'

Basis_of_Presentation

Basis of Presentation	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Basis of Presentation	'
	Basis of Presentation
	Company
	EMC Corporation (“EMC”) and its subsidiaries develop, deliver and support the Information Technology (“IT”) industry’s broadest range of information infrastructure and virtual infrastructure technologies, solutions and services.
	EMC’s Information Infrastructure business provides a foundation for organizations to store, manage, protect, analyze and secure their vast and ever-increasing quantities of information, improve business agility, lower cost of ownership and enhance their competitive advantage within traditional data centers, virtual data centers and cloud-based IT infrastructures. EMC’s Information Infrastructure business comprises three segments – Information Storage, RSA Information Security and Information Intelligence Group.
	EMC's GoPivotal, Inc. ("Pivotal") business was formed in the second quarter of 2013. Pivotal unites strategic technology, people and programs from EMC and VMware, Inc. ("VMware"), including Greenplum, Cloud Foundry, Spring, Cetas, Pivotal Labs, GemFire and other products from the VMware vFabric Suite. Pivotal is building a new platform comprising next-generation data fabrics, application fabrics and a cloud independent platform-as-a-service ("PaaS").
	EMC’s VMware Virtual Infrastructure business, which is represented by EMC’s majority equity stake in VMware, is the leader in virtualization infrastructure solutions utilized by organizations to help them transform the way they build, deliver and consume IT resources. VMware’s virtualization infrastructure solutions, which include a suite of products designed to deliver a software-defined data center, run on industry-standard desktop computers and servers and support a wide range of operating system and application environments, as well as networking and storage infrastructures.
	General
	The accompanying interim consolidated financial statements are unaudited and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information. These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of EMC, its wholly owned subsidiaries, as well as Pivotal and VMware, companies majority-owned by EMC. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated.
	Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in our annual consolidated financial statements have been condensed or omitted. Accordingly, these interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2012 which are contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 27, 2013.
	The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected for any future period or the entire fiscal year. The interim consolidated financial statements, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments necessary to fairly state the results as of and for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2012.
	Net Income Per Share
	Basic net income per weighted average share has been computed using the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per weighted average share is computed using the weighted average number of common and dilutive common equivalent shares outstanding during the period. Common equivalent shares consist of stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units, our $1.725 billion 1.75% convertible senior notes due 2013 ("2013 Notes") and associated warrants. Additionally, for purposes of calculating diluted net income per weighted average share, net income is adjusted for the difference between VMware’s reported diluted and basic net income per weighted average share, if any, multiplied by the number of shares of VMware held by EMC.
	Reclassifications
	Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current year's presentation. During the second quarter of 2013, EMC and VMware combined certain operations to form Pivotal, with a cash investment from General Electric Company ("GE"). Pivotal is considered a separate reportable segment. We recast the segment disclosures for the prior financial reporting periods to separately present the operations of the Pivotal segment. None of the segment reclassifications impact EMC's previously reported consolidated financial statements. See Note 15 for further discussion of the segment reclassifications.
	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued new accounting guidance on the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits. This new guidance requires an entity to present an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, as a reduction to a deferred tax asset when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss or a tax credit carryforward exists, with limited exceptions. This new guidance is effective for the periods beginning after December 15, 2013, and should be applied prospectively with retroactive application permitted.  We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance, and do not expect it to have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
	In March 2013, the FASB issued guidance that requires a parent company to release any related cumulative translation adjustment into net income only if the sale or transfer results in the complete or substantially complete liquidation of the foreign entity in which the subsidiary or group of assets had resided. This new guidance is effective beginning after December 15, 2013.  We do not anticipate that the adoption of this new guidance will have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Noncontrolling_Interest_in_VMw

Non-controlling Interest in VMware, Inc.	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]	'
Non-controlling Interest in VMware, Inc.	'
	Non-controlling Interests
	The non-controlling interests’ share of equity in VMware is reflected as non-controlling interests in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and was $1,323 million and $1,167 million as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. At September 30, 2013, EMC held approximately 97% of the combined voting power of VMware’s outstanding common stock and approximately 80% of the economic interest in VMware.
	The effect of changes in our ownership interest in VMware on our equity was as follows (table in millions):
		For the Nine Months Ended
		September 30,			September 30,
		2013			2012
	Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	$	1,867		$	1,863
	Transfers (to) from the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.:
	Increase in EMC Corporation’s additional paid-in-capital for VMware’s equity issuances	90			117
	Decrease in EMC Corporation’s additional paid-in-capital for VMware’s other equity activity	(426		)	(392		)
	Net transfers (to) from non-controlling interest	(336		)	(275		)
	Change from net income attributable to EMC Corporation and transfers from the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.	$	1,531		$	1,588
	The non-controlling interests' share of equity in Pivotal is reflected as a component of the non-controlling interests in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as $105 million and $0 million at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. At September 30, 2013, EMC consolidated held approximately 84% of the economic interest in Pivotal. GE's interest in Pivotal is in the form of a preferred equity instrument. Consequently, there is no net income attributable to non-controlling interest related to Pivotal on the consolidated income statements. Additionally, due to the terms of the preferred instrument, GE's non-controlling interest on the consolidated balance sheets is generally not impacted by Pivotal's equity related activity. The preferred equity instrument is convertible into common shares at GE’s election at any time.

Business_Combinations_Intangib

Business Combinations, Intangibles and Goodwill	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Business Combination, Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Business Combinations, Intangibles and Goodwill	'
	Business Combinations, Intangibles and Goodwill
	During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, EMC acquired five companies. We acquired substantially all of the outstanding capital stock of Adaptivity, Inc., a provider of software solutions that automate and accelerate enterprise IT migration to the Cloud and ScaleIO, a provider of server-side storage software. These acquisitions complement and expand our Information Storage segment. A member of our board of directors is an investor in a limited partnership which held an equity interest in ScaleIO.  The director did not participate in any votes of the board of directors or any committee thereof approving the acquisition, and the terms of the acquisition were negotiated at arms' length.
	We also acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of Sitrof Technologies, a document management consultancy provider which complements and expands our Information Intelligence Group segment. We acquired Aveksa, Inc., a provider of Cloud-based identity and access management solutions and PassBan Corporation, a developer of mobile and Cloud-based multi-factor authentication technology. These acquisitions complement and expand our RSA Information Security segment.
	Additionally, during the nine months ended September 30, 2013, VMware acquired Virsto Software, a provider of software that optimizes storage performance and utilization in virtual environments.
	The aggregate consideration for these six acquisitions was $616 million, net of cash acquired. The consideration paid was allocated to the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on estimated fair values as of the respective acquisition dates. The aggregate allocation to goodwill, intangibles and net liabilities was approximately $490 million, $137 million and $11 million, respectively. The intangible assets are being amortized based upon the pattern in which the economic benefits of the intangible assets are being utilized. The results of these acquisitions have been included in the consolidated financial statements from the date of purchase. Pro forma results of operations have not been presented as the results of the acquired companies were not material to our consolidated results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 or 2012.
	Intangible Assets
	Intangible assets, excluding goodwill, as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 consist of (tables in millions):
		September 30, 2013
		Gross Carrying			Accumulated			Net Book Value
		Amount			Amortization
	Purchased technology	$	2,327		$	(1,373	)	$	954
	Patents	225			(98		)	127
	Software licenses	100			(90		)	10
	Trademarks and tradenames	171			(114		)	57
	Customer relationships and customer lists	1,370			(822		)	548
	Leasehold interest	145			(10		)	135
	Other	27			(27		)	—
	Total intangible assets, excluding goodwill	$	4,365		$	(2,534	)	$	1,831
		December 31, 2012
		Gross Carrying			Accumulated			Net Book Value
		Amount			Amortization
	Purchased technology	$	2,233		$	(1,207	)	$	1,026
	Patents	225			(87		)	138
	Software licenses	96			(88		)	8
	Trademarks and tradenames	173			(102		)	71
	Customer relationships and customer lists	1,378			(724		)	654
	Leasehold interest	145			(7		)	138
	Other	26			(26		)	—
	Total intangible assets, excluding goodwill	$	4,276		$	(2,241	)	$	2,035
	Goodwill
	Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill, net, on a consolidated basis and by segment, for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and the year ended December 31, 2012 consist of (tables in millions):
		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
		Information			Information			RSA			Pivotal		VMware			Total
		Storage			Intelligence			Information					Virtual
					Group			Security					Infrastructure
	Balance, beginning of the period	$	7,442		$	1,484		$	2,022		$	—	$	2,892		$	13,840
	Goodwill resulting from acquisitions	146			1			181			—		162			490
	Finalization of purchase price allocations and other, net	(1		)	2			(1		)	—		(24		)	(24		)
	Goodwill transferred in formation of Pivotal	(112		)	—			—			140		(28		)	—
	Balance, end of the period	$	7,475		$	1,487		$	2,202		$	140	$	3,002		$	14,306
		Year Ended December 31, 2012
		Information			Information			RSA			Pivotal		VMware			Total
		Storage			Intelligence			Information					Virtual
					Group			Security					Infrastructure
	Balance, beginning of the year	$	7,034		$	1,469		$	1,849		$	—	$	1,803		$	12,155
	Goodwill resulting from acquisitions	438			15			179			—		1,092			1,724
	Finalization of purchase price allocations	(1		)	—			(6		)	—		(3		)	(10		)
	Goodwill de-recognized in divestiture of business	(29		)	—			—			—		—			(29		)
	Balance, end of the year	$	7,442		$	1,484		$	2,022		$	—	$	2,892		$	13,840
	During the second quarter of 2013, EMC and VMware formed Pivotal, with an investment from GE. As Pivotal is considered a separate reportable segment, the transfer of goodwill from the Information Storage and VMware Virtual Infrastructure segments to the newly formed Pivotal segment is shown in the current period rollforward. The amount of transferred goodwill was determined using the relative fair value method. See Note 15 for further discussion of the segment reclassifications.

Debt

Debt	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Debt Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Debt
	Long-Term Debt
	In June 2013, we issued $5.5 billion aggregate principal amount of senior notes (collectively, the "Notes"). The Notes pay a fixed rate of interest semi-annually in arrears with the first interest payment commencing on December 1, 2013. The proceeds from the Notes will be used to satisfy cash payment obligations at the maturity, or upon the conversion, of the outstanding 2013 Notes as well as for general corporate purposes including stock repurchases, dividend payments, working capital needs and other business opportunities. The Notes of each series are senior, unsecured obligations of EMC and are not convertible or exchangeable. Unless previously purchased and canceled, we will repay the Notes of each series at 100% of the principal amount, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, at maturity. However, EMC has the right to redeem any or all of the Notes at specified redemption prices. As of September 30, 2013, we were in compliance with all debt covenants, which are customary in nature.
	Our long-term debt as of September 30, 2013 was as follows (dollars in millions):
	Senior Notes		Issued at Discount		Carrying
			to Par		Value
	$2.5 billion 1.875% Notes due 2018		99.943	%	$	2,499
	$2.0 billion 2.650% Notes due 2020		99.76	%	$	1,995
	$1.0 billion 3.375% Notes due 2023		99.925	%	$	999
					$	5,493
	The unamortized discount on the Notes consists of $7 million, which will be fully amortized by June 1, 2023. The effective interest rate on the Notes was 2.5% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013.
	Convertible Debt
	In November 2006, we issued our $1.725 billion 1.75% convertible senior notes due 2011 (the “2011 Notes”) and our 2013 Notes for total gross proceeds of $3.5 billion. The 2013 Notes are senior unsecured obligations and rank equally with all other existing and future senior unsecured debt.
	The 2011 Notes matured and a majority of the noteholders exercised their right to convert the outstanding 2011 Notes at the end of 2011. Pursuant to the settlement terms, the majority of the converted 2011 Notes were not settled until January 9, 2012. At that time, we paid the noteholders $1.7 billion in cash for the outstanding principal and 30 million shares for the $661 million in excess of the conversion value over the principal amount, as prescribed by the terms of the 2011 Notes.
	At September 30, 2013, the 2013 Notes were fully convertible until maturity. Accordingly, since the terms of the 2013 Notes require the principal to be settled in cash, we reclassified to the mezzanine from shareholders’ equity the portion of the 2013 Notes attributable to the conversion feature which had not yet been accreted to its face value, and the 2013 Notes are classified as a current liability. Approximately $58 million of the 2013 Notes have been converted as of September 30, 2013.
	Upon conversion, we will pay cash up to the principal amount of the debt converted. With respect to any conversion value in excess of the principal amount of the 2013 Notes converted, we have the option to settle the excess with cash, shares of our common stock, or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock based on a daily conversion value, determined in accordance with the indenture, calculated on a proportionate basis for each day of the relevant 20-day observation period. The initial conversion rate for the 2013 Notes will be 62.1978 shares of our common stock per one thousand dollars of principal amount of 2013 Notes, which represents a 27.5% conversion premium from the date the 2013 Notes were issued and is equivalent to a conversion price of approximately $16.08 per share of our common stock. The conversion price is subject to adjustment in some events as set forth in the indenture. In addition, if a “fundamental change” (as defined in the indenture) occurs prior to the maturity date, we will in some cases increase the conversion rate for a holder of 2013 Notes that elects to convert its 2013 Notes in connection with such fundamental change.
	The carrying amount of the 2013 Notes reported in the consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2013 was $1,658 million and the fair value was $2,676 million. The carrying amount of the equity component of the 2013 Notes was $316 million at September 30, 2013. As of September 30, 2013, the unamortized discount on the 2013 Notes consists of $9 million, which will be fully amortized by December 1, 2013.
	The 2013 Notes pay interest in cash at a rate of 1.75% semi-annually in arrears on December 1 and June 1 of each year. The effective interest rate on the 2011 Notes and 2013 Notes was 5.6% for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012.
	The following tables represent the key components of our interest expense on convertible debt (tables in millions):
		For the Three Months Ended
		September 30,			September 30,
		2013			2012
	Contractual interest expense on the coupon	$	7		$	8
	Amortization of the discount component recognized as interest expense	17			15
	Total interest expense on the convertible debt	$	24		$	23
		For the Nine Months Ended
		September 30,			September 30,
		2013			2012
	Contractual interest expense on the coupon	$	22		$	22
	Amortization of the discount component recognized as interest expense	49			45
	Total interest expense on the convertible debt	$	71		$	67
	In connection with the issuance of the 2011 Notes and 2013 Notes, we entered into separate convertible note hedge transactions with respect to our common stock (the “Purchased Options”). The Purchased Options allow us to receive shares of our common stock and/or cash related to the excess conversion value that we would pay to the holders of the 2011 Notes and 2013 Notes upon conversion. The Purchased Options will cover, subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments, approximately 215 million shares of our common stock. We paid an aggregate amount of $669 million of the proceeds from the sale of the 2011 Notes and 2013 Notes for the Purchased Options that was recorded as additional paid-in-capital in shareholders’ equity. In the fourth quarter of 2011, we exercised 108 million of the Purchased Options in conjunction with the planned settlements of the 2011 Notes, and we received 30 million shares of net settlement on January 9, 2012, representing the excess conversion value of the options. The remaining 108 million of the Purchased Options expire on December 1, 2013.
	We also entered into separate transactions in which we sold warrants to acquire, subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments, approximately 215 million shares of our common stock at an exercise price of approximately $19.55 per share of our common stock. We received aggregate proceeds of $391 million from the sale of the associated warrants. Upon exercise, the value of the warrants is required to be settled in shares. Half of the associated warrants were exercised between February 15, 2012 and March 14, 2012 and the remaining half of the associated warrants have expiration dates between February 18, 2014 and March 18, 2014. During the first quarter of 2012, the exercised warrants were settled with 32 million shares of our common stock.
	The Purchased Options and associated warrants will generally have the effect of increasing the conversion price of the 2013 Notes to approximately $19.55 per share of our common stock, representing an approximate 55% conversion premium based on the closing price of $12.61 per share of our common stock on November 13, 2006, which was the issuance date of the 2013 Notes.
	Interest Rate Swap Contracts
	In 2010, EMC entered into interest rate swap contracts with an aggregate notional amount of approximately $900 million. These swaps were designated as cash flow hedges of the semi-annual interest payments of the forecasted issuance of ten year debt in 2011 when our 2011 Notes were scheduled to become due. As such, the unrealized loss on these hedges was recognized in other comprehensive loss. In November 2011, we settled the swaps and replaced them with new interest rate swap contracts for the forecasted issuance of debt in 2012. In April 2012, we settled the swaps and replaced them with new interest rate swap contracts for the forecasted issuance of debt in 2012. Each of these new swaps was deemed as an effective hedge as the notional amounts and other terms matched the underlying hedged item. Losses on the interest rate swap contracts at the time of settlement of $141 million in November 2011 and $23 million in April 2012 were deferred as they were expected to be realized over the life of the new debt issued under the related interest rate swap contracts and recognized as a component of interest expense in the consolidated income statements.
	In June 2012, management changed its forecast date for the issuance of debt from December 31, 2012 to the first quarter of 2014. Consequently, hedge accounting effectively ceased as the terms of the swaps no longer matched the terms of the underlying hedged item resulting in changes in the fair value of the swaps being recorded in the consolidated income statement. The swaps were subsequently re-designated as cash flow hedges and achieved hedge accounting. The change in the forecasted timeframe for the issuance of debt resulted in certain previously-anticipated hedge interest payments no longer being expected to occur within the window covered by the hedge designation. As a result, $40 million of accumulated realized losses in other comprehensive income related to these previously-anticipated interest payments were reclassified from other comprehensive income and recognized in the 2012 consolidated income statements.
	In July 2012, we settled the interest rate swap contracts and did not replace them. Losses on the interest rate swap contracts at the time of settlement of $46 million were deferred as they are expected to be realized over the life of the new debt issued under the related interest rate swap contracts and recognized as a component of interest expense in the consolidated income statements.
	At September 30, 2013, we had $177 million of accumulated realized losses related to the settled swaps in accumulated other comprehensive income which will be realized during the life of our ten year Notes. These losses will be reclassified from other comprehensive income and recognized on a straight-line basis in the consolidated income statements as interest expense beginning in the third quarter of 2014.

