EMC 10-Q 1 May 14 2014 Q1 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Document Type	'10-Q
Amendment Flag	'false
Document Period End Date	31-Mar-14
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q1
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	2,047,299,647

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$6,291	$7,891
Short-term investments	1,964	2,773
Accounts and notes receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $62 and $62	2,981	3,861
Inventories	1,421	1,334
Deferred income taxes	941	912
Other current assets	597	507
Total current assets	14,195	17,278
Long-term investments	7,006	6,924
Property, plant and equipment, net	3,568	3,478
Intangible assets, net	1,941	1,780
Goodwill	15,301	14,424
Other assets, net	2,036	1,965
Total assets	44,047	45,849
Current liabilities:	'	'
Accounts payable	1,070	1,434
Accrued expenses	2,668	2,783
Notes converted and payable	0	1,665
Income taxes payable	71	639
Deferred revenue	5,556	5,278
Total current liabilities	9,365	11,799
Income taxes payable	285	296
Deferred revenue	4,116	3,701
Deferred income taxes	428	421
Long-term debt (See Note 4)	5,494	5,494
Other liabilities	364	352
Total liabilities	20,052	22,063
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 2,047 and 2,020 shares	20	20
Additional paid-in capital	1,363	1,406
Retained earnings	21,297	21,114
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	-228	-239
Total EMC Corporation’s shareholders’ equity	22,452	22,301
Non-controlling interests	1,543	1,485
Total shareholders’ equity	23,995	23,786
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$44,047	$45,849

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS_Pa

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Accounts and notes receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts	$62	$62
Preferred stock, par value (in usd per share)	$0.01	$0.01
Preferred stock, authorized (in shares)	25,000,000	25,000,000
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)	2,047,000,000	2,020,000,000
Common stock, outstanding (in shares)	2,047,000,000	2,020,000,000

CONSOLIDATED_INCOME_STATEMENTS

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Revenues:	'	'
Product sales	$3,008	$3,112
Services	2,471	2,275
Total consolidated revenues	5,479	5,387
Costs and expenses:	'	'
Cost of product sales	1,296	1,356
Cost of services	836	733
Research and development	731	676
Selling, general and administrative	1,852	1,713
Restructuring and acquisition-related charges	119	148
Operating income	645	761
Non-operating income (expense):	'	'
Investment income	36	33
Interest expense	-34	-21
Other expense, net	76	82
Total non-operating income (expense)	-74	-70
Income before provision for income taxes	571	691
Income tax provision	139	76
Net income	432	615
Less: Net income attributable to the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.	-40	-35
Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	$392	$580
Net income per weighted average share, basic attributable to EMC Corporation common shareholders	$0.19	$0.28
Net income per weighted average share, diluted attributable to EMC Corporation common shareholders	$0.19	$0.26
Weighted average shares, basic	2,029	2,102
Weighted average shares, diluted	2,076	2,189
Cash dividends declared per common share	$0.10	$0

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_COM

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Net income	$432	$615
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes (benefits):	'	'
Foreign currency translation adjustments	-4	-31
Changes in market value of investments:	'	'
Changes in unrealized gains (losses), net of taxes (benefits) of $14 and $1	24	1
Reclassification adjustment for net losses (gains) realized in net income, net of benefits (taxes) of $(3) and $(2)	-5	-4
Net change in market value of investments	19	-3
Changes in market value of derivatives:	'	'
Changes in unrealized gains (losses), net of taxes (benefits) of $(1) and $1	-1	6
Reclassification adjustment for net losses (gains) included in net income, net of benefits (taxes) of $0 and $(1)	-2	-5
Net change in the market value of derivatives	-3	1
Other comprehensive income (loss)	12	-33
Comprehensive income	444	582
Less: Net income attributable to the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.	-40	-35
Less: Other comprehensive income attributable to the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.	-1	0
Comprehensive income attributable to EMC Corporation	$403	$547