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Assets

Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities	'
	5.  Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities
	Our fixed income and equity investments are classified as available for sale and recorded at their fair market values. We determine fair value using the following hierarchy:
	•	Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
	•	Level 2 – Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
	•	Level 3 – Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.
	Most of our fixed income securities are classified as Level 2, with the exception of some of our U.S. government and agency obligations and our investments in publicly traded equity securities, which are classified as Level 1, and all of our auction rate securities, which are classified as Level 3. In addition, our strategic investments held at cost are classified as Level 3. At September 30, 2013, the vast majority of our Level 2 securities were priced by pricing vendors. These pricing vendors utilize the most recent observable market information in pricing these securities or, if specific prices are not available for these securities, use other observable inputs like market transactions involving identical or comparable securities. In the event observable inputs are not available, we assess other factors to determine the security’s market value, including broker quotes or model valuations. Each month, we perform independent price verifications of all of our fixed income holdings. In the event a price fails a pre-established tolerance check, it is researched so that we can assess the cause of the variance to determine what we believe is the appropriate fair market value.
	In general, investments with remaining effective maturities of 12 months or less from the balance sheet date are classified as short-term investments. Investments with remaining effective maturities of more than 12 months from the balance sheet date are classified as long-term investments. Our publicly traded equity securities are classified as long-term investments and our strategic investments held at cost are classified as other assets. As a result of the lack of liquidity for auction rate securities, we have classified these as long-term investments as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012. At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, all of our short- and long-term investments, excluding auction rate securities, were recognized at fair value, which was determined based upon observable inputs from our pricing vendors for identical or similar assets. At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, auction rate securities were valued using a discounted cash flow model.
	The following tables summarize the composition of our short- and long-term investments at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 (tables in millions):
		September 30, 2013
		Amortized			Unrealized			Unrealized			Aggregate
		Cost			Gains			(Losses)			Fair Value
	U.S. government and agency obligations	$	4,505		$	6		$	(3	)	$	4,508
	U.S. corporate debt securities	2,106			6			(3		)	2,109
	High yield corporate debt securities	526			17			(7		)	536
	Asset-backed securities	5			—			—			5
	Municipal obligations	939			3			(1		)	941
	Auction rate securities	72			—			(5		)	67
	Foreign debt securities	2,037			5			(3		)	2,039
	Total fixed income securities	10,190			37			(22		)	10,205
	Publicly traded equity securities	78			28			—			106
	Total	$	10,268		$	65		$	(22	)	$	10,311
	We held approximately $2.0 billion in foreign debt securities at September 30, 2013. These securities have an average credit rating of A+, and approximately 4% of these securities are deemed sovereign debt with an average credit rating of AA+. None of the securities deemed sovereign debt are from Greece, Italy, Ireland, Portugal, Spain or Cyprus.
		December 31, 2012
		Amortized			Unrealized			Unrealized			Aggregate
		Cost			Gains			(Losses)			Fair Value
	U.S. government and agency obligations	$	2,191		$	10		$	(1	)	$	2,200
	U.S. corporate debt securities	1,480			10			—			1,490
	High yield corporate debt securities	486			34			(1		)	519
	Asset-backed securities	2			—			—			2
	Municipal obligations	1,032			3			—			1,035
	Auction rate securities	74			—			(4		)	70
	Foreign debt securities	1,270			9			—			1,279
	Total fixed income securities	6,535			66			(6		)	6,595
	Publicly traded equity securities	47			41			(1		)	87
	Total	$	6,582		$	107		$	(7	)	$	6,682
	The following tables represent our fair value hierarchy for our financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 (tables in millions):
		30-Sep-13
		Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
	Cash	$	1,611		$	—		$	—		$	1,611
	Cash equivalents	4,942			602			—			5,544
	U.S. government and agency obligations	2,201			2,307			—			4,508
	U.S. corporate debt securities	—			2,109			—			2,109
	High yield corporate debt securities	—			536			—			536
	Asset-backed securities	—			5			—			5
	Municipal obligations	—			941			—			941
	Auction rate securities	—			—			67			67
	Foreign debt securities	—			2,039			—			2,039
	Publicly traded equity securities	106			—			—			106
	Total cash and investments	$	8,860		$	8,539		$	67		$	17,466
	Other items:
	Strategic investments held at cost	$	—		$	—		$	378		$	378
	Investment in joint venture	—			—			34			34
	Convertible debt carried at discounted cost	—			(2,676		)	—			(2,676		)
	Long-term debt carried at discounted cost	—			(5,449		)	—			(5,449		)
	Foreign exchange derivative assets	—			41			—			41
	Foreign exchange derivative liabilities	—			(27		)	—			(27		)
		31-Dec-12
		Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
	Cash	$	1,454		$	—		$	—		$	1,454
	Cash equivalents	2,898			362			—			3,260
	U.S. government and agency obligations	1,327			873			—			2,200
	U.S. corporate debt securities	—			1,490			—			1,490
	High yield corporate debt securities	—			519			—			519
Asset-backed securities	—			2			—			2
Municipal obligations	—			1,035			—			1,035
Auction rate securities	—			—			70			70
Foreign debt securities	—			1,279			—			1,279
Publicly traded equity securities	87			—			—			87
Total cash and investments	$	5,766		$	5,560		$	70		$	11,396
Other items:
Strategic investments held at cost	$	—		$	—		$	364		$	364
Investment in joint venture	—			—			33			33
Convertible debt carried at discounted cost	—			(2,666		)	—			(2,666		)
Foreign exchange derivative assets	—			30			—			30
Foreign exchange derivative liabilities	—			(35		)	—			(35		)
Commodity derivative liabilities	—			(1		)	—			(1		)
Our auction rate securities are predominantly rated investment grade and are primarily collateralized by student loans. The underlying loans of all but two of our auction rate securities, with a market value of $16 million, have partial guarantees by the U.S. government as part of the Federal Family Education Loan Program (“FFELP”) through the U.S. Department of Education. FFELP guarantees at least 95% of the loans which collateralize the auction rate securities. We believe the quality of the collateral underlying most of our auction rate securities will enable us to recover our principal balance.
To determine the estimated fair value of our investment in auction rate securities, we used a discounted cash flow model using a five year time horizon. As of September 30, 2013, the coupon rates used ranged from 0% to 4% and the discount rate was 1%, which rate represents the rate at which similar FFELP backed securities with a five year time horizon outside of the auction rate securities market were trading at September 30, 2013. The assumptions used in preparing the discounted cash flow model include an incremental discount rate for the lack of liquidity in the market (“liquidity discount margin”) for an estimated period of time. The discount rate we selected was based on AA-rated banks as the majority of our portfolio is invested in student loans where EMC acts as a financier to these lenders. The liquidity discount margin represents an estimate of the additional return an investor would require for the lack of liquidity of these securities over an estimated five year holding period. The rate used for the discount margin was 1% at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 due to the narrowing of credit spreads on AA-rated banks during 2012 and into 2013.
The following table provides a summary of changes in fair value of our Level 3 auction rate securities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 (table in millions):
	For the Three Months Ended						For the Nine Months Ended
	30-Sep-13			30-Sep-12			30-Sep-13			30-Sep-12
Balance, beginning of the period	$	68		$	74		$	70		$	75
Calls at par value	—			—			(1		)	—
Other-than-temporary impairment loss	—			—			(1		)	(2		)
(Increase) decrease in previously recognized unrealized losses included in other comprehensive income	(1		)	1			(1		)	2
Balance, end of the period	$	67		$	75		$	67		$	75
Significant changes in the unobservable inputs discussed above could result in a significantly lower or higher fair value measurement. Generally, an increase in the discount rate, liquidity discount margin or coupon rate results in a decrease in our fair value measurement and a decrease in the discount rate, liquidity discount margin or coupon rate results in an increase in our fair value measurement.
In the fourth quarter of 2012, EMC and Lenovo formed a joint venture, LenovoEMC Limited, to provide NAS systems to small- and medium-sized businesses and distributed enterprise sites. EMC has a 49% ownership percentage of the joint venture. We account for our LenovoEMC joint venture using the fair value method of accounting. To determine the estimated fair value of our investment, we use a discounted cash flow model using a three year time horizon. The discount rate used was 6%, which represents the incremental borrowing rate for a market participant. The assumptions used in preparing the discounted cash flow model include an analysis of estimated Lenovo NAS revenue against a prescribed target as well as consideration of the purchase price put and call features included in the joint venture agreement. The put and call features create a floor and a cap on the fair value of the investment. As such, there is a limit to the impact on the fair value that would result from significant changes in the unobservable inputs.
The following table provides a summary of changes in fair value of our LenovoEMC joint venture for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 (table in millions):
	September 30, 2013
	Three Months Ended			Nine Months Ended
Balance, beginning of the period	$	34		$	33
Realized gain included in other income (expense)	—			1
Balance, end of period	$	34		$	34
The carrying value of the strategic investments held at cost were accounted for under the cost method. As part of our impairment review, we perform a fair value calculation of our strategic investments held at cost on a quarterly basis using the most currently available information. To determine the estimated fair value of private strategic investments held at cost, we use a combination of several valuation techniques including discounted cash flow models, acquisition comparables and trading comparables. In addition, we evaluate the impact of pre- and post-money valuations of recent financing events and the impact of those on our fully diluted ownership percentages, and we consider any available information regarding the issuer’s historical and forecasted performance as well as market comparables and conditions. The fair value of these investments is considered in our review for impairment if any events and changes in circumstances occur that might have a significant adverse effect on their value.
Investment Losses
Unrealized losses on investments at September 30, 2013 by investment category and length of time the investment has been in a continuous unrealized loss position are as follows (table in millions):
	Less Than 12 Months						12 Months or Greater						Total
	Fair			Gross			Fair			Gross			Fair		Gross
	Value			Unrealized			Value			Unrealized			Value		Unrealized
				Losses						Losses					Losses
U.S. government and agency obligations	$	787		$	(3	)	$	—		$	—		$	787	$	(3	)
U.S. corporate debt securities	823			(3		)	—			—			823		(3		)
High yield corporate debt securities	190			(7		)	—			—			190		(7		)
Municipal obligations	139			(1		)	—			—			139		(1		)
Auction rate securities	—			—			67			(5		)	67		(5		)
Foreign debt securities	805			(3		)	—			—			805		(3		)
Total	$	2,744		$	(17	)	$	67		$	(5	)	$	2,811	$	(22	)
For all of our securities for which the amortized cost basis was greater than the fair value at September 30, 2013, we have concluded that currently we neither plan to sell the security nor is it more likely than not that we would be required to sell the security before its anticipated recovery. In making the determination as to whether the unrealized loss is other-than-temporary, we considered the length of time and extent the investment has been in an unrealized loss position, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuers, the issuers’ credit rating, third party guarantees and the time to maturity.
Contractual Maturities
The contractual maturities of fixed income securities held at September 30, 2013 are as follows (table in millions):
	September 30, 2013
	Amortized			Aggregate
	Cost Basis			Fair Value
Due within one year	$	3,439		$	3,442
Due after 1 year through 5 years	5,707			5,718
Due after 5 years through 10 years	539			546
Due after 10 years	505			499
Total	$	10,190		$	10,205

Inventories

Inventories	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Inventories	'
	Inventories
	Inventories consist of (table in millions):
		September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Work-in-process	$	691	$	606
	Finished goods	684		595
		$	1,375	$	1,201

Accounts_and_Notes_Receivable_

Accounts and Notes Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Receivables [Abstract]	'
Accounts and Notes Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses	'
	Accounts and Notes Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses
	Accounts and notes receivable are recorded at cost. The portion of our notes receivable due in one year or less are included in accounts and notes receivable and the long-term portion is included in other assets, net on the consolidated balance sheets. Lease receivables arise from sales-type leases of products. We typically sell, without recourse, the contractual right to the lease payment stream and assets under lease to third parties. For certain customers, we retain the lease.
	The contractual amounts due under the leases we retained as of September 30, 2013 were as follows (table in millions):
	Year	Contractual Amounts
		Due Under Leases
	Due within one year	$	123
	Due within two years	81
	Due within three years	70
	Thereafter	2
	Total	276
	Less amounts representing interest	(5		)
	Present value	271
	Current portion (included in accounts and notes receivable)	130
	Long-term portion (included in other assets, net)	$	141
	Subsequent to September 30, 2013, we sold $56 million of these notes to third parties without recourse.
	We maintain an allowance for credit losses on our accounts and notes receivable. The allowance is based on the credit worthiness of our customers, including an assessment of the customer’s financial position, operating performance and their ability to meet their contractual obligation. We assess the credit scores for our customers each quarter. In addition, we consider our historical experience, the age of the receivable and current market and economic conditions. Uncollectible amounts are charged against the allowance account.
	In the event we determine that a lease may not be paid, we include in our allowance an amount for the outstanding balance related to the lease receivable. As of September 30, 2013, amounts from lease receivables past due for more than 90 days were not significant.
	The following table presents the activity of our allowance for credit losses related to lease receivables for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 (table in millions):
		For the Nine Months Ended
		September 30,			September 30,
		2013			2012
	Balance, beginning of the period	$	17		$	24
	Recoveries	(12		)	(16		)
	Provisions	3			9
	Balance, end of the period	$	8		$	17
	Gross lease receivables totaled $276 million and $329 million as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively, before the allowance. The components of these balances were individually evaluated for impairment and included in our allowance determination as necessary.

Property_Plant_and_Equipment

Property, Plant and Equipment	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment	'
	Property, Plant and Equipment
	Property, plant and equipment consist of (table in millions):
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Furniture and fixtures	$	215		$	197
	Equipment and software	5,804			5,345
	Buildings and improvements	1,991			1,873
	Land	121			121
	Building construction in progress	286			197
		8,417			7,733
	Accumulated depreciation	(5,044		)	(4,588		)
		$	3,373		$	3,145
	Building construction in progress at September 30, 2013 includes $74 million for facilities not yet placed in service that we are holding for future use.

Joint_Ventures

Joint Ventures	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]	'
Joint Ventures	'
	Joint Ventures
	We make investments in joint ventures. For each joint venture investment, we consider the facts and circumstances in order to determine whether it qualifies for cost accounting, equity accounting, fair value method accounting or whether it should be consolidated.
	In 2009, Cisco and EMC formed VCE Company LLC (“VCE”), with investments from VMware and Intel. VCE, through Vblock infrastructure platforms, delivers an integrated IT offering that combines network, computing, storage, management, security and virtualization technologies for converged infrastructures and cloud based computing models. As of September 30, 2013, we have contributed $976 million in funding and $16 million in stock-based compensation to VCE since inception and own approximately 58% of VCE’s outstanding equity.
	We consider VCE a variable interest entity. Authoritative guidance related to variable interest entities states that the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity must have both of the following characteristics: (a) the power to direct the activities of a variable interest entity that most significantly will impact the entity’s economic performance; and (b) the obligation to absorb losses that could be potentially significant to the variable interest entity or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the variable interest entity. Since the power to direct the activities of VCE which most significantly impact its economic performance are determined by its board of directors, which is comprised of equal representation of EMC and Cisco, and all significant decisions require the approval of the minority shareholders, we have determined we are not the primary beneficiary, and as such we account for the investment under the equity method.
	Our portion of VCE’s gains and losses is recognized in other expense, net, in the consolidated income statements. Our consolidated share of VCE’s losses, based upon our portion of the overall funding, was approximately 63% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012. As of September 30, 2013, we have recorded net accumulated losses from VCE of $713 million since inception, of which $75 million and $215 million were recorded in the three and nine months ending September 30, 2013, respectively, and $62 million and $177 million were recorded in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively.
	We recognized $131 million and $307 million in revenue from sales of product and services to VCE during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, and $65 million and $211 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively. We perform certain administrative services, pursuant to an administrative services agreement, on behalf of VCE and we pay certain operating expenses on behalf of VCE. Accordingly, we had a receivable from VCE related to the administrative services agreement of $47 million and $44 million as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively, included in other current assets in the consolidated balance sheets.

Accrued_Expenses

Accrued Expenses	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]	'
Accrued Expenses	'
	Accrued Expenses
	Accrued expenses consist of (table in millions):
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Salaries and benefits	$	961		$	1,018
	Product warranties	285			278
	Dividends payable (see Note 12)	208			—
	Partner rebates	174			187
	Restructuring, current (See Note 13)	87			76
	Derivatives	38			40
	Other	946			923
		$	2,699		$	2,522
	Product Warranties
	Systems sales include a standard product warranty. At the time of the sale, we accrue for systems’ warranty costs. The initial systems’ warranty accrual is based upon our historical experience, expected future costs and specific identification of systems’ requirements. Upon sale or expiration of the initial warranty, we may sell additional maintenance contracts to our customers. Revenue from these additional maintenance contracts is included in deferred revenue and recognized ratably over the service period. The following represents the activity in our warranty accrual for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 (table in millions):
		For the						For the
		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		September 30,			September 30,			September 30,			September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
	Balance, beginning of the period	$	291		$	262		$	278		$	255
	Provision	39			41			135			129
	Amounts charged to the accrual	(45		)	(38		)	(128		)	(119		)
	Balance, end of the period	$	285		$	265		$	285		$	265
	The provision includes amounts accrued for systems at the time of shipment, adjustments for changes in estimated costs for warranties on systems shipped in the period and changes in estimated costs for warranties on systems shipped in prior periods. It is not practicable to determine the amounts applicable to each of the components.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Income Taxes	'
	Income Taxes
	Our effective income tax rates were 22.1% and 19.1% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively. Our effective income tax rates were 22.0% and 23.0% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively. Our effective income tax rate is based upon estimated income before provision for income taxes for the year, composition of the income in different countries, and adjustments, if any, in the applicable quarterly periods for potential tax consequences, benefits and/or resolutions of tax audits or other tax contingencies. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, the effective income tax rate varied from the statutory income tax rate principally as a result of the mix of income attributable to foreign versus domestic jurisdictions, state taxes and the federal tax credit for increasing research activities. Our aggregate income tax rate in foreign jurisdictions is lower than our income tax rate in the United States; substantially all of our income before provision for income taxes from foreign operations has been earned by our Irish subsidiaries. We do not believe that any recent or currently expected developments in non-U.S. tax jurisdictions are reasonably likely to have a material impact on our effective income rate. On January 2, 2013, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 was signed into law. Some of the provisions were retroactive to January 1, 2012 including an extension of the U.S. federal tax credit for increasing research activities through December 31, 2013. Because the extension was enacted after December 31, 2012, our income tax provision for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 included the federal tax credit for increasing research activities for the full year 2012 as well as the nine months ended September 30, 2013, which reduced our effective tax rate for the nine month period. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, the effective income tax rate varied from the statutory income tax rate principally as a result of the mix of income attributable to foreign versus domestic jurisdictions.
	Our effective income tax rate decreased in the nine months ended September 30, 2013 from the nine months ended September 30, 2012 due primarily to the retroactive renewal of the U.S. federal tax credit for increasing research activities on January 2, 2013 as discussed above. The U.S. federal tax credit for increasing research activities reduced our effective income tax rate by approximately 4.4% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. There were also differences in the mix of income attributable to foreign versus domestic jurisdictions, state taxes, change in tax contingency reserves and discrete items, the net impact of which is immaterial. Our effective income tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2013 is consistent with our effective income tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2012 as a 3.0% favorable impact of U.S. federal tax credit for increasing research activities on our effective income tax rate is offset by a lower estimated Section 199 deduction and other differences between the two three-month periods.
	We are routinely under audit by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”). We have concluded all U.S. federal income tax matters for years through 2008. The IRS commenced a federal income tax audit for the tax years 2009 and 2010 in the third quarter of 2012. The current federal income tax audit is still in the early stage for information gathering and it is not expected to be completed until 2015. We also have income tax audits in process in numerous state, local and international jurisdictions. In our international jurisdictions that comprise a significant portion of our operations, the years that may be examined vary, with the earliest year being 2003. Based on the timing and outcome of examinations of EMC, the result of the expiration of statutes of limitations for specific jurisdictions or the timing and result of ruling requests from taxing authorities, it is reasonably possible that the related unrecognized tax benefits could change from those recorded in our statement of financial position. We anticipate that several of these audits may be finalized within the next twelve months. While we expect the amount of unrecognized tax benefits to change in the next twelve months, we do not expect the change to have a significant impact on our results of operations or financial position.

Stockholders_Equity

Stockholders' Equity	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]	'
Shareholders' Equity	'
	Shareholders’ Equity
	The reconciliation from basic to diluted earnings per share for both the numerators and denominators is as follows (table in millions):
		For the Three Months Ended							For the Nine Months Ended
		September 30,				September 30,			September 30,			September 30,
		2013				2012			2013			2012
	Numerator:
	Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	$	586			$	626		$	1,867		$	1,863
	Incremental dilution from VMware	(2		)		(2		)	(5		)	(7		)
	Net income – dilution attributable to EMC Corporation	$	584			$	624		$	1,862		$	1,856
	Denominator:
	Weighted average shares, basic	2,069				2,104			2,088			2,090
	Weighted common stock equivalents	29				38			29			42
	Assumed conversion of the 2013 Notes and associated warrants	67				68			59			75
	Weighted average shares, diluted	2,165				2,210			2,176			2,207
	Due to the cash settlement feature of the principal amount of the 2013 Notes, we only include the impact of the premium feature in our diluted earnings per share calculation when the 2013 Notes are convertible due to maturity or when the average stock price exceeds the conversion price of the 2013 Notes.
	Concurrent with the issuance of the 2011 Notes and 2013 Notes, we also entered into separate transactions in which we sold warrants to acquire, subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments, approximately 215 million shares of our common stock at an exercise price of approximately $19.55 per share of our common stock. Half of the associated warrants were exercised during the first quarter of 2012. We include the impact of the remaining outstanding sold warrants in our diluted earnings per share calculation when the average stock price exceeds the exercise price.
	Restricted stock awards, restricted stock units and options to acquire shares of our common stock in the amount of 1 million and 3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, and 5 million and 4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share because they were antidilutive. The incremental dilution from VMware represents the impact of VMware’s dilutive securities on EMC’s consolidated diluted net income per share and is calculated by multiplying the difference between VMware’s basic and diluted earnings per share by the number of VMware shares owned by EMC.
	Repurchase of Common Stock
	We utilize both authorized and unissued shares (including repurchased shares) for all issuances under our equity plans. Our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of 250 million shares of our common stock in April 2008 and an additional 250 million shares of our common stock in February 2013. For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, we spent $2.0 billion to repurchase 80 million shares of our common stock. Of the 500 million shares authorized for repurchase, we have repurchased 303 million shares at a total cost of $6.4 billion, leaving a remaining balance of 197 million shares authorized for future repurchases.  We plan to spend up to $3.5 billion by the end of the second quarter of 2014 and up to $6.0 billion by the end of 2015 on common stock repurchases.
	Cash Dividend on Common Stock
	In May 2013 and August 2013, our Board of Directors declared quarterly cash dividends of $0.10 per share of common stock. During the third quarter of 2013, EMC paid a cash dividend of $209 million. On October 23, 2013, EMC paid a cash dividend of $206 million to shareholders of record as of the close of business on October 1, 2013.
	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
	Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), which is presented net of tax, consist of the following (table in millions):
		Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments				Unrealized Net Gains on Investments			Unrealized Net Losses on Derivatives			Recognition of Actuarial Net Loss from Pension and Other Postretirement Plans			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Attributable to the Non-controlling Interest in VMware, Inc.			Total
	Balance as of December, 31 2012(a)	$	(9	)		$	64		$	(109	)	$	(153	)	$	(1	)	$	(208	)
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	(44		)		(30		)	6			—			1			(67		)
	Net losses (gains) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	—				(7		)	(9		)	—			—			(16		)
	Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)	(44		)		(37		)	(3		)	—			1			(83		)
	Balance as of September 30, 2013(b)	$	(53	)		$	27		$	(112	)	$	(153	)	$	—		$	(291	)
	__________________
	(a)	Net of taxes (benefits) of $37 million for unrealized net gains on investments, $(67) million for unrealized net losses on derivatives and $(87) million for actuarial net loss on pension plans.
	(b)	Net of taxes (benefits) of $17 million for unrealized net gains on investments, $(67) million for unrealized net losses on derivatives and $(87) million for actuarial net loss on pension plans.
	The amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 are as follows (tables in millions):
	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Components		Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income				Impacted Line Item on
							Consolidated Income Statements
	For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2013:
	Net gain on investments:		$	(1	)		Investment income
			—				Provision for income tax
	Net of tax		$	(1	)
	Net gain on derivatives:
	Foreign exchange contracts		$	(3	)		Product sales revenue
	Foreign exchange contracts		4				Cost of product sales
	Total net gain on derivatives before tax		1
			—				Provision for income tax
	Net of tax		$	1
	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Components		Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income				Impacted Line Item on
							Consolidated Income Statements
	For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013:
	Net gain on investments:		$	11			Investment income
			(4		)		Provision for income tax
	Net of tax		$	7
	Net gain on derivatives:
	Foreign exchange contracts		$	13			Product sales revenue
	Foreign exchange contracts		(2		)		Cost of product sales
	Total net gain on derivatives before tax		11
			(2		)		Provision for income tax
	Net of tax		$	9

Restructuring_and_AcquisitionR

Restructuring and Acquisition-Related Charges	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]	'
Restructuring and Acquisition-Related Charges	'
	Restructuring and Acquisition-Related Charges
	For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, we incurred restructuring and acquisition-related charges of $40 million and $195 million, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, we incurred restructuring and acquisition-related charges of $27 million and $81 million, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, EMC incurred $30 million and $116 million, respectively, of restructuring charges, primarily related to our current year restructuring programs and $4 million and $8 million, respectively, of charges in connection with acquisitions for financial advisory, legal and accounting services. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, VMware incurred $1 million and $54 million, respectively, of restructuring charges related to workforce reductions as part of its current year restructuring program and $1 million and $3 million, respectively, of charges in connection with acquisitions for financial advisory, legal and accounting services. In addition, VMware incurred $4 million and $14 million of impairment charges related to its business realignment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, we incurred $22 million and $71 million, respectively, of restructuring charges, primarily related to our 2012 restructuring programs and $5 million and $10 million, respectively, of costs in connection with acquisitions for financial advisory, legal and accounting services.
	In the first and third quarters of 2013, EMC implemented restructuring programs to create further operational efficiencies which will result in workforce reductions of approximately 1,000 and 525 positions, respectively. The actions will impact positions around the globe covering our Information Storage, RSA Information Security and Information Intelligence Group segments. All of these actions are expected to be completed within a year of the start of each program.
	In the first quarter of 2013, VMware approved and initiated a business realignment plan to streamline its operations. The plan included the elimination of approximately 725 positions across all major functional groups and geographies. Substantially all of the cash-related expenses incurred in connection with the business realignment plan have been paid as of September 30, 2013 and the remaining cash payments are expected to be fully paid out by the end of 2013.
	During 2012, we implemented separate restructuring programs to create further operational efficiencies which resulted in a workforce reduction of 1,163 positions, of which 298, 279 and 292 positions were identified in the first, second and third quarters of 2012, respectively. The actions impacted positions around the globe covering our Information Storage, RSA Information Security and Information Intelligence Group segments. All of these actions are expected to be completed by the end of 2013.
	For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, we recognized $2 million and $14 million, respectively, of lease termination costs for facilities vacated in the period in accordance with our plan as part of all of our restructuring programs and for costs associated with terminating other contractual obligations. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, we recognized $7 million and $15 million, respectively, of lease termination costs for facilities vacated in the period in accordance with our plan as part of all of our restructuring programs. These costs are expected to be utilized by the end of 2015.
	The activity for the restructuring programs is presented below (tables in millions):
	Three Months Ended September 30, 2013:
	2013 EMC Programs
	Category	Balance as of		2013			Utilization			Balance as of September 30, 2013
		June 30,		Charges
		2013
	Workforce reductions	$	45	$	28		$	(21	)	$	52
	Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations	2		1			(1		)	2
	Total	$	47	$	29		$	(22	)	$	54
	2013 VMware Programs
	Category	Balance as of		2013			Utilization			Balance as of September 30, 2013
		June 30,		Charges
		2013
	Workforce reductions	$	2	$	1		$	(2	)	$	1
	Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations	—		—			—			—
	Total	$	2	$	1		$	(2	)	$	1
	Other EMC Programs
	Category	Balance as of		Adjustments to the Provision			Utilization			Balance as of September 30, 2013
		June 30,
		2013
	Workforce reductions	$	29	$	—		$	(6	)	$	23
	Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations	27		1			(3		)	25
	Total	$	56	$	1		$	(9	)	$	48
	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013:
	2013 EMC Programs
	Category	Balance as of		2013			Utilization			Balance as of
		December 31,		Charges						30-Sep-13
		2012
	Workforce reductions	$	—	$	110		$	(58	)	$	52
	Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations	—		4			(2		)	2
	Total	$	—	$	114		$	(60	)	$	54
	2013 VMware Programs
	Category	Balance as of		2013			Utilization			Balance as of September 30, 2013
		December 31,		Charges
		2012
	Workforce reductions	$	—	$	54		$	(53	)	$	1
	Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations	—		—			—			—
	Total	$	—	$	54		$	(53	)	$	1
	Other EMC Programs
	Category	Balance as of		Adjustments to the Provision			Utilization			Balance as of September 30, 2013
		December 31,
		2012
	Workforce reductions	$	63	$	(8	)	$	(32	)	$	23
	Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations	28		10			(13		)	25
	Total	$	91	$	2		$	(45	)	$	48
	Three Months Ended September 30, 2012:
	2012 EMC Programs
	Category	Balance as of		2012			Utilization			Balance as of September 30, 2012
		June 30,		Charges
		2012
	Workforce reductions	$	34	$	17		$	(11	)	$	40
	Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations	3		8			(3		)	8
	Total	$	37	$	25		$	(14	)	$	48
	Other EMC Programs
	Category	Balance as of		Adjustments to the Provision			Utilization			Balance as of September 30, 2012
		June 30,
		2012
Workforce reductions	$	20	$	(1	)	$	(4	)	$	15
Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations	25		(2		)	(2		)	21
Total	$	45	$	(3	)	$	(6	)	$	36
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012:
2012 EMC Programs
Category	Balance as of		2012			Utilization			Balance as of September 30, 2012
	December 31,		Charges
	2011
Workforce reductions	$	—	$	63		$	(23	)	$	40
Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations	—		14			(6		)	8
Total	$	—	$	77		$	(29	)	$	48
Other EMC Programs
Category	Balance as of		Adjustments to the Provision			Utilization			Balance as of September 30, 2012
	December 31,
	2011
Workforce reductions	$	50	$	(7	)	$	(28	)	$	15
Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations	30		1			(10		)	21
Total	$	80	$	(6	)	$	(38	)	$	36
In connection with VMware's business realignment plan, in the three months ended September 30, 2013, VMware sold certain assets relating to a previous acquisition, Zimbra, in exchange for cash and equity resulting in a pre-tax gain of $12 million. During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, VMware recognized cumulative pre-tax gains of $44 million relating to the disposition of certain lines of business that were no longer aligned with VMware's core business priorities, including Zimbra. The gains recognized in connection with these dispositions were recorded to other expense, net on the consolidated income statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013.

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Commitments and Contingencies	'
	Commitments and Contingencies
	Litigation
	We are involved in a variety of claims, demands, suits, investigations and proceedings that arise from time to time relating to matters incidental to the ordinary course of our business, including actions with respect to contracts, intellectual property, product liability, employment, benefits and securities matters. As required by authoritative guidance, we have estimated the amount of probable losses that may result from all currently pending matters, and such amounts are reflected in our consolidated financial statements. These recorded amounts are not material to our consolidated financial position or results of operations and no additional material losses related to these pending matters are reasonably possible. While it is not possible to predict the outcome of these matters with certainty, we do not expect the results of any of these actions to have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition. Because litigation is inherently unpredictable, however, the actual amounts of loss may prove to be larger or smaller than the amounts reflected in our consolidated financial statements, and we could incur judgments or enter into settlements of claims that could adversely affect our operating results or cash flows in a particular period.