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_COM1

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Parenthetical) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) - taxes (benefits)	$14	$1
Reclassification adjustment for net losses (gains) realized in net income - benefits (taxes)	-3	-2
Changes in market value of derivatives - taxes (benefits)	-1	1
Reclassification adjustment for net losses (gains) realized in net income - benefits (taxes)	$0	($1)

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_CAS

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital [Abstract]	'	'
Accounts and notes receivable	$910	$654
Inventories	-139	-46
Other assets	-13	53
Accounts payable	-369	-110
Accrued expenses	-236	-194
Income taxes payable	-535	-393
Deferred revenue	650	582
Other liabilities	7	3
Cash flows from operating activities:	'	'
Cash received from customers	6,965	6,616
Cash paid to suppliers and employees	-4,962	-4,405
Dividends and interest received	55	39
Interest paid	0	-1
Income taxes paid	-720	-536
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,338	1,713
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Additions to property, plant and equipment	-275	-165
Capitalized software development costs	-117	-106
Purchases of short- and long-term available-for-sale securities	-2,931	-1,819
Sales of short- and long-term available-for-sale securities	2,362	1,414
Maturities of short- and long-term available-for-sale securities	1,307	387
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	-1,068	-184
Purchases of strategic and other related investments	-22	-35
Joint venture funding	0	-95
Increase in Restricted Cash	-76	0
Net cash used in investing activities	-820	-603
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Proceeds from the issuance of EMC’s common stock	194	42
EMC repurchase of EMC’s common stock	-390	-323
EMC purchase of VMware’s common stock	0	-125
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	29	33
Payment of long-term and short-term obligations	-1,665	-5
Dividend payment	-202	0
Net cash used in financing activities	-2,115	-492
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	-3	-28
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	-1,600	590
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	7,891	4,714
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	6,291	5,304
Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'
Net income	432	615
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	442	391
Non-cash interest expense on debt	0	12
Non-cash restructuring and other special charges	5	7
Stock-based compensation expense	239	236
Provision for (recovery of) doubtful accounts	4	-8
Deferred income taxes, net	-47	-62
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	-29	-33
Other, net	17	6
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,338	1,713
VMware	'	'
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Proceeds from the issuance of VMware’s common stock	88	68
EMC repurchase of EMC’s common stock	($169)	($182)

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, 2014 at Dec. 31, 2012	$23,524	$21	$3,691	$18,853	($208)	$1,167
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	'	2,107	'	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stock issued through stock option and stock purchase plans (in shares)	'	3	'	'	'	'
Stock issued through stock option and stock purchase plans	42	0	42	'	'	'
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	45	'	45	'	'	'
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net (in shares)	'	3	'	'	'	'
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net	-39	0	-39	'	'	'
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)	'	-12	'	'	'	'
Repurchase of common stock	-308	'	-308	'	'	'
EMC purchase of VMware’s common stock	-115	'	-95	'	'	-20
Stock-based compensation	228	'	228	'	'	'
Noncontrolling Interest, Period Increase (Decrease)	-136	'	-132	'	'	-4
Change in market value of investments	-3	'	'	'	-3	0
Change in market value of derivatives	1	'	'	'	1	'
Translation adjustment	-31	'	'	'	-31	'
Convertible debt conversions and warrant settlement	-16	'	-16	'	'	'
Net income	615	'	'	580	'	35
Balance, March 31, 2014 at Mar. 31, 2013	23,839	21	3,448	19,433	-241	1,178
Ending Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2013	'	2,101	'	'	'	'
Balance, January 1, 2014 at Dec. 31, 2013	23,786	20	1,406	21,114	-239	1,485
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013	2,020	2,020	'	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stock issued through stock option and stock purchase plans (in shares)	'	13	'	'	'	'
Stock issued through stock option and stock purchase plans	194	0	194	'	'	'
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	44	'	44	'	'	'
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net (in shares)	'	1	'	'	'	'
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net	-20	0	-20	'	'	'
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)	'	-16	'	'	'	'
Repurchase of common stock	-405	0	-405	'	'	'
Stock options issued in business acquisitions	24	'	24	'	'	'
Stock-based compensation	244	'	244	'	'	'
Cash dividends declared	-209	'	'	-209	'	'
Noncontrolling Interest, Period Increase (Decrease)	-107	'	-124	'	'	17
Change in market value of investments	19	'	'	'	18	1
Change in market value of derivatives	-3	'	'	'	-3	0
Translation adjustment	-4	'	'	'	-4	'
Convertible debt conversions and warrant settlement (in shares)	'	29	'	'	'	'
Convertible debt conversions and warrant settlement	0	'	0	'	'	'
Net income	432	'	'	392	'	40
Balance, March 31, 2014 at Mar. 31, 2014	$23,995	$20	$1,363	$21,297	($228)	$1,543
Ending Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2014	2,047	2,047	'	'	'	'