Segment_Information

Segment Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Segment Information	'
	Segment Information
	In the second quarter of 2013, we began managing the Company as three federated businesses: EMC Information Infrastructure, Pivotal and VMware Virtual Infrastructure. EMC Information Infrastructure operates in three segments: Information Storage, Information Intelligence Group and RSA Information Security while Pivotal and VMware Virtual Infrastructure each operate as single segments.
	On April 1, 2013, EMC and VMware formed Pivotal to build a new platform comprising next-generation data fabrics, application fabrics and a cloud-independent PaaS. EMC contributed substantially all assets and liabilities, including intellectual property and employees, related to its Greenplum and Pivotal Labs businesses. VMware contributed substantially all assets and liabilities, including intellectual property and employees, related to certain of its Cloud Application Platform products and services, including Cloud Foundry, Spring, Cetas, GemFire and other products from the VMware vFabric Suite. These contributions were recorded at the April 1, 2013 carrying value as this was a transaction with entities under common control.
	On May 8, 2013, General Electric Company ("GE") purchased 10% of Pivotal's outstanding equity for approximately $105 million. At September 30, 2013, EMC consolidated held approximately 84% of the economic interest in Pivotal.  GE's interest in Pivotal is in the form of a preferred equity instrument. Consequently, there is no net income attributable to non-controlling interest related to Pivotal on the consolidated income statements.
	Beginning in the second quarter of 2013, EMC began presenting Pivotal as a separate reportable segment. We recast the segment disclosures for the prior financial reporting periods to separately present the operations of the Pivotal segment which has resulted in the transfer of revenue, gross profit, operating expenses and operating income from the Information Storage and VMware Virtual Infrastructure segments to Pivotal. These changes had no impact on the previously reported financial results for the Information Intelligence Group or RSA Information Security segments. In addition, none of these changes impacted our previously reported consolidated financial statements.
	Our management measures are designed to assess performance of these reporting segments excluding certain items. As a result, the corporate reconciling items are used to capture the items excluded from the segment operating performance measures, including stock-based compensation expense and acquisition-related intangible asset amortization expense. Additionally, in certain instances, infrequently occurring gains or losses are also excluded from the measures used by management in assessing segment performance. Research and development expenses, selling, general and administrative expenses and restructuring and acquisition-related charges associated with the EMC Information Infrastructure business are not allocated to the segments within the EMC Information Infrastructure business, as they are managed centrally at the EMC Information Infrastructure business level. EMC Information Infrastructure and Pivotal have not been allocated non-operating income (expense), net and income tax expense as these costs are managed centrally at the EMC Corporate level. Accordingly, for the three segments within the EMC Information Infrastructure business, gross profit is the segment operating performance measure, while for Pivotal, operating income is the operating performance measure. The VMware Virtual Infrastructure amounts represent the revenues and expenses of VMware as reflected within EMC’s consolidated financial statements.
	Our segment information for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 is as follows (tables in millions, except percentages):
		EMC Information Infrastructure
		Information			Information			RSA			EMC			Pivotal			EMC Information Infrastructure plus Pivotal
		Storage			Intelligence			Information			Information
					Group			Security			Infrastructure
	Three Months Ended:
	September 30, 2013
	Revenues:
	Product revenues	$	2,415		$	32		$	120		$	2,567		$	35		$	2,602
	Services revenues	1,358			117			132			1,607			45			1,652
	Total consolidated revenues	3,773			149			252			4,174			80			4,254
	Gross profit	$	2,101		$	94		$	170		$	2,365		$	34		$	2,399
	Gross profit percentage	55.7		%	63.3		%	67.6		%	56.6		%	42.6		%	56.4		%
	Research and development										354			32			386
	Selling, general and administrative										1,114			43			1,157
	Restructuring and acquisition-related charges										—			—			—
	Total costs and expenses										1,468			75			1,543
	Operating income										$	897		$	(41	)	$	856
		EMC			VMware			Corp			Consolidated
		Information			Virtual			Reconciling
		Infrastructure plus Pivotal			Infrastructure			Items
					within EMC
	Three Months Ended
	September 30, 2013
	Revenues:
	Product revenues	$	2,602		$	563		$	—		$	3,165
	Services revenues	1,652			722			—			2,374
	Total consolidated revenues	4,254			1,285			—			5,539
	Gross profit	$	2,399		$	1,141		$	(98	)	$	3,442
	Gross profit percentage	56.4		%	88.8		%	—			62.1		%
	Research and development	386			208			92			686
	Selling, general and administrative	1,157			493			159			1,809
	Restructuring and acquisition-related charges	—			—			40			40
	Total costs and expenses	1,543			701			291			2,535
	Operating income	856			440			(389		)	907
	Non-operating income (expense), net	(106		)	7			12			(87		)
	Income tax provision	193			70			(82		)	181
	Net income	557			377			(295		)	639
	Net income attributable to the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.	—			(74		)	21			(53		)
	Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	$	557		$	303		$	(274	)	$	586
		EMC Information Infrastructure
		Information			Information			RSA			EMC			Pivotal			EMC Information Infrastructure plus Pivotal
		Storage			Intelligence			Information			Information
					Group			Security			Infrastructure
	Three Months Ended:
	September 30, 2012
	Revenues:
	Product revenues	$	2,420		$	50		$	106		$	2,576		$	23		$	2,599
	Services revenues	1,306			108			121			1,535			43			1,578
	Total consolidated revenues	3,726			158			227			4,111			66			4,177
	Gross profit	$	2,119		$	108		$	146		$	2,373		$	37		$	2,410
	Gross profit percentage	56.9		%	68.1		%	64.2		%	57.7		%	55.6		%	57.7		%
	Research and development										356			31			387
	Selling, general and administrative										1,079			38			1,117
	Restructuring and acquisition-related charges										—			—			—
	Total costs and expenses										1,435			69			1,504
	Operating income										$	938		$	(32	)	$	906
	EMC			VMware			Corp			Consolidated
	Information			Virtual			Reconciling
	Infrastructure plus Pivotal			Infrastructure			Items
				within EMC
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2012
Revenues:
Product revenues	$	2,599		$	485		$	—		$	3,084
Services revenues	1,578			616			—			2,194
Total consolidated revenues	4,177			1,101			—			5,278
Gross profit	$	2,410		$	975		$	(97	)	$	3,288
Gross profit percentage	57.7		%	88.6		%	—			62.3		%
Research and development	387			178			88			653
Selling, general and administrative	1,117			421			171			1,709
Restructuring and acquisition-related charges	—			—			27			27
Total costs and expenses	1,504			599			286			2,389
Operating income	906			376			(383		)	899
Non-operating income (expense), net	(63		)	9			(1		)	(55		)
Income tax provision	202			87			(104		)	185
Net income	641			298			(280		)	659
Net income attributable to the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.	—			(58		)	25			(33		)
Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	$	641		$	240		$	(255	)	$	626
	EMC Information Infrastructure
	Information			Information			RSA			EMC			Pivotal			EMC Information Infrastructure plus Pivotal
	Storage			Intelligence			Information			Information
				Group			Security			Infrastructure
Nine Months Ended:
September 30, 2013
Revenues:
Product revenues	$	7,444		$	115		$	317		$	7,876		$	82		$	7,958
Services revenues	4,019			343			395			4,757			136			4,893
Total consolidated revenues	11,463			458			712			12,633			218			12,851
Gross profit	$	6,408		$	290		$	471		$	7,169		$	86		$	7,255
Gross profit percentage	55.9		%	63.3		%	66.1		%	56.7		%	39.5		%	56.5		%
Research and development										1,094			87			1,181
Selling, general and administrative										3,305			119			3,424
Restructuring and acquisition-related charges										—			—			—
Total costs and expenses										4,399			206			4,605
Operating income										$	2,770		$	(120	)	$	2,650
	EMC			VMware			Corp			Consolidated
	Information			Virtual			Reconciling
	Infrastructure plus Pivotal			Infrastructure			Items
				within EMC
Nine Months Ended
30-Sep-13
Revenues:
Product revenues	$	7,958		$	1,577		$	—		$	9,535
Services revenues	4,893			2,112			—			7,005
Total consolidated revenues	12,851			3,689			—			16,540
Gross profit	$	7,255		$	3,292		$	(298	)	$	10,249
Gross profit percentage	56.5		%	89.2		%	—			62		%
Research and development	1,181			606			269			2,056
Selling, general and administrative	3,424			1,432			452			5,308
Restructuring and acquisition-related charges	—			—			195			195
Total costs and expenses	4,605			2,038			916			7,559
Operating income	2,650			1,254			(1,214		)	2,690
Non-operating income (expense), net	(256		)	14			29			(213		)
Income tax provision	595			247			(368		)	474
Net income	1,799			1,021			(817		)	2,003
Net income attributable to the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.	—			(202		)	66			(136		)
Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	$	1,799		$	819		$	(751	)	$	1,867
	EMC Information Infrastructure
	Information			Information			RSA			EMC			Pivotal			EMC Information Infrastructure plus Pivotal
	Storage			Intelligence			Information			Information
				Group			Security			Infrastructure
Nine Months Ended:
30-Sep-12
Revenues:
Product revenues	$	7,358		$	131		$	306		$	7,795		$	67		$	7,862
Services revenues	3,819			325			348			4,492			106			4,598
Total consolidated revenues	11,177			456			654			12,287			173			12,460
Gross profit	$	6,330		$	299		$	458		$	7,087		$	89		$	7,176
Gross profit percentage	56.6		%	65.6		%	70		%	57.7		%	51.8		%	57.6		%
Research and development										1,046			92			1,138
Selling, general and administrative										3,272			112			3,384
Restructuring and acquisition-related charges										—			—			—
Total costs and expenses										4,318			204			4,522
Operating income										$	2,769		$	(115	)	$	2,654
	EMC			VMware			Corp			Consolidated
	Information			Virtual			Reconciling
	Infrastructure plus Pivotal			Infrastructure			Items
				within EMC
Nine Months Ended
30-Sep-12
Revenues:
Product revenues	$	7,862		$	1,470		$	—		$	9,332
Services revenues	4,598			1,754			—			6,352
Total consolidated revenues	12,460			3,224			—			15,684
Gross profit	$	7,176		$	2,857		$	(285	)	$	9,748
Gross profit percentage	57.6		%	88.6		%	—			62.2		%
Research and development	1,138			517			241			1,896
Selling, general and administrative	3,384			1,230			462			5,076
Restructuring and acquisition-related charges	—			—			81			81
Total costs and expenses	4,522			1,747			784			7,053
Operating income	2,654			1,110			(1,069		)	2,695
Non-operating income (expense), net	(140		)	20			(11		)	(131		)
Income tax provision	676			204			(290		)	590
Net income	1,838			926			(790		)	1,974
Net income attributable to the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.	—			(180		)	69			(111		)
Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	$	1,838		$	746		$	(721	)	$	1,863
Our revenues are attributed to the geographic areas according to the location of the customers. Revenues by geographic area are included in the following table (table in millions):
	For the Three Months Ended						For the Nine Months Ended
	September 30,			September 30,			September 30,			September 30,
	2013			2012			2013			2012
United States	$	2,956		$	2,886		$	8,752		$	8,376
Europe, Middle East and Africa	1,455			1,352			4,418			4,216
Asia Pacific and Japan	789			733			2,361			2,193
Latin America, Mexico and Canada	339			307			1,009			899
Total	$	5,539		$	5,278		$	16,540		$	15,684
No country other than the United States accounted for 10% or more of revenues during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 or 2012.
Long-lived assets, excluding financial instruments, deferred tax assets, goodwill and intangible assets, in the United States were $4,313 million at September 30, 2013 and $3,994 million at December 31, 2012. Internationally, long-lived assets, excluding financial instruments, deferred tax assets, goodwill and intangible assets, were $836 million at September 30, 2013 and $698 million at December 31, 2012. No country other than the United States accounted for 10% or more of total long-lived assets, excluding financial instruments and deferred tax assets, at September 30, 2013 or December 31, 2012.

Basis_of_Presentation_Basis_of

Basis of Presentation Basis of Presentation (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Nature of Operations [Policy Text Block]	'
	Company
	EMC Corporation (“EMC”) and its subsidiaries develop, deliver and support the Information Technology (“IT”) industry’s broadest range of information infrastructure and virtual infrastructure technologies, solutions and services.
	EMC’s Information Infrastructure business provides a foundation for organizations to store, manage, protect, analyze and secure their vast and ever-increasing quantities of information, improve business agility, lower cost of ownership and enhance their competitive advantage within traditional data centers, virtual data centers and cloud-based IT infrastructures. EMC’s Information Infrastructure business comprises three segments – Information Storage, RSA Information Security and Information Intelligence Group.
	EMC's GoPivotal, Inc. ("Pivotal") business was formed in the second quarter of 2013. Pivotal unites strategic technology, people and programs from EMC and VMware, Inc. ("VMware"), including Greenplum, Cloud Foundry, Spring, Cetas, Pivotal Labs, GemFire and other products from the VMware vFabric Suite. Pivotal is building a new platform comprising next-generation data fabrics, application fabrics and a cloud independent platform-as-a-service ("PaaS").
	EMC’s VMware Virtual Infrastructure business, which is represented by EMC’s majority equity stake in VMware, is the leader in virtualization infrastructure solutions utilized by organizations to help them transform the way they build, deliver and consume IT resources. VMware’s virtualization infrastructure solutions, which include a suite of products designed to deliver a software-defined data center, run on industry-standard desktop computers and servers and support a wide range of operating system and application environments, as well as networking and storage infrastructures.
General	'
	General
	The accompanying interim consolidated financial statements are unaudited and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information. These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of EMC, its wholly owned subsidiaries, as well as Pivotal and VMware, companies majority-owned by EMC. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated.
	Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in our annual consolidated financial statements have been condensed or omitted. Accordingly, these interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2012 which are contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 27, 2013.
	The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected for any future period or the entire fiscal year. The interim consolidated financial statements, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments necessary to fairly state the results as of and for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2012.
Net Income Per Share	'
	Net Income Per Share
	Basic net income per weighted average share has been computed using the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per weighted average share is computed using the weighted average number of common and dilutive common equivalent shares outstanding during the period. Common equivalent shares consist of stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units, our $1.725 billion 1.75% convertible senior notes due 2013 ("2013 Notes") and associated warrants. Additionally, for purposes of calculating diluted net income per weighted average share, net income is adjusted for the difference between VMware’s reported diluted and basic net income per weighted average share, if any, multiplied by the number of shares of VMware held by EMC.
Adjustments for Immaterial Prior Period Accounting Error	'
	Reclassifications
	Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current year's presentation. During the second quarter of 2013, EMC and VMware combined certain operations to form Pivotal, with a cash investment from General Electric Company ("GE"). Pivotal is considered a separate reportable segment. We recast the segment disclosures for the prior financial reporting periods to separately present the operations of the Pivotal segment. None of the segment reclassifications impact EMC's previously reported consolidated financial statements. See Note 15 for further discussion of the segment reclassifications.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	'
	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued new accounting guidance on the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits. This new guidance requires an entity to present an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, as a reduction to a deferred tax asset when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss or a tax credit carryforward exists, with limited exceptions. This new guidance is effective for the periods beginning after December 15, 2013, and should be applied prospectively with retroactive application permitted.  We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance, and do not expect it to have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
	In March 2013, the FASB issued guidance that requires a parent company to release any related cumulative translation adjustment into net income only if the sale or transfer results in the complete or substantially complete liquidation of the foreign entity in which the subsidiary or group of assets had resided. This new guidance is effective beginning after December 15, 2013.  We do not anticipate that the adoption of this new guidance will have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Noncontrolling_Interest_in_VMw1

Non-controlling Interest in VMware, Inc. (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]	'
Effect of Changes in Ownership Interest in VMware on Equity	'
	The effect of changes in our ownership interest in VMware on our equity was as follows (table in millions):
		For the Nine Months Ended
		September 30,			September 30,
		2013			2012
	Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	$	1,867		$	1,863
	Transfers (to) from the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.:
	Increase in EMC Corporation’s additional paid-in-capital for VMware’s equity issuances	90			117
	Decrease in EMC Corporation’s additional paid-in-capital for VMware’s other equity activity	(426		)	(392		)
	Net transfers (to) from non-controlling interest	(336		)	(275		)
	Change from net income attributable to EMC Corporation and transfers from the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.	$	1,531		$	1,588

Business_Combinations_Intangib1

Business Combinations, Intangibles and Goodwill (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Business Combination, Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Intangible Assets, Excluding Goodwill	'
	Intangible Assets
	Intangible assets, excluding goodwill, as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 consist of (tables in millions):
		September 30, 2013
		Gross Carrying			Accumulated			Net Book Value
		Amount			Amortization
	Purchased technology	$	2,327		$	(1,373	)	$	954
	Patents	225			(98		)	127
	Software licenses	100			(90		)	10
	Trademarks and tradenames	171			(114		)	57
	Customer relationships and customer lists	1,370			(822		)	548
	Leasehold interest	145			(10		)	135
	Other	27			(27		)	—
	Total intangible assets, excluding goodwill	$	4,365		$	(2,534	)	$	1,831
		December 31, 2012
		Gross Carrying			Accumulated			Net Book Value
		Amount			Amortization
	Purchased technology	$	2,233		$	(1,207	)	$	1,026
	Patents	225			(87		)	138
	Software licenses	96			(88		)	8
	Trademarks and tradenames	173			(102		)	71
	Customer relationships and customer lists	1,378			(724		)	654
	Leasehold interest	145			(7		)	138
	Other	26			(26		)	—
	Total intangible assets, excluding goodwill	$	4,276		$	(2,241	)	$	2,035
Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill	'
	Goodwill
	Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill, net, on a consolidated basis and by segment, for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and the year ended December 31, 2012 consist of (tables in millions):
		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
		Information			Information			RSA			Pivotal		VMware			Total
		Storage			Intelligence			Information					Virtual
					Group			Security					Infrastructure
	Balance, beginning of the period	$	7,442		$	1,484		$	2,022		$	—	$	2,892		$	13,840
	Goodwill resulting from acquisitions	146			1			181			—		162			490
	Finalization of purchase price allocations and other, net	(1		)	2			(1		)	—		(24		)	(24		)
	Goodwill transferred in formation of Pivotal	(112		)	—			—			140		(28		)	—
	Balance, end of the period	$	7,475		$	1,487		$	2,202		$	140	$	3,002		$	14,306
		Year Ended December 31, 2012
		Information			Information			RSA			Pivotal		VMware			Total
		Storage			Intelligence			Information					Virtual
					Group			Security					Infrastructure
	Balance, beginning of the year	$	7,034		$	1,469		$	1,849		$	—	$	1,803		$	12,155
	Goodwill resulting from acquisitions	438			15			179			—		1,092			1,724
	Finalization of purchase price allocations	(1		)	—			(6		)	—		(3		)	(10		)
	Goodwill de-recognized in divestiture of business	(29		)	—			—			—		—			(29		)
	Balance, end of the year	$	7,442		$	1,484		$	2,022		$	—	$	2,892		$	13,840

Debt_Tables

Debt (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Key Components of Convertible Debt	'
	Our long-term debt as of September 30, 2013 was as follows (dollars in millions):
	Senior Notes		Issued at Discount		Carrying
			to Par		Value
	$2.5 billion 1.875% Notes due 2018		99.943	%	$	2,499
	$2.0 billion 2.650% Notes due 2020		99.76	%	$	1,995
	$1.0 billion 3.375% Notes due 2023		99.925	%	$	999
					$	5,493
	The following tables represent the key components of our interest expense on convertible debt (tables in millions):
		For the Three Months Ended
		September 30,			September 30,
		2013			2012
	Contractual interest expense on the coupon	$	7		$	8
	Amortization of the discount component recognized as interest expense	17			15
	Total interest expense on the convertible debt	$	24		$	23
		For the Nine Months Ended
		September 30,			September 30,
		2013			2012
	Contractual interest expense on the coupon	$	22		$	22
	Amortization of the discount component recognized as interest expense	49			45
	Total interest expense on the convertible debt	$	71		$	67

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Assets1

Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Composition of Investments	'
	The following tables summarize the composition of our short- and long-term investments at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 (tables in millions):
		September 30, 2013
		Amortized			Unrealized			Unrealized			Aggregate
		Cost			Gains			(Losses)			Fair Value
	U.S. government and agency obligations	$	4,505		$	6		$	(3	)	$	4,508
	U.S. corporate debt securities	2,106			6			(3		)	2,109
	High yield corporate debt securities	526			17			(7		)	536
	Asset-backed securities	5			—			—			5
	Municipal obligations	939			3			(1		)	941
	Auction rate securities	72			—			(5		)	67
	Foreign debt securities	2,037			5			(3		)	2,039
	Total fixed income securities	10,190			37			(22		)	10,205
	Publicly traded equity securities	78			28			—			106
	Total	$	10,268		$	65		$	(22	)	$	10,311
		December 31, 2012
		Amortized			Unrealized			Unrealized			Aggregate
		Cost			Gains			(Losses)			Fair Value
	U.S. government and agency obligations	$	2,191		$	10		$	(1	)	$	2,200
	U.S. corporate debt securities	1,480			10			—			1,490
	High yield corporate debt securities	486			34			(1		)	519
	Asset-backed securities	2			—			—			2
	Municipal obligations	1,032			3			—			1,035
	Auction rate securities	74			—			(4		)	70
	Foreign debt securities	1,270			9			—			1,279
	Total fixed income securities	6,535			66			(6		)	6,595
	Publicly traded equity securities	47			41			(1		)	87
	Total	$	6,582		$	107		$	(7	)	$	6,682
Fair Value Hierarchy For Financial Assets And Liabilities Measured At Fair Value	'
	The following tables represent our fair value hierarchy for our financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 (tables in millions):
		30-Sep-13
		Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
	Cash	$	1,611		$	—		$	—		$	1,611
	Cash equivalents	4,942			602			—			5,544
	U.S. government and agency obligations	2,201			2,307			—			4,508
	U.S. corporate debt securities	—			2,109			—			2,109
	High yield corporate debt securities	—			536			—			536
	Asset-backed securities	—			5			—			5
	Municipal obligations	—			941			—			941
	Auction rate securities	—			—			67			67
	Foreign debt securities	—			2,039			—			2,039
	Publicly traded equity securities	106			—			—			106
	Total cash and investments	$	8,860		$	8,539		$	67		$	17,466
	Other items:
	Strategic investments held at cost	$	—		$	—		$	378		$	378
	Investment in joint venture	—			—			34			34
	Convertible debt carried at discounted cost	—			(2,676		)	—			(2,676		)
	Long-term debt carried at discounted cost	—			(5,449		)	—			(5,449		)
	Foreign exchange derivative assets	—			41			—			41
	Foreign exchange derivative liabilities	—			(27		)	—			(27		)
		31-Dec-12
		Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
	Cash	$	1,454		$	—		$	—		$	1,454
	Cash equivalents	2,898			362			—			3,260
	U.S. government and agency obligations	1,327			873			—			2,200
	U.S. corporate debt securities	—			1,490			—			1,490
	High yield corporate debt securities	—			519			—			519
	Asset-backed securities	—			2			—			2
	Municipal obligations	—			1,035			—			1,035
	Auction rate securities	—			—			70			70
	Foreign debt securities	—			1,279			—			1,279
	Publicly traded equity securities	87			—			—			87
	Total cash and investments	$	5,766		$	5,560		$	70		$	11,396
	Other items:
	Strategic investments held at cost	$	—		$	—		$	364		$	364
	Investment in joint venture	—			—			33			33
	Convertible debt carried at discounted cost	—			(2,666		)	—			(2,666		)
	Foreign exchange derivative assets	—			30			—			30
	Foreign exchange derivative liabilities	—			(35		)	—			(35		)
	Commodity derivative liabilities	—			(1		)	—			(1		)
		31-Dec-12
		Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
	Cash	$	1,454		$	—		$	—		$	1,454
	Cash equivalents	2,898			362			—			3,260
	U.S. government and agency obligations	1,327			873			—			2,200
	U.S. corporate debt securities	—			1,490			—			1,490
	High yield corporate debt securities	—			519			—			519
	Asset-backed securities	—			2			—			2
	Municipal obligations	—			1,035			—			1,035
	Auction rate securities	—			—			70			70
	Foreign debt securities	—			1,279			—			1,279
	Publicly traded equity securities	87			—			—			87
	Total cash and investments	$	5,766		$	5,560		$	70		$	11,396
	Other items:
	Strategic investments held at cost	$	—		$	—		$	364		$	364
	Investment in joint venture	—			—			33			33
	Convertible debt carried at discounted cost	—			(2,666		)	—			(2,666		)
	Foreign exchange derivative assets	—			30			—			30
	Foreign exchange derivative liabilities	—			(35		)	—			(35		)
	Commodity derivative liabilities	—			(1		)	—			(1		)
Changes in Fair Value of Level 3 Financial Assets	'
	The following table provides a summary of changes in fair value of our LenovoEMC joint venture for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 (table in millions):
		September 30, 2013
		Three Months Ended			Nine Months Ended
	Balance, beginning of the period	$	34		$	33
	Realized gain included in other income (expense)	—			1
	Balance, end of period	$	34		$	34
	The following table provides a summary of changes in fair value of our Level 3 auction rate securities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 (table in millions):
		For the Three Months Ended						For the Nine Months Ended
		30-Sep-13			30-Sep-12			30-Sep-13			30-Sep-12
	Balance, beginning of the period	$	68		$	74		$	70		$	75
	Calls at par value	—			—			(1		)	—
	Other-than-temporary impairment loss	—			—			(1		)	(2		)
	(Increase) decrease in previously recognized unrealized losses included in other comprehensive income	(1		)	1			(1		)	2
	Balance, end of the period	$	67		$	75		$	67		$	75
Unrealized Losses on Investments by Investment Category and Length of Time in Continuous Unrealized Loss Position	'
	Unrealized losses on investments at September 30, 2013 by investment category and length of time the investment has been in a continuous unrealized loss position are as follows (table in millions):
		Less Than 12 Months						12 Months or Greater						Total
		Fair			Gross			Fair			Gross			Fair		Gross
		Value			Unrealized			Value			Unrealized			Value		Unrealized
					Losses						Losses					Losses
	U.S. government and agency obligations	$	787		$	(3	)	$	—		$	—		$	787	$	(3	)
	U.S. corporate debt securities	823			(3		)	—			—			823		(3		)
	High yield corporate debt securities	190			(7		)	—			—			190		(7		)
	Municipal obligations	139			(1		)	—			—			139		(1		)
	Auction rate securities	—			—			67			(5		)	67		(5		)
	Foreign debt securities	805			(3		)	—			—			805		(3		)
	Total	$	2,744		$	(17	)	$	67		$	(5	)	$	2,811	$	(22	)
Contractual Maturities of Investments	'
	The contractual maturities of fixed income securities held at September 30, 2013 are as follows (table in millions):
		September 30, 2013
		Amortized			Aggregate
		Cost Basis			Fair Value
	Due within one year	$	3,439		$	3,442
	Due after 1 year through 5 years	5,707			5,718
	Due after 5 years through 10 years	539			546
	Due after 10 years	505			499
	Total	$	10,190		$	10,205

Inventories_Tables

Inventories (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Components of Inventories	'
	Inventories consist of (table in millions):
		September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Work-in-process	$	691	$	606
	Finished goods	684		595
		$	1,375	$	1,201

Accounts_and_Notes_Receivable_1

Accounts and Notes Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Receivables [Abstract]	'
Contractual Amounts Due Under Leases	'
	The contractual amounts due under the leases we retained as of September 30, 2013 were as follows (table in millions):
	Year	Contractual Amounts
		Due Under Leases
	Due within one year	$	123
	Due within two years	81
	Due within three years	70
	Thereafter	2
	Total	276
	Less amounts representing interest	(5		)
	Present value	271
	Current portion (included in accounts and notes receivable)	130
	Long-term portion (included in other assets, net)	$	141
Allowance for Credit Losses	'
	The following table presents the activity of our allowance for credit losses related to lease receivables for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 (table in millions):
		For the Nine Months Ended
		September 30,			September 30,
		2013			2012
	Balance, beginning of the period	$	17		$	24
	Recoveries	(12		)	(16		)
	Provisions	3			9
	Balance, end of the period	$	8		$	17

Property_Plant_and_Equipment_T

Property, Plant and Equipment (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]	'
Components of Property, Plant and Equipment	'
	Property, plant and equipment consist of (table in millions):
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Furniture and fixtures	$	215		$	197
	Equipment and software	5,804			5,345
	Buildings and improvements	1,991			1,873
	Land	121			121
	Building construction in progress	286			197
		8,417			7,733
	Accumulated depreciation	(5,044		)	(4,588		)
		$	3,373		$	3,145

Accrued_Expenses_Tables

Accrued Expenses (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]	'
Components of Accrued Expenses	'
	Accrued expenses consist of (table in millions):
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Salaries and benefits	$	961		$	1,018
	Product warranties	285			278
	Dividends payable (see Note 12)	208			—
	Partner rebates	174			187
	Restructuring, current (See Note 13)	87			76
	Derivatives	38			40
	Other	946			923
		$	2,699		$	2,522
Activity in Warranty Accrual for Product Warranty	'
	The following represents the activity in our warranty accrual for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 (table in millions):
		For the						For the
		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		September 30,			September 30,			September 30,			September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
	Balance, beginning of the period	$	291		$	262		$	278		$	255
	Provision	39			41			135			129
	Amounts charged to the accrual	(45		)	(38		)	(128		)	(119		)
	Balance, end of the period	$	285		$	265		$	285		$	265

Stockholders_Equity_Tables

Stockholders' Equity (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]	'
Reconciliation from Basic to Diluted Earnings Per Share	'
	The reconciliation from basic to diluted earnings per share for both the numerators and denominators is as follows (table in millions):
		For the Three Months Ended							For the Nine Months Ended
		September 30,				September 30,			September 30,			September 30,
		2013				2012			2013			2012
	Numerator:
	Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	$	586			$	626		$	1,867		$	1,863
	Incremental dilution from VMware	(2		)		(2		)	(5		)	(7		)
	Net income – dilution attributable to EMC Corporation	$	584			$	624		$	1,862		$	1,856
	Denominator:
	Weighted average shares, basic	2,069				2,104			2,088			2,090
	Weighted common stock equivalents	29				38			29			42
	Assumed conversion of the 2013 Notes and associated warrants	67				68			59			75
	Weighted average shares, diluted	2,165				2,210			2,176			2,207
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	'
	Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), which is presented net of tax, consist of the following (table in millions):
		Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments				Unrealized Net Gains on Investments			Unrealized Net Losses on Derivatives			Recognition of Actuarial Net Loss from Pension and Other Postretirement Plans			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Attributable to the Non-controlling Interest in VMware, Inc.			Total
	Balance as of December, 31 2012(a)	$	(9	)		$	64		$	(109	)	$	(153	)	$	(1	)	$	(208	)
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	(44		)		(30		)	6			—			1			(67		)
	Net losses (gains) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	—				(7		)	(9		)	—			—			(16		)
	Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)	(44		)		(37		)	(3		)	—			1			(83		)
	Balance as of September 30, 2013(b)	$	(53	)		$	27		$	(112	)	$	(153	)	$	—		$	(291	)
	__________________
	(a)	Net of taxes (benefits) of $37 million for unrealized net gains on investments, $(67) million for unrealized net losses on derivatives and $(87) million for actuarial net loss on pension plans.
	(b)	Net of taxes (benefits) of $17 million for unrealized net gains on investments, $(67) million for unrealized net losses on derivatives and $(87) million for actuarial net loss on pension plans.
Reclassification Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	'
	The amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 are as follows (tables in millions):
	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Components		Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income				Impacted Line Item on
							Consolidated Income Statements
	For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2013:
	Net gain on investments:		$	(1	)		Investment income
			—				Provision for income tax
	Net of tax		$	(1	)
	Net gain on derivatives:
	Foreign exchange contracts		$	(3	)		Product sales revenue
	Foreign exchange contracts		4				Cost of product sales
	Total net gain on derivatives before tax		1
			—				Provision for income tax
	Net of tax		$	1
	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Components		Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income				Impacted Line Item on
							Consolidated Income Statements
	For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013:
	Net gain on investments:		$	11			Investment income
			(4		)		Provision for income tax
	Net of tax		$	7
	Net gain on derivatives:
	Foreign exchange contracts		$	13			Product sales revenue
	Foreign exchange contracts		(2		)		Cost of product sales
	Total net gain on derivatives before tax		11
			(2		)		Provision for income tax
	Net of tax		$	9

Restructuring_and_AcquisitionR1

Restructuring and Acquisition-Related Charges (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]	'
Activity for the Restructuring Programs	'
	The activity for the restructuring programs is presented below (tables in millions):
	Three Months Ended September 30, 2013:
	2013 EMC Programs
	Category	Balance as of		2013			Utilization			Balance as of September 30, 2013
		June 30,		Charges
		2013
	Workforce reductions	$	45	$	28		$	(21	)	$	52
	Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations	2		1			(1		)	2
	Total	$	47	$	29		$	(22	)	$	54
	2013 VMware Programs
	Category	Balance as of		2013			Utilization			Balance as of September 30, 2013
		June 30,		Charges
		2013
	Workforce reductions	$	2	$	1		$	(2	)	$	1
	Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations	—		—			—			—
	Total	$	2	$	1		$	(2	)	$	1
	Other EMC Programs
	Category	Balance as of		Adjustments to the Provision			Utilization			Balance as of September 30, 2013
		June 30,
		2013
	Workforce reductions	$	29	$	—		$	(6	)	$	23
	Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations	27		1			(3		)	25
	Total	$	56	$	1		$	(9	)	$	48
	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013:
	2013 EMC Programs
	Category	Balance as of		2013			Utilization			Balance as of
		December 31,		Charges						30-Sep-13
		2012
	Workforce reductions	$	—	$	110		$	(58	)	$	52
	Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations	—		4			(2		)	2
	Total	$	—	$	114		$	(60	)	$	54
	2013 VMware Programs
	Category	Balance as of		2013			Utilization			Balance as of September 30, 2013
		December 31,		Charges
		2012
	Workforce reductions	$	—	$	54		$	(53	)	$	1
	Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations	—		—			—			—
	Total	$	—	$	54		$	(53	)	$	1
	Other EMC Programs
	Category	Balance as of		Adjustments to the Provision			Utilization			Balance as of September 30, 2013
		December 31,
		2012
	Workforce reductions	$	63	$	(8	)	$	(32	)	$	23
	Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations	28		10			(13		)	25
	Total	$	91	$	2		$	(45	)	$	48
	Three Months Ended September 30, 2012:
	2012 EMC Programs
	Category	Balance as of		2012			Utilization			Balance as of September 30, 2012
		June 30,		Charges
		2012
	Workforce reductions	$	34	$	17		$	(11	)	$	40
	Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations	3		8			(3		)	8
	Total	$	37	$	25		$	(14	)	$	48
	Other EMC Programs
	Category	Balance as of		Adjustments to the Provision			Utilization			Balance as of September 30, 2012
		June 30,
		2012
	Workforce reductions	$	20	$	(1	)	$	(4	)	$	15
	Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations	25		(2		)	(2		)	21
	Total	$	45	$	(3	)	$	(6	)	$	36
	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012:
	2012 EMC Programs
	Category	Balance as of		2012			Utilization			Balance as of September 30, 2012
December 31,		Charges
2011
Workforce reductions	$	—	$	63		$	(23	)	$	40
Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations	—		14			(6		)	8
Total	$	—	$	77		$	(29	)	$	48
Other EMC Programs
Category	Balance as of		Adjustments to the Provision			Utilization			Balance as of September 30, 2012
	December 31,
	2011
Workforce reductions	$	50	$	(7	)	$	(28	)	$	15
Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations	30		1			(10		)	21
Total	$	80	$	(6	)	$	(38	)	$	36