Basis_of_Presentation

Basis of Presentation	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
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 manages the Company as part of a federation of three businesses: EMC Information Infrastructure, VMware Virtual Infrastructure and Pivotal.
	EMC’s Information Infrastructure business provides a foundation for organizations to store, manage, protect, analyze and secure ever-increasing quantities of information, while at the same time improving business agility, lowering cost, and enhancing competitive advantage. These benefits are primarily achieved though virtualization. EMC’s Information Infrastructure business comprises three segments – Information Storage, RSA Information Security and Information Intelligence Group.
	EMC’s VMware Virtual Infrastructure business, which is represented by EMC’s majority equity stake in VMware, Inc. ("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.
	EMC's Pivotal business ("Pivotal") was formed in the second quarter of 2013. Pivotal unites strategic technology, people and programs formerly within EMC and VMware, including Greenplum, Cloud Foundry, Spring, Cetas, Pivotal Labs, GemFire and other products. Pivotal is building a new platform comprising next-generation data fabrics, application fabrics and a cloud independent platform-as-a-service ("PaaS").
	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 VMware and Pivotal, 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, 2013 which are contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 25, 2014.
	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-month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013.
	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, the shares issuable under our $1.725 billion 1.75% convertible senior notes due 2013 (the "2013 Notes") and the 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 first quarter of 2014, the Information Storage segment acquired the Data Computing Appliance and implementation services businesses from the Pivotal segment. The acquisition of these businesses was accounted for as a business combination between entities under common control. We reflected the impact of the transaction on our segment for the first quarter of 2014 and included the financial results of the acquired businesses in the Information Storage segment and excluded these from the Pivotal segment. We recast the segment disclosures for the prior financial reporting period to present the impact of the transaction. 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 April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued new accounting guidance on reporting discontinued operations and disclosures of disposals of components of an entity which clarifies the scope of what should be reported as discontinued operations and expands required disclosures. This new guidance is effective for the periods beginning after December 15, 2014. We do not expect that the adoption of this new guidance will have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
	In July 2013, the 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. The prospective adoption of this new accounting guidance in the first quarter of 2014 did not 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. The adoption of this new accounting guidance in the first quarter of 2014 did not 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.	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
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 $1,438 million and $1,380 million as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. At March 31, 2014, 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 Three Months Ended
		March 31,			March 31,
		2014			2013
	Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	$	392		$	580
	Transfers (to) from the non-controlling interests in VMware, Inc.:
	Increase in EMC Corporation’s additional paid-in-capital for VMware’s equity issuances	47			36
	Decrease in EMC Corporation’s additional paid-in-capital for VMware’s other equity activity	(171		)	(168		)
	Net transfers (to) from non-controlling interests	(124		)	(132		)
	Change from net income attributable to EMC Corporation and transfers from the non-controlling interests in VMware, Inc.	$	268		$	448
	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 at both March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. At March 31, 2014, EMC held approximately 84% of the economic interest in Pivotal. General Electric Company's ("GE") 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	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Business Combination, Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Business Combinations, Intangibles and Goodwill	'
	Business Combinations, Intangibles and Goodwill
	During the three months ended March 31, 2014, VMware acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of A.W.S. Holding, LLC ("AirWatch Holding"), the sole member and equity holder of AirWatch LLC ("AirWatch"). AirWatch is a leader in enterprise mobile management and security solutions. VMware acquired AirWatch to expand its solutions within the enterprise mobile and security space. The aggregate consideration paid for AirWatch was $1,092 million, net of cash acquired, including cash of $1,068 million and the fair value of assumed unvested equity attributed to pre-combination services totaling $24 million.
	Merger consideration totaling $300 million will be payable to certain employees of AirWatch subject to specified future employment conditions and will be recognized as expense over the requisite service period. Compensation expense totaling $19 million was recognized from the date of acquisition through March 31, 2014.
	The following table summarizes the allocation of the consideration to the fair value of the assets acquired and net liabilities assumed, net of cash acquired (table in millions):
	Other current assets	$	60
	Intangible assets:
	Purchased technology (weighted-average useful life of 6 years)	118
	Customer relationships and customer lists (weighted-average useful life of 8 years)	78
	Trademarks and tradenames (weighted-average useful life of 8 years)	40
	Other (weighted-average useful life of 3 years)	14
	Total intangible assets, net, excluding goodwill	250
	Goodwill	879
	Other assets	17
	Total assets acquired	1,206
	Unearned revenue	(45		)
	Other assumed liabilities, net of acquired assets	(69		)
	Total net liabilities assumed	(114		)
	Fair value of assets acquired and net liabilities assumed	$	1,092
	These VMware intangible assets are being amortized on a straight-line basis. Goodwill is calculated as the excess of the consideration over the fair value of the net assets, including intangible assets, recognized and primarily related to expected synergies from the transaction. The majority of the goodwill and identifiable intangible assets are expected to be deductible for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The results of this acquisition 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 company were not material to our consolidated results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2014 or 2013.
	Intangible Assets
	Intangible assets, excluding goodwill, as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 consist of (tables in millions):
		March 31, 2014
		Gross Carrying			Accumulated			Net Book Value
		Amount			Amortization
	Purchased technology	$	2,476		$	(1,485	)	$	991
	Patents	225			(106		)	119
	Software licenses	102			(91		)	11
	Trademarks and tradenames	212			(122		)	90
	Customer relationships and customer lists	1,463			(883		)	580
	Leasehold interest	147			(12		)	135
	Other	43			(28		)	15
	Total intangible assets, excluding goodwill	$	4,668		$	(2,727	)	$	1,941
		December 31, 2013
		Gross Carrying			Accumulated			Net Book Value
		Amount			Amortization
	Purchased technology	$	2,356		$	(1,429	)	$	927
	Patents	225			(102		)	123
	Software licenses	101			(90		)	11
	Trademarks and tradenames	171			(118		)	53
	Customer relationships and customer lists	1,386			(855		)	531
	Leasehold interest	145			(11		)	134
	Other	28			(27		)	1
	Total intangible assets, excluding goodwill	$	4,412		$	(2,632	)	$	1,780
	Goodwill
	Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill, net, on a consolidated basis and by segment, for the three months ended March 31, 2014 consist of (table in millions):
		Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
		Information			Information			RSA		Pivotal			VMware		Total
		Storage			Intelligence			Information					Virtual
					Group			Security					Infrastructure
	Balance, beginning of the period	$	7,486		$	1,487		$	2,203	$	177		$	3,071	$	14,424
	Goodwill resulting from acquisitions	—			—			—		—			879		879
	Finalization of purchase price allocations and other, net	—			(2		)	—		—			—		(2		)
	Goodwill transferred in acquisition of Pivotal businesses	6			—			—		(6		)	—		—
	Balance, end of the period	$	7,492		$	1,485		$	2,203	$	171		$	3,950	$	15,301
	During the first quarter of 2014, the Information Storage segment acquired the Data Computing Appliance and implementation services businesses from the Pivotal segment. The transfer of goodwill pursuant to this acquisition is shown above for the first quarter of 2014. For both transactions, 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	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