Segment_Information_Tables

Segment Information (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Segment Information	'
	Our segment information for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 is as follows (tables in millions, except percentages):
		EMC Information Infrastructure
		Information			Information			RSA			EMC			Pivotal			EMC Information Infrastructure plus Pivotal
		Storage			Intelligence			Information			Information
					Group			Security			Infrastructure
	Three Months Ended:
	September 30, 2013
	Revenues:
	Product revenues	$	2,415		$	32		$	120		$	2,567		$	35		$	2,602
	Services revenues	1,358			117			132			1,607			45			1,652
	Total consolidated revenues	3,773			149			252			4,174			80			4,254
	Gross profit	$	2,101		$	94		$	170		$	2,365		$	34		$	2,399
	Gross profit percentage	55.7		%	63.3		%	67.6		%	56.6		%	42.6		%	56.4		%
	Research and development										354			32			386
	Selling, general and administrative										1,114			43			1,157
	Restructuring and acquisition-related charges										—			—			—
	Total costs and expenses										1,468			75			1,543
	Operating income										$	897		$	(41	)	$	856
		EMC			VMware			Corp			Consolidated
		Information			Virtual			Reconciling
		Infrastructure plus Pivotal			Infrastructure			Items
					within EMC
	Three Months Ended
	September 30, 2013
	Revenues:
	Product revenues	$	2,602		$	563		$	—		$	3,165
	Services revenues	1,652			722			—			2,374
	Total consolidated revenues	4,254			1,285			—			5,539
	Gross profit	$	2,399		$	1,141		$	(98	)	$	3,442
	Gross profit percentage	56.4		%	88.8		%	—			62.1		%
	Research and development	386			208			92			686
	Selling, general and administrative	1,157			493			159			1,809
	Restructuring and acquisition-related charges	—			—			40			40
	Total costs and expenses	1,543			701			291			2,535
	Operating income	856			440			(389		)	907
	Non-operating income (expense), net	(106		)	7			12			(87		)
	Income tax provision	193			70			(82		)	181
	Net income	557			377			(295		)	639
	Net income attributable to the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.	—			(74		)	21			(53		)
	Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	$	557		$	303		$	(274	)	$	586
		EMC Information Infrastructure
		Information			Information			RSA			EMC			Pivotal			EMC Information Infrastructure plus Pivotal
		Storage			Intelligence			Information			Information
					Group			Security			Infrastructure
	Three Months Ended:
	September 30, 2012
	Revenues:
	Product revenues	$	2,420		$	50		$	106		$	2,576		$	23		$	2,599
	Services revenues	1,306			108			121			1,535			43			1,578
	Total consolidated revenues	3,726			158			227			4,111			66			4,177
	Gross profit	$	2,119		$	108		$	146		$	2,373		$	37		$	2,410
	Gross profit percentage	56.9		%	68.1		%	64.2		%	57.7		%	55.6		%	57.7		%
	Research and development										356			31			387
	Selling, general and administrative										1,079			38			1,117
	Restructuring and acquisition-related charges										—			—			—
	Total costs and expenses										1,435			69			1,504
	Operating income										$	938		$	(32	)	$	906
		EMC			VMware			Corp			Consolidated
		Information			Virtual			Reconciling
		Infrastructure plus Pivotal			Infrastructure			Items
					within EMC
	Three Months Ended
	September 30, 2012
Revenues:
Product revenues	$	2,599		$	485		$	—		$	3,084
Services revenues	1,578			616			—			2,194
Total consolidated revenues	4,177			1,101			—			5,278
Gross profit	$	2,410		$	975		$	(97	)	$	3,288
Gross profit percentage	57.7		%	88.6		%	—			62.3		%
Research and development	387			178			88			653
Selling, general and administrative	1,117			421			171			1,709
Restructuring and acquisition-related charges	—			—			27			27
Total costs and expenses	1,504			599			286			2,389
Operating income	906			376			(383		)	899
Non-operating income (expense), net	(63		)	9			(1		)	(55		)
Income tax provision	202			87			(104		)	185
Net income	641			298			(280		)	659
Net income attributable to the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.	—			(58		)	25			(33		)
Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	$	641		$	240		$	(255	)	$	626
	EMC Information Infrastructure
	Information			Information			RSA			EMC			Pivotal			EMC Information Infrastructure plus Pivotal
	Storage			Intelligence			Information			Information
				Group			Security			Infrastructure
Nine Months Ended:
September 30, 2013
Revenues:
Product revenues	$	7,444		$	115		$	317		$	7,876		$	82		$	7,958
Services revenues	4,019			343			395			4,757			136			4,893
Total consolidated revenues	11,463			458			712			12,633			218			12,851
Gross profit	$	6,408		$	290		$	471		$	7,169		$	86		$	7,255
Gross profit percentage	55.9		%	63.3		%	66.1		%	56.7		%	39.5		%	56.5		%
Research and development										1,094			87			1,181
Selling, general and administrative										3,305			119			3,424
Restructuring and acquisition-related charges										—			—			—
Total costs and expenses										4,399			206			4,605
Operating income										$	2,770		$	(120	)	$	2,650
	EMC			VMware			Corp			Consolidated
	Information			Virtual			Reconciling
	Infrastructure plus Pivotal			Infrastructure			Items
				within EMC
Nine Months Ended
30-Sep-13
Revenues:
Product revenues	$	7,958		$	1,577		$	—		$	9,535
Services revenues	4,893			2,112			—			7,005
Total consolidated revenues	12,851			3,689			—			16,540
Gross profit	$	7,255		$	3,292		$	(298	)	$	10,249
Gross profit percentage	56.5		%	89.2		%	—			62		%
Research and development	1,181			606			269			2,056
Selling, general and administrative	3,424			1,432			452			5,308
Restructuring and acquisition-related charges	—			—			195			195
Total costs and expenses	4,605			2,038			916			7,559
Operating income	2,650			1,254			(1,214		)	2,690
Non-operating income (expense), net	(256		)	14			29			(213		)
Income tax provision	595			247			(368		)	474
Net income	1,799			1,021			(817		)	2,003
Net income attributable to the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.	—			(202		)	66			(136		)
Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	$	1,799		$	819		$	(751	)	$	1,867
	EMC Information Infrastructure
	Information			Information			RSA			EMC			Pivotal			EMC Information Infrastructure plus Pivotal
	Storage			Intelligence			Information			Information
				Group			Security			Infrastructure
Nine Months Ended:
30-Sep-12
Revenues:
Product revenues	$	7,358		$	131		$	306		$	7,795		$	67		$	7,862
Services revenues	3,819			325			348			4,492			106			4,598
Total consolidated revenues	11,177			456			654			12,287			173			12,460
Gross profit	$	6,330		$	299		$	458		$	7,087		$	89		$	7,176
Gross profit percentage	56.6		%	65.6		%	70		%	57.7		%	51.8		%	57.6		%
Research and development										1,046			92			1,138
Selling, general and administrative										3,272			112			3,384
Restructuring and acquisition-related charges										—			—			—
Total costs and expenses										4,318			204			4,522
Operating income										$	2,769		$	(115	)	$	2,654
	EMC			VMware			Corp			Consolidated
	Information			Virtual			Reconciling
	Infrastructure plus Pivotal			Infrastructure			Items
				within EMC
Nine Months Ended
30-Sep-12
Revenues:
Product revenues	$	7,862		$	1,470		$	—		$	9,332
Services revenues	4,598			1,754			—			6,352
Total consolidated revenues	12,460			3,224			—			15,684
Gross profit	$	7,176		$	2,857		$	(285	)	$	9,748
Gross profit percentage	57.6		%	88.6		%	—			62.2		%
Research and development	1,138			517			241			1,896
Selling, general and administrative	3,384			1,230			462			5,076
Restructuring and acquisition-related charges	—			—			81			81
Total costs and expenses	4,522			1,747			784			7,053
Operating income	2,654			1,110			(1,069		)	2,695
Non-operating income (expense), net	(140		)	20			(11		)	(131		)
Income tax provision	676			204			(290		)	590
Net income	1,838			926			(790		)	1,974
Net income attributable to the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.	—			(180		)	69			(111		)
Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	$	1,838		$	746		$	(721	)	$	1,863
Revenues By Geographic Area	'
	Our revenues are attributed to the geographic areas according to the location of the customers. Revenues by geographic area are included in the following table (table in millions):
		For the Three Months Ended						For the Nine Months Ended
		September 30,			September 30,			September 30,			September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
	United States	$	2,956		$	2,886		$	8,752		$	8,376
	Europe, Middle East and Africa	1,455			1,352			4,418			4,216
	Asia Pacific and Japan	789			733			2,361			2,193
	Latin America, Mexico and Canada	339			307			1,009			899
	Total	$	5,539		$	5,278		$	16,540		$	15,684

Basis_of_Presentation_Addition

Basis of Presentation - Additional Information (Detail) (Convertible Senior Notes 2013, USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Nov. 13, 2006
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Convertible Senior Notes 2013	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Convertible senior notes included in calculation of net income per share	$1,725	$1,725
Convertible senior notes interest rate	1.75%	1.75%

Noncontrolling_Interest_in_VMw2

Non-controlling Interest in VMware, Inc. - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]	'	'
Non-controlling interest	$1,428	$1,167
VMware	'	'
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]	'	'
Percentage of ownership non-controlling interest	80.00%	'
Voting power of VMware's outstanding common stock	97.00%	'
Non-controlling interest	1,323	1,167
Pivotal	'	'
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]	'	'
Percentage of ownership non-controlling interest	84.00%	'
Non-controlling interest	$105	$0

Effect_of_Changes_in_Ownership

Effect of Changes in Ownership Interest in VMware on Equity (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	$586	$626	$1,867	$1,863
VMware	'	'	'	'
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	'	'	1,867	1,863
Increase in EMC Corporation’s additional paid-in-capital for VMware’s equity issuances	'	'	90	117
Decrease in EMC Corporation’s additional paid-in-capital for VMware’s other equity activity	'	'	-426	-392
Net transfers (to) from non-controlling interest	'	'	-336	-275
Change from net income attributable to EMC Corporation and transfers from the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.	'	'	$1,531	$1,588

Business_Combinations_Intangib2

Business Combinations, Intangibles and Goodwill - Additional Information (Details) (All 2013 Acquisitions [Member], USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013
	Entity
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Number of Businesses Acquired	6
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred	$616
Consideration of acquisitions allocated to goodwill	490
Consideration of acquisitions allocated to intangibles	137
Consideration of acquisitions allocated to net liabilities	$11
EMC	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Number of Businesses Acquired	5

Business_Combinations_Intangib3

Business Combinations, Intangibles and Goodwill - Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Schedule of Intangible Assets, Excluding Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Carrying Amount	$4,365	$4,276
Accumulated Amortization	-2,534	-2,241
Net Book Value	1,831	2,035
Purchased Technology	'	'
Schedule of Intangible Assets, Excluding Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Carrying Amount	2,327	2,233
Accumulated Amortization	-1,373	-1,207
Net Book Value	954	1,026
Patents	'	'
Schedule of Intangible Assets, Excluding Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Carrying Amount	225	225
Accumulated Amortization	-98	-87
Net Book Value	127	138
Software Licenses	'	'
Schedule of Intangible Assets, Excluding Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Carrying Amount	100	96
Accumulated Amortization	-90	-88
Net Book Value	10	8
Trademarks And Tradenames	'	'
Schedule of Intangible Assets, Excluding Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Carrying Amount	171	173
Accumulated Amortization	-114	-102
Net Book Value	57	71
Customer Relationships And Customer Lists	'	'
Schedule of Intangible Assets, Excluding Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Carrying Amount	1,370	1,378
Accumulated Amortization	-822	-724
Net Book Value	548	654
Leasehold Interest	'	'
Schedule of Intangible Assets, Excluding Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Carrying Amount	145	145
Accumulated Amortization	-10	-7
Net Book Value	135	138
Other Intangible Assets	'	'
Schedule of Intangible Assets, Excluding Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Carrying Amount	27	26
Accumulated Amortization	-27	-26
Net Book Value	$0	$0

Business_Combinations_Intangib4

Business Combinations, Intangibles and Goodwill - Goodwill (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Goodwill [Roll Forward]	'	'
Balance, beginning of the period	$13,840	$12,155
Goodwill resulting from acquisitions	490	1,724
Finalization of purchase price allocations and other, net	-24	-10
Goodwill transferred in formation of Pivotal	0	'
Goodwill de-recognized in divestiture of business	'	-29
Balance, end of the period	14,306	13,840
Information Storage	'	'
Goodwill [Roll Forward]	'	'
Balance, beginning of the period	7,442	7,034
Goodwill resulting from acquisitions	146	438
Finalization of purchase price allocations and other, net	-1	-1
Goodwill transferred in formation of Pivotal	-112	'
Goodwill de-recognized in divestiture of business	'	-29
Balance, end of the period	7,475	7,442
Information Intelligence Group	'	'
Goodwill [Roll Forward]	'	'
Balance, beginning of the period	1,484	1,469
Goodwill resulting from acquisitions	1	15
Finalization of purchase price allocations and other, net	2	0
Goodwill transferred in formation of Pivotal	0	'
Goodwill de-recognized in divestiture of business	'	0
Balance, end of the period	1,487	1,484
RSA Information Security	'	'
Goodwill [Roll Forward]	'	'
Balance, beginning of the period	2,022	1,849
Goodwill resulting from acquisitions	181	179
Finalization of purchase price allocations and other, net	-1	-6
Goodwill transferred in formation of Pivotal	0	'
Goodwill de-recognized in divestiture of business	'	0
Balance, end of the period	2,202	2,022
Pivotal	'	'
Goodwill [Roll Forward]	'	'
Balance, beginning of the period	0	0
Goodwill resulting from acquisitions	0	0
Finalization of purchase price allocations and other, net	0	0
Goodwill transferred in formation of Pivotal	140	'
Goodwill de-recognized in divestiture of business	'	0
Balance, end of the period	140	0
VMware Virtual Infrastructure Within EMC	'	'
Goodwill [Roll Forward]	'	'
Balance, beginning of the period	2,892	1,803
Goodwill resulting from acquisitions	162	1,092
Finalization of purchase price allocations and other, net	-24	-3
Goodwill transferred in formation of Pivotal	-28	'
Goodwill de-recognized in divestiture of business	'	0
Balance, end of the period	$3,002	$2,892

Debt_Key_Components_of_Longter

Debt Key Components of Long-term Debt (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
			Long-term Notes $2.5B	Long-term Notes $2.0B	Long-term Notes $1.0B	Long-term Notes $5.5B [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	1.00%	'	99.94%	99.76%	99.93%	'
Long-term Debt	$5,493	$0	$2,499	$1,995	$999	$5,493

Key_Components_of_Convertible_

Key Components of Convertible Debt (Detail) (Convertible Senior Notes 2011 and 2013, USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Convertible Senior Notes 2011 and 2013	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Contractual interest expense on the coupon	$7	$8	$22	$22
Amortization of the discount component recognized as interest expense	17	15	49	45
Total interest expense on the convertible debt	$24	$23	$71	$67

Debt_Additional_Information_De

Debt - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)

9 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2013

Nov. 13, 2006

Jan. 09, 2012

Nov. 30, 2006

Sep. 30, 2013

Jan. 09, 2012

Nov. 30, 2006

Nov. 30, 2006

Nov. 13, 2006

Mar. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2011

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2010

Jun. 30, 2013

Jul. 31, 2013

Apr. 30, 2012

Nov. 30, 2011

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Convertible Senior Notes 2013

Convertible Senior Notes 2013

Convertible Senior Notes 2013

Convertible Senior Notes 2011

Convertible Senior Notes 2011 and 2013

Convertible Senior Notes 2011 and 2013

Purchased Options

Purchased Options

Sold Warrants

Sold Warrants

Exercised Warrants

Long-term Debt

Group 1

Group 2

Interest Rate Swap

Long-term Debt

Interest Rate Swap

Interest Rate Swap

Interest Rate Swap

Interest Rate Swap

Interest Rate Swap

Purchased Options

Purchased Options

Senior Notes

'

'

$1,725,000,000

'

$1,725,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Proceeds from issuance of senior unsecured obligations

'

'

'

'

'

'

3,500,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Cash payment to noteholders for outstanding principal of converted Notes

'

'

'

'

'

1,700,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Shares issued to noteholders for the excess of the conversion value over the principal amount of converted Notes

'

'

'

'

'