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") which pay a fixed rate of interest semi-annually in arrears. The first interest payment occurred on December 2, 2013. The proceeds from the Notes have been used to satisfy the cash payment obligation of the converted 2013 Notes as well as for general corporate purposes including stock repurchases, dividend payments, business acquisitions, 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 March 31, 2014, we were in compliance with all debt covenants, which are customary in nature.
	Our long-term debt as of March 31, 2014 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	%	$	1,996
	$1.0 billion 3.375% Notes due 2023		99.925	%	$	999
					$	5,494
	The unamortized discount on the Notes consists of $6 million, which will be fully amortized by June 1, 2023. The effective interest rate on the Notes was 2.54% for the three months ended March 31, 2014.
	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 2011 Notes matured and were settled in 2012.
	The 2013 Notes matured and a majority of the noteholders exercised their right to convert the outstanding 2013 Notes as of December 31, 2013. Pursuant to the settlement terms, the majority of the converted 2013 Notes were settled on January 7, 2014. At that time, we paid the noteholders $1.7 billion in cash for the outstanding principal and 35 million shares for the $858 million in excess of the conversion value over the principal amount, as prescribed by the terms of the 2013 Notes.
	With respect to the conversion value in excess of the principal amount of the 2013 Notes converted, we elected to settle the excess with 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 actual conversion rate for the 2013 Notes was 62.6978 shares of our common stock per one thousand dollars of principal amount of 2013 Notes, which represents a 26.5% conversion premium from the date the 2013 Notes were issued and is equivalent to a conversion price of approximately $15.95 per share of our common stock.
	The 2013 Notes paid 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 2013 Notes was 5.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2013.
	The following table represents the key components of our interest expense on convertible debt for the three months ended March 31, 2013 (table in millions):
		March 31,
		2013
	Contractual interest expense on the coupon	$	7
	Amortization of the discount component recognized as interest expense	16
	Total interest expense on the convertible debt	$	23
	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 allowed 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 covered, 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 2011, we exercised approximately half of the Purchased options in connection with the planned settlements of the 2011 Notes. In the fourth quarter of 2013, we exercised the remaining 108 million of the Purchased Options in conjunction with the planned settlements of the 2013 Notes, and we received 35 million shares of net settlement on January 7, 2014, representing the excess conversion value of the options.
	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 was required to be settled in shares. Approximately half of the associated warrants were exercised in 2012 and the remaining 109 million associated warrants were exercised between February 18, 2014 and March 17, 2014 and were settled with 29 million shares of our common stock.
	The Purchased Options and associated warrants had the effect of increasing the conversion price of the 2013 Notes to approximately $19.31 per share of our common stock, representing an approximate 53% 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.
	During 2011 and 2012, we settled the swaps and replaced them with new interest rate swap contracts for revised forecasted debt issuance dates. Each of these new swaps was deemed as an effective hedge as the notional amounts and other terms matched the underlying hedged item and accordingly, losses on the interest rate swap contracts were deferred as they were expected to be realized over the life of the new debt issued under the related interest rate swap contracts. In the second half of 2012, we settled the interest rate swap contracts and did not replace them. Losses on the swaps at the time of settlement were deferred as they are expected to be realized over the life of the new debt issued under the related interest rate swap contracts.
	At March 31, 2014, we had $176 million of accumulated realized losses related to the settled swaps in accumulated other comprehensive income which will be realized over 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	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities	'