30,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Value of the conversion value over the principal amount of converted Notes

'

'

'

'

'

661,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Observation period

'

'

'20 days

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Conversion rate for the 2013 Notes will be 62.1978 shares of our common stock per one thousand dollars of principal amount of 2013 Notes

'

'

62.1978

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Conversion premium

'

'

27.50%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Conversion price

'

'

$16.08

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Amount of converted Notes

'

'

58,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Convertible debt, carrying amount

'

'

'

1,658,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

5,500,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

Convertible debt, fair value

'

'

2,676,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Carrying amount of the equity component

'

'

316,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt Instrument, unamortized discount

'

'

9,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

7,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate During Period

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2.50%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Semi-annual interest rate

'

'

1.75%

'

1.75%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt Instrument, frequency of periodic payment

'

'

'semi-annually

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Effective interest rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

5.60%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Incremental common shares attributable to call options and warrants

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

215,000,000

215,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Aggregate amount paid for purchased options

0

70,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

669,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Purchased options exercised

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

108,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Purchased options shares received

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

30,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Purchased Options Remaining

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

108,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Common stock at an exercise price

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$19.55

$19.55

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Proceeds from issuance of warrants

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

391,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Shares issues for exercised warrants

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

32,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Conversion premium based on the closing price

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

55.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Closing price per share

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$12.61

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Aggregate notional amount of interest rate swap contracts designated as cash flow hedges

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

900,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

Realized loss on replaced interest rate swap contracts

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

46,000,000

23,000,000

141,000,000

'

'

Accumulated realized losses in other comprehensive income related to previously-anticipated interest payments reclassified from other comprehensive income and recognized in the consolidated income statements

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

40,000,000

'

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) related to realized losses on settled swaps

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$177,000,000

Composition_of_Investments_Det

Composition of Investments (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
US Government Agencies Debt Securities	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost	$4,505	$2,191
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Gains	6	10
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Losses	-3	-1
Available For Sale Securities Fair Value	4,508	2,200
Debt Securities	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost	10,190	6,535
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Gains	37	66
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Losses	-22	-6
Available For Sale Securities Fair Value	10,205	6,595
Publicly Traded Equity Securities	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost	78	47
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Gains	28	41
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Losses	0	-1
Available For Sale Securities Fair Value	106	87
Debt and Equity Securities	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost	10,268	6,582
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Gains	65	107
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Losses	-22	-7
Available For Sale Securities Fair Value	10,311	6,682
US Corporate Debt Securities	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost	2,106	1,480
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Gains	6	10
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Losses	-3	0
Available For Sale Securities Fair Value	2,109	1,490
High Yield Corporate Debt Securities	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost	526	486
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Gains	17	34
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Losses	-7	-1
Available For Sale Securities Fair Value	536	519
Asset-backed Securities	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost	5	2
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Gains	0	0
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Losses	0	0
Available For Sale Securities Fair Value	5	2
Municipal Obligations	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost	939	1,032
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Gains	3	3
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Losses	-1	0
Available For Sale Securities Fair Value	941	1,035
Auction Rate Securities	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost	72	74
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Gains	0	0
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Losses	-5	-4
Available For Sale Securities Fair Value	67	70
Foreign Debt Securities	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost	2,037	1,270
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Gains	5	9
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Losses	-3	0
Available For Sale Securities Fair Value	$2,039	$1,279

Fair_Value_Hierarchy_For_Finan

Fair Value Hierarchy For Financial Assets And Liabilities Measured At Fair Value (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Percentage of Loans Guaranteed	95.00%	'
Total cash and investments	$17,466	$11,396
Investment in joint venture, fair value	34	33
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	67	70
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	8,539	5,560
Investment in joint venture, fair value	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	8,860	5,766
Investment in joint venture, fair value	0	0
Convertible Debt	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Convertible debt	-2,676	-2,666
Convertible Debt | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Convertible debt	'	0
Convertible Debt | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Convertible debt	-2,676	-2,666
Convertible Debt | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Convertible debt	'	'
Long-term Debt [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term Debt	5,449	'
Long-term Debt [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term Debt	0	'
Long-term Debt [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term Debt	-5,449	'
Long-term Debt [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term Debt	0	'
Private Equity Securities [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	378	364
Private Equity Securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	378	364
Private Equity Securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	'	'
Private Equity Securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	'	'
Publicly Traded Equity Securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	106	87
Publicly Traded Equity Securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	'	'
Publicly Traded Equity Securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	'	'
Publicly Traded Equity Securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	106	87
Foreign Debt Securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	2,039	1,279
Foreign Debt Securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	'	'
Foreign Debt Securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	2,039	1,279
Foreign Debt Securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	'	'
Auction Rate Securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	67	70
Auction Rate Securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	67	70
Auction Rate Securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	'	'
Auction Rate Securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	'	'
Municipal Obligations	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	941	1,035
Municipal Obligations | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	'	'
Municipal Obligations | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	941	1,035
Municipal Obligations | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	'	'
Asset-backed Securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	5	2
Asset-backed Securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	'	'
Asset-backed Securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	5	2
Asset-backed Securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	'	'
High Yield Corporate Debt Securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	536	519
High Yield Corporate Debt Securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	'	'
High Yield Corporate Debt Securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	536	519
High Yield Corporate Debt Securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	'	'
US Corporate Debt Securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	2,109	1,490
US Corporate Debt Securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	'	'
US Corporate Debt Securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	2,109	1,490
US Corporate Debt Securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	'	'
US Government Agencies Debt Securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	4,508	2,200
US Government Agencies Debt Securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	'	'
US Government Agencies Debt Securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	2,307	873
US Government Agencies Debt Securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	2,201	1,327
Foreign Exchange Contract	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Foreign exchange derivative assets	41	30
Foreign exchange derivative liabilities	-27	-35
Foreign Exchange Contract | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Foreign exchange derivative assets	'	0
Foreign exchange derivative liabilities	'	0
Foreign Exchange Contract | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Foreign exchange derivative assets	41	30
Foreign exchange derivative liabilities	-27	-35
Foreign Exchange Contract | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Foreign exchange derivative assets	'	'
Foreign exchange derivative liabilities	'	'
Commodity Contract	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Commodity derivative liabilities	'	-1
Commodity Contract | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Commodity derivative liabilities	'	0
Commodity Contract | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Commodity derivative liabilities	'	-1
Commodity Contract | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Commodity derivative liabilities	'	'
Cash Equivalents	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	5,544	3,260
Cash Equivalents | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	'	'
Cash Equivalents | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	602	362
Cash Equivalents | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	4,942	2,898
Cash	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	1,611	1,454
Cash | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	'	'
Cash | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	'	'
Cash | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	$1,611	$1,454

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Assets2

Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
	Security
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	$3,442,000,000	$1,422,000,000
Number of Auction Rate Securities With Underlying Loans Which Have No Guarantees	2	'
Investment Holding Period	'5 years	'
Auction rate securities that have partial guarantees by the U.S. government, market value	0	'
Discount rate used to estimate fair value of investments	1.00%	'
The rate used for the discount margin to determine the estimated fair value of investment in auction rate securities	1.00%	1.00%
Percentage of Loans Guaranteed	95.00%	'
Minimum	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Coupon rate used to estimate fair value of invesments - Start Range	0.00%	'
Maximum	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Coupon rate used to estimate fair value of invesments - End Range	4.00%	'
US Government Agencies Debt Securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Available-for-sale Securities	4,508,000,000	2,200,000,000
US Corporate Debt Securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Available-for-sale Securities	2,109,000,000	1,490,000,000
High Yield Corporate Debt Securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Available-for-sale Securities	536,000,000	519,000,000
Municipal Obligations	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Available-for-sale Securities	941,000,000	1,035,000,000
Debt Securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Available-for-sale Securities	10,205,000,000	6,595,000,000
Foreign Debt Securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Available-for-sale Securities	2,039,000,000	1,279,000,000
Average credit rating	'A+	'
Foreign Sovereign Debt Securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Average credit rating	'AA+	'
Percentage of Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities	4.00%	'
Auction Rate Securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Available-for-sale Securities	$67,000,000	$70,000,000
Average credit rating	'AA	'
LenovoEMC	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Joint Venture, Ownership Interest Percentage	49.00%	'
Discount rate used to estimate fair value of investments	6.00%	'

Changes_In_Fair_Value_of_Level

Changes In Fair Value of Level 3 Financial Assets (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
LenovoEMC	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Balance, beginning of the period	$34	'	$33	'
Realized gain (loss) included in other income (expense)	0	'	1	'
Balance, end of the period	34	'	34	'
Auction Rate Securities	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Balance, beginning of the period	68	74	70	75
Calls at par value	0	0	1	0
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments	0	0	1	2
(Increase) decrease in previously recognized unrealized losses included in other comprehensive income	-1	1	-1	2
Balance, end of the period	$67	$75	$67	$75

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Assets3

Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities Unrealized Losses on Investments by Investment Category and Length of Time in Continuous Unrealized Loss Position (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]	'
Less Than 12 Months Fair Value	$2,744
Less than 12 Months Unrealized Losses	-17
12 Months or Greater Fair Value	67
12 Months or Greater Unrealized Losses	-5
Total Fair Value	2,811
Total, Gross Unrealized Losses	22
US Government Agencies Debt Securities	'
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]	'
Less Than 12 Months Fair Value	787
Less than 12 Months Unrealized Losses	-3
12 Months or Greater Fair Value	0
12 Months or Greater Unrealized Losses	0
Total Fair Value	787
Total, Gross Unrealized Losses	3
US Corporate Debt Securities	'
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]	'
Less Than 12 Months Fair Value	823
Less than 12 Months Unrealized Losses	-3
12 Months or Greater Fair Value	0
12 Months or Greater Unrealized Losses	0
Total Fair Value	823
Total, Gross Unrealized Losses	3
High Yield Corporate Debt Securities	'
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]	'
Less Than 12 Months Fair Value	190
Less than 12 Months Unrealized Losses	-7
12 Months or Greater Fair Value	0
12 Months or Greater Unrealized Losses	0
Total Fair Value	190
Total, Gross Unrealized Losses	7
Municipal Obligations	'
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]	'
Less Than 12 Months Fair Value	139
Less than 12 Months Unrealized Losses	-1
12 Months or Greater Fair Value	0
12 Months or Greater Unrealized Losses	0
Total Fair Value	139
Total, Gross Unrealized Losses	1
Auction Rate Securities	'
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]	'
Less Than 12 Months Fair Value	0
Less than 12 Months Unrealized Losses	0
12 Months or Greater Fair Value	67
12 Months or Greater Unrealized Losses	-5
Total Fair Value	67
Total, Gross Unrealized Losses	5
Foreign Debt Securities	'
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]	'
Less Than 12 Months Fair Value	805
Less than 12 Months Unrealized Losses	-3
12 Months or Greater Fair Value	0
12 Months or Greater Unrealized Losses	0
Total Fair Value	805
Total, Gross Unrealized Losses	$3

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Assets4

Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities Contractual Maturities of Investments (Detail) (Debt Securities, USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Debt Securities	'	'
Amortized Cost Basis	'	'
Due within one year	$3,439	'
Due after 1 year through 5 years	5,707	'
Due after 5 years through 10 years	539	'
Due after 10 years	505	'
Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost	10,190	6,535
Aggregate Fair Value	'	'
Due within one year	3,442	'
Due after 1 year through 5 years	5,718	'
Due after 5 years through 10 years	546	'
Due after 10 years	499	'
Available For Sale Securities Fair Value	$10,205	$6,595

Components_of_Inventories_Deta

Components of Inventories (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Work-in-process	$691	$606
Finished goods	684	595
Inventory, Net, Total	$1,375	$1,201

Contractual_Amounts_Due_under_

Contractual Amounts Due under Leases (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Receivables [Abstract]	'	'
Due within one year	$123	'
Due within two years	81	'
Due within three years	70	'
Thereafter	2	'
Total	276	329
Less amounts representing interest	-5	'
Present value	271	'
Current portion (included in accounts and notes receivable)	130	'
Long-term portion (included in other assets, net)	$141	'

Allowance_for_Credit_Losses_De

Allowance for Credit Losses (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Roll Forward]	'	'
Balance, beginning of the period	$17	$24
Recoveries	-12	-16
Provisions	3	9
Balance, end of the period	$8	$17

Accounts_and_Notes_Receivable_2

Accounts and Notes Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified			Future Period
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]	'	'	'
Gross lease receivables	$276	$329	'
Sales of leases to third parties without recourse	'	'	$56

Components_of_Property_Plant_a

Components of Property, Plant and Equipment (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	$8,417	$7,733
Accumulated depreciation	-5,044	-4,588
Property, plant and equipment, net	3,373	3,145
Furniture and Fixtures [Member]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	215	197
Assets Held For Future Use [Member]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Construction in Progress, Gross	74	'
Computer Equipment and Capitalized Software [Member]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	5,804	5,345
Building and Building Improvements [Member]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	1,991	1,873
Land [Member]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	121	121
Construction in Progress [Member]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	$286	$197

Joint_Ventures_Detail

Joint Ventures (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		66 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
			VCE Company LLC	VCE Company LLC	VCE Company LLC	VCE Company LLC	VCE Company LLC	Other Assets, Net	Other Assets, Net
								VCE Company LLC	VCE Company LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Accumulated stock-based compensation contributed to joint venture	'	'	'	'	'	'	$16	'	'
Consolidated ownership perentage of outstanding equity	'	'	58.00%	'	58.00%	'	'	'	'
Capital contribution	268	218	'	'	'	'	976	'	'
Consolidated share of losses	'	'	'	'	63.00%	'	'	'	'
Loss From VCE	'	'	75	62	215	177	713	'	'
Revenue recognized from sales to VCE	'	'	131	65	307	211	'	'	'
Receivable from joint venture	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$47	$44

Components_of_Accrued_Expenses

Components of Accrued Expenses (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Salaries and benefits	$961	'	$1,018	'	'	'
Product warranties	285	291	278	265	262	255
Dividends Payable	208	'	0	'	'	'
Partner rebates	174	'	187	'	'	'
Restructuring, current (see Note 13)	87	'	76	'	'	'
Derivatives	38	'	40	'	'	'
Other	946	'	923	'	'	'
Accrued Liabilities, Current, Total	$2,699	'	$2,522	'	'	'

Activity_in_Warranty_Accrual_f

Activity in Warranty Accrual for Product Warranty (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Movement in Standard Product Warranty Accrual [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Balance, beginning of the period	$291	$262	$278	$255
Provision	39	41	135	129
Amounts charged to the accrual	-45	-38	-128	-119
Balance, end of the period	$285	$265	$285	$265

Income_Taxes_Additional_Inform

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Effective income tax rates	22.10%	22.00%	19.10%	23.00%
Impact of the expiration of the U.S. federal research and development tax credit	3.00%	'	4.40%	'

Reconciliation_from_Basic_To_D

Reconciliation from Basic To Diluted Earnings Per Share for both Numerators and Denominators (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Numerator:	'	'	'	'
Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	$586	$626	$1,867	$1,863
Incremental dilution from VMware	-2	-2	-5	-7
Net income - dilution attributable to EMC Corporation	$584	$624	$1,862	$1,856
Denominator:	'	'	'	'
Weighted average shares, basic	2,069	2,104	2,088	2,090
Weighted common stock equivalents	29	38	29	42
Assumed conversion of the 2013 Notes and associated warrants	67	68	59	75
Weighted average shares, diluted	2,165	2,210	2,176	2,207

Stockholders_Equity_Additional

Stockholders' Equity - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)

1 Months Ended

2 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

18 Months Ended

36 Months Ended

60 Months Ended

63 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

Share data in Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified

Feb. 27, 2013

Jul. 23, 2013

Oct. 23, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Jun. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2015

Mar. 31, 2013

Jun. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2008

Nov. 30, 2006

Nov. 30, 2006

Sold Warrants

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax

'

'

'

($291,000,000)

'

($291,000,000)

'

'

'

'

'

($208,000,000)

'

'

'

Sold warrants to acquire shares of our common stock

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

215

Sold warrants to acquire shares of our common stock, exercise price per share

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

19.55

'

Common stock excluded from calculation of diluted earnings per share

'

'

'

1

5

3

4

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Repurchases of Common Stock, shares authorized to repurchase

'

'

'

500

'

500

'

'

'

'

'

'

250

'

'

Total Repurchases of Common Stock, shares

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

80

303

'

'

'

'

Total Repurchases of Common Stock

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2,000,000,000

6,400,000,000

'

'

'

'

Shares authorized for future repurchases

'

'

'

197

'

197

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Stock Repurchase Program, Additional Number of Shares Authorized to be Repurchased

250

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Plan to spend for the year on common stock repurchases

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3,500,000,000

6,000,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

Cash dividends declared per common share

'

'

'

$0.10

$0

$0.20

$0

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Cash Paid

'

$209,000,000

$206,000,000

'

'

($209,000,000)

$0

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net of Tax (Detail) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

In Millions, unless otherwise specified

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Accumulated Translation Adjustment

Accumulated Translation Adjustment

Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss)

Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss)

Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member]

Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member]

Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment

Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment

Non-controlling Interest in VMware

Non-controlling Interest in VMware

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Provision for income tax

$181

$185

$474

$590

'

'

'

$17

$37

($67)

($67)

($87)

($87)

'

'

Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net

-291

'

-291

'

-208

-53

-9

27

64

-112

-109

-153

-153

0

-1

Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications

'

'

-67

'

'

-44

'

-30

'

6

'

0

'

1

'

Net losses (gains) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income

'

'

-16

'

'

0

'

-7

'

-9

'

0

'

0

'

Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)

'

'

($83)

'

'

($44)

'

($37)

'

($3)

'

$0

'

$1

'

Reclassification_Out_of_Accumu

Reclassification Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss)

Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss)

Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member]

Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member]

Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment

Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment

Reclassification Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Reclassification Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Foreign Exchange Contract

Foreign Exchange Contract

Unrealized Gain (Loss)

Unrealized Gain (Loss)

Unrealized Gain on Investments

Unrealized Gain on Investments

Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member]

Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member]

Reclassification Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Reclassification Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Reclassification Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Reclassification Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Reclassification Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Reclassification Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member]

Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member]

Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss)

Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss)

Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss)

Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss)

Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Investment income

$26,000,000

$29,000,000

$93,000,000

$85,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

($1,000,000)

$11,000,000

'

'

Total net gain on derivatives before tax

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,000,000

11,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

Net of tax

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,000,000

9,000,000

'

'

-1,000,000

7,000,000

'

'

Product sales revenue

3,165,000,000

3,084,000,000

9,535,000,000

9,332,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-3,000,000

13,000,000

'

'

'

'

Cost of product sales

1,324,000,000

1,292,000,000

4,020,000,000

3,849,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-4,000,000

-2,000,000

'

'

'

'

Provision for income tax

($181,000,000)

($185,000,000)

($474,000,000)

($590,000,000)

($17,000,000)

($37,000,000)

$67,000,000

$67,000,000

$87,000,000

$87,000,000

$0

($2,000,000)

'

'

'

'

$0

$4,000,000

Restructuring_and_AcquisitionR2

Restructuring and Acquisition-Related Charges - Additional information (Detail) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Jun. 30, 2012

Jun. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Mar. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Jun. 30, 2012

Mar. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

VMware

VMware

VMware

Restructuring 2013 Programs

Restructuring 2013 Programs

Restructuring 2013 Programs

Restructuring 2013 Programs

Restructuring 2013 Programs

Restructuring 2013 Programs

Restructuring 2012 Programs [Member]

Restructuring 2012 Programs [Member]

Restructuring 2012 Programs [Member]

Restructuring 2012 Programs [Member]

Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations

Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations

Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations

Workforce reductions

Workforce reductions

Position

Positions

VMware

VMware

VMware

Position

Positions

Positions

Positions

Restructuring 2013 Programs

Restructuring 2013 Programs

Restructuring 2013 Programs

Restructuring 2013 Programs

Positions

VMware

VMware

VMware

VMware

Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Restructuring and acquisition-related charges

$40,000,000

'

$27,000,000

'

'

'

$195,000,000

$81,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Assets Held-for-sale, Current

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

12,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Restructuring charges

30,000,000

'

'

22,000,000

'

71,000,000

116,000,000

'

1,000,000

54,000,000

'

'

'

'

1,000,000

54,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

0

1,000,000

54,000,000

Asset Impairment Charges

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

4,000,000

14,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Acquisition-related charges

4,000,000

'

5,000,000

'

'

'

8,000,000

10,000,000

1,000,000

3,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Restructuring and Related Cost, Number of Positions Eliminated

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

525

1,000

'

'

'

725

292

279

298

1,163

'

'

'

'

'

Lease termination costs for facilities

'

2,000,000

'

7,000,000

14,000,000

15,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Date of completion of workforce reduction and/or consolidation of facilities

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'within a year of the start of each program

'

'

'by the end of 2013

'

'

'

'2013

'2015

'

'

'

'

Liabilities of Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Current

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$44,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Activity_For_Restructuring_Pro

Activity For Restructuring Program (Detail) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

In Millions, unless otherwise specified

Sep. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2012

Jun. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

EMC Information Infrastructure

EMC Information Infrastructure

EMC Information Infrastructure

EMC Information Infrastructure

EMC Information Infrastructure

EMC Information Infrastructure

EMC Information Infrastructure

EMC Information Infrastructure

EMC Information Infrastructure

EMC Information Infrastructure

EMC Information Infrastructure

EMC Information Infrastructure

EMC Information Infrastructure

EMC Information Infrastructure

EMC Information Infrastructure

EMC Information Infrastructure

EMC Information Infrastructure

EMC Information Infrastructure

EMC Information Infrastructure

EMC Information Infrastructure

EMC Information Infrastructure

EMC Information Infrastructure

EMC Information Infrastructure

EMC Information Infrastructure

VMware

VMware

VMware

VMware

VMware

VMware

VMware

VMware

Restructuring Other Programs

Restructuring Other Programs

Restructuring Other Programs

Restructuring Other Programs

Restructuring Other Programs

Restructuring Other Programs

Restructuring Other Programs

Restructuring Other Programs

Restructuring Other Programs

Restructuring Other Programs

Restructuring Other Programs

Restructuring Other Programs

Restructuring 2013 Programs

Restructuring 2013 Programs

Restructuring 2013 Programs

Restructuring 2013 Programs

Restructuring 2013 Programs

Restructuring 2013 Programs

Restructuring 2012 Programs

Restructuring 2012 Programs

Restructuring 2012 Programs

Restructuring 2012 Programs

Restructuring 2012 Programs

Restructuring 2012 Programs

Restructuring 2013 Programs

Restructuring 2013 Programs

Restructuring 2013 Programs

Restructuring 2013 Programs

Restructuring 2013 Programs

Restructuring 2013 Programs

Workforce reductions

Workforce reductions

Workforce reductions

Workforce reductions

Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations

Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations

Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations

Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations

Workforce reductions

Workforce reductions

Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations

Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations

Workforce reductions

Workforce reductions

Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations

Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations

Workforce reductions

Workforce reductions

Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations

Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations

Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Beginning Balance

'

'

'

'

$56

$45

$91

$80

$29

$20

$63

$50

$27

$25

$28

$30

$47

$0

$45

$0

$2

$0

$37

$0

$34

$0

$3

$0

'

'

$2

$0

$2

$0

$0

$0

Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)

30

22

71

116

1

-3

2

-6

0

-1

-8

-7

1

-2

10

1

29

114

28

110

1

4

25

77

17

63

8

14

1

54

1

54

1

54

0

0

Utilization

'

'

'

'

-9

-6

-45

-38

-6

-4

-32

-28

-3

-2

-13

-10

-22

-60

-21

-58

-1

-2

-14

-29

-11

-23

-3

-6

'

'

-2

-53

-2

-53

0

0

Ending Balance

'

'

'

'

$48

$36

$48

$36

$23

$15

$23

$15

$25

$21

$25

$21

$54

$54

$52

$52

$2

$2

$48

$48

$40

$40

$8

$8

'

'

$1

$1

$1

$1

$0

$0

Segment_Information_Additional

Segment Information - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)

9 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

In Millions, unless otherwise specified

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

8-May-13

Sep. 30, 2013

segment

EMC Information Infrastructure

United States

United States

International Segment

International Segment

Geographic Concentration

Geographic Concentration

Geographic Concentration

Geographic Concentration

Pivotal

Pivotal

EMC [Member]

segment

Sales Revenue, Segment

Sales Revenue, Segment

Long-lived Assets, Total

Long-lived Assets, Total

Limited Partner [Member]

Limited Partner [Member]

Pivotal

Country

Country

Country

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of federated businesses

3

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of operating segments

'

'

3

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Joint Venture, Ownership Interest Percentage

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

10.00%

84.00%

Payments to Acquire Interest in Joint Venture

$268

$218

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$105

'

'

Number of countries other than the US that accounted for 10% or more

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

0

0

0

'

'

'

Long-lived assets, excluding financial instruments, deferred tax assets, goodwill and intangible assets

'

'

'

$4,313

$3,994

$836

$698

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Segment_Information_Segment_in

Segment Information Segment information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Revenues:	'	'	'	'
Product sales revenue	$3,165,000,000	$3,084,000,000	$9,535,000,000	$9,332,000,000
Services revenues	2,374,000,000	2,194,000,000	7,005,000,000	6,352,000,000
Total consolidated revenues	5,539,000,000	5,278,000,000	16,540,000,000	15,684,000,000
Gross profit	3,442,000,000	3,288,000,000	10,249,000,000	9,748,000,000
Gross profit percentage	62.10%	62.30%	62.00%	62.20%
Research and development	686,000,000	653,000,000	2,056,000,000	1,896,000,000
Selling, general and administrative	1,809,000,000	1,709,000,000	5,308,000,000	5,076,000,000
Restructuring and Acquisition-related Charges	40,000,000	27,000,000	195,000,000	81,000,000
Total costs and expenses	2,535,000,000	2,389,000,000	7,559,000,000	7,053,000,000
Operating income	907,000,000	899,000,000	2,690,000,000	2,695,000,000
Other income (expense), net	-87,000,000	-55,000,000	-213,000,000	-131,000,000
Income before provision for income taxes	820,000,000	844,000,000	2,477,000,000	2,564,000,000
Income tax provision	181,000,000	185,000,000	474,000,000	590,000,000
Net income	639,000,000	659,000,000	2,003,000,000	1,974,000,000
Less: Net income attributable to the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.	-53,000,000	-33,000,000	-136,000,000	-111,000,000
Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	586,000,000	626,000,000	1,867,000,000	1,863,000,000
Information Storage	'	'	'	'
Revenues:	'	'	'	'
Product sales revenue	2,415,000,000	2,420,000,000	7,444,000,000	7,358,000,000
Services revenues	1,358,000,000	1,306,000,000	4,019,000,000	3,819,000,000
Total consolidated revenues	3,773,000,000	3,726,000,000	11,463,000,000	11,177,000,000
Gross profit	2,101,000,000	2,119,000,000	6,408,000,000	6,330,000,000
Gross profit percentage	55.70%	56.90%	55.90%	56.60%
Information Intelligence Group	'	'	'	'
Revenues:	'	'	'	'
Product sales revenue	32,000,000	50,000,000	115,000,000	131,000,000
Services revenues	117,000,000	108,000,000	343,000,000	325,000,000
Total consolidated revenues	149,000,000	158,000,000	458,000,000	456,000,000
Gross profit	94,000,000	108,000,000	290,000,000	299,000,000
Gross profit percentage	63.30%	68.10%	63.30%	65.60%
RSA Information Security	'	'	'	'
Revenues:	'	'	'	'
Product sales revenue	120,000,000	106,000,000	317,000,000	306,000,000
Services revenues	132,000,000	121,000,000	395,000,000	348,000,000
Total consolidated revenues	252,000,000	227,000,000	712,000,000	654,000,000
Gross profit	170,000,000	146,000,000	471,000,000	458,000,000
Gross profit percentage	67.60%	64.20%	66.10%	70.00%
EMC Information Infrastructure	'	'	'	'
Revenues:	'	'	'	'
Product sales revenue	2,567,000,000	2,576,000,000	7,876,000,000	7,795,000,000
Services revenues	1,607,000,000	1,535,000,000	4,757,000,000	4,492,000,000
Total consolidated revenues	4,174,000,000	4,111,000,000	12,633,000,000	12,287,000,000
Gross profit	2,365,000,000	2,373,000,000	7,169,000,000	7,087,000,000
Gross profit percentage	56.60%	57.70%	56.70%	57.70%
Research and development	354,000,000	356,000,000	1,094,000,000	1,046,000,000
Selling, general and administrative	1,114,000,000	1,079,000,000	3,305,000,000	3,272,000,000
Restructuring and Acquisition-related Charges	0	0	0	0
Total costs and expenses	1,468,000,000	1,435,000,000	4,399,000,000	4,318,000,000
Operating income	897,000,000	938,000,000	2,770,000,000	2,769,000,000
EMC Information Infrastructure Plus Pivotal [Member]	'	'	'	'
Revenues:	'	'	'	'
Product sales revenue	2,602,000,000	2,599,000,000	7,958,000,000	7,862,000,000
Services revenues	1,652,000,000	1,578,000,000	4,893,000,000	4,598,000,000
Total consolidated revenues	4,254,000,000	4,177,000,000	12,851,000,000	12,460,000,000
Gross profit	2,399,000,000	2,410,000,000	7,255,000,000	7,176,000,000
Gross profit percentage	56.40%	57.70%	56.50%	57.60%
Research and development	386,000,000	387,000,000	1,181,000,000	1,138,000,000
Selling, general and administrative	1,157,000,000	1,117,000,000	3,424,000,000	3,384,000,000
Restructuring and Acquisition-related Charges	0	0	0	0
Total costs and expenses	1,543,000,000	1,504,000,000	4,605,000,000	4,522,000,000
Operating income	856,000,000	906,000,000	2,650,000,000	2,654,000,000
Other income (expense), net	-106,000,000	-63,000,000	-256,000,000	-140,000,000
Income tax provision	193,000,000	202,000,000	595,000,000	676,000,000
Net income	557,000,000	641,000,000	1,799,000,000	1,838,000,000
Less: Net income attributable to the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	557,000,000	641,000,000	1,799,000,000	1,838,000,000
VMware Virtual Infrastructure Within EMC	'	'	'	'
Revenues:	'	'	'	'
Product sales revenue	563,000,000	485,000,000	1,577,000,000	1,470,000,000
Services revenues	722,000,000	616,000,000	2,112,000,000	1,754,000,000
Total consolidated revenues	1,285,000,000	1,101,000,000	3,689,000,000	3,224,000,000
Gross profit	1,141,000,000	975,000,000	3,292,000,000	2,857,000,000
Gross profit percentage	88.80%	88.60%	89.20%	88.60%
Research and development	208,000,000	178,000,000	606,000,000	517,000,000
Selling, general and administrative	493,000,000	421,000,000	1,432,000,000	1,230,000,000
Restructuring and Acquisition-related Charges	0	0	0	0
Total costs and expenses	701,000,000	599,000,000	2,038,000,000	1,747,000,000
Operating income	440,000,000	376,000,000	1,254,000,000	1,110,000,000
Other income (expense), net	7,000,000	9,000,000	14,000,000	20,000,000
Income tax provision	70,000,000	87,000,000	247,000,000	204,000,000
Net income	377,000,000	298,000,000	1,021,000,000	926,000,000
Less: Net income attributable to the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.	74,000,000	58,000,000	202,000,000	180,000,000
Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	303,000,000	240,000,000	819,000,000	746,000,000
Corp Reconciling Items [Member]	'	'	'	'
Revenues:	'	'	'	'
Product sales revenue	0	0	0	0
Services revenues	0	0	0	0
Total consolidated revenues	'	0	0	'
Gross profit	-98,000,000	-97,000,000	-298,000,000	-285,000,000
Gross profit percentage	0.00%	'	'	'
Research and development	92,000,000	88,000,000	269,000,000	241,000,000
Selling, general and administrative	159,000,000	171,000,000	452,000,000	462,000,000
Restructuring and Acquisition-related Charges	40,000,000	27,000,000	195,000,000	81,000,000
Total costs and expenses	291,000,000	286,000,000	916,000,000	784,000,000
Operating income	-389,000,000	-383,000,000	-1,214,000,000	-1,069,000,000
Other income (expense), net	12,000,000	-1,000,000	29,000,000	-11,000,000
Income tax provision	-82,000,000	-104,000,000	-368,000,000	-290,000,000
Net income	-295,000,000	-280,000,000	-817,000,000	-790,000,000
Less: Net income attributable to the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.	21,000,000	-25,000,000	-66,000,000	-69,000,000
Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	-274,000,000	-255,000,000	-751,000,000	-721,000,000
Pivotal	'	'	'	'
Revenues:	'	'	'	'
Product sales revenue	35,000,000	23,000,000	82,000,000	67,000,000
Services revenues	45,000,000	43,000,000	136,000,000	106,000,000
Total consolidated revenues	80,000,000	66,000,000	218,000,000	173,000,000
Gross profit	34,000,000	37,000,000	86,000,000	89,000,000
Gross profit percentage	42.60%	55.60%	39.50%	51.80%
Research and development	32,000,000	31,000,000	87,000,000	92,000,000
Selling, general and administrative	43,000,000	38,000,000	119,000,000	112,000,000
Restructuring and Acquisition-related Charges	0	0	0	0
Total costs and expenses	75,000,000	69,000,000	206,000,000	204,000,000
Operating income	($41,000,000)	($32,000,000)	($120,000,000)	($115,000,000)

Revenues_By_Geographic_Area_De

Revenues By Geographic Area (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Total consolidated revenues	$5,539	$5,278	$16,540	$15,684
United States	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Total consolidated revenues	2,956	2,886	8,752	8,376
Europe, Middle East and Africa	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Total consolidated revenues	1,455	1,352	4,418	4,216
Asia Pacific And Japan	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Total consolidated revenues	789	733	2,361	2,193
Latin America, Mexico And Canada	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Total consolidated revenues	$339	$307	$1,009	$899