	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 March 31, 2014, 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 March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, 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 March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, 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 March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 (tables in millions):
		March 31, 2014
		Amortized			Unrealized			Unrealized			Aggregate
		Cost			Gains			(Losses)			Fair Value
	U.S. government and agency obligations	$	2,743		$	4		$	(2	)	$	2,745
	U.S. corporate debt securities	2,352			5			(1		)	2,356
	High yield corporate debt securities	543			23			(1		)	565
	Municipal obligations	825			3			—			828
	Auction rate securities	63			—			(4		)	59
	Foreign debt securities	2,294			6			(2		)	2,298
	Total fixed income securities	8,820			41			(10		)	8,851
	Publicly traded equity securities	71			52			(4		)	119
	Total	$	8,891		$	93		$	(14	)	$	8,970
	We held approximately $2,298 million in foreign debt securities at March 31, 2014. 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 AAA. None of the securities deemed sovereign debt are from Greece, Italy, Ireland, Portugal, Spain or Cyprus.
		December 31, 2013
		Amortized			Unrealized			Unrealized			Aggregate
		Cost			Gains			(Losses)			Fair Value
	U.S. government and agency obligations	$	3,726		$	4		$	(3	)	$	3,727
	U.S. corporate debt securities	2,260			8			(2		)	2,266
	High yield corporate debt securities	515			19			(3		)	531
	Municipal obligations	860			3			—			863
	Auction rate securities	63			—			(3		)	60
	Foreign debt securities	2,152			6			(3		)	2,155
	Total fixed income securities	9,576			40			(14		)	9,602
	Publicly traded equity securities	72			24			(1		)	95
	Total	$	9,648		$	64		$	(15	)	$	9,697
	The following tables represent our fair value hierarchy for our financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 (tables in millions):
		March 31, 2014
		Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
	Cash	$	1,707		$	—		$	—		$	1,707
	Cash equivalents	4,264			320			—			4,584
	U.S. government and agency obligations	1,796			949			—			2,745
	U.S. corporate debt securities	—			2,356			—			2,356
	High yield corporate debt securities	—			565			—			565
	Municipal obligations	—			828			—			828
	Auction rate securities	—			—			59			59
	Foreign debt securities	—			2,298			—			2,298
	Publicly traded equity securities	119			—			—			119
	Total cash and investments	$	7,886		$	7,316		$	59		$	15,261
	Other items:
	Strategic investments held at cost	$	—		$	—		$	384		$	384
	Investment in joint venture	—			—			35			35
	Long-term debt carried at discounted cost	—			(5,496		)	—			(5,496		)
	Foreign exchange derivative assets	—			21			—			21
	Foreign exchange derivative liabilities	—			(18		)	—			(18		)
	Commodity derivative assets	—			1			—			1
		31-Dec-13
		Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
	Cash	$	1,725		$	—		$	—		$	1,725
	Cash equivalents	5,674			492			—			6,166
	U.S. government and agency obligations	1,797			1,930			—			3,727
	U.S. corporate debt securities	—			2,266			—			2,266
	High yield corporate debt securities	—			531			—			531
	Municipal obligations	—			863			—			863
	Auction rate securities	—			—			60			60
	Foreign debt securities	—			2,155			—			2,155
Publicly traded equity securities	95			—			—			95
Total cash and investments	$	9,291		$	8,237		$	60		$	17,588
Other items:
Strategic investments held at cost	$	—		$	—		$	379		$	379
Investment in joint venture	—			—			35			35
Convertible debt carried at discounted cost	—			(5,419		)	—			(5,419		)
Foreign exchange derivative assets	—			31			—			31
Foreign exchange derivative liabilities	—			(20		)	—			(20		)
Commodity derivative liabilities	—			4			—			4
Our auction rate securities are predominantly rated investment grade and are primarily collateralized by student loans. The underlying loans of all but one of our auction rate securities, with a market value of $7 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 March 31, 2014, the coupon rates used ranged from 10% to 0% 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 March 31, 2014. 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 March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 due to the narrowing of credit spreads on AA-rated banks during 2013 and into 2014.
The following table provides a summary of changes in fair value of our Level 3 auction rate securities for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 (table in millions):
	For the Three Months Ended
	31-Mar-14			31-Mar-13
Balance, beginning of the period	$	60		$	70
Calls at par value	—			(1		)
Other-than-temporary impairment loss	—			(1		)
(Increase) decrease in previously recognized unrealized losses included in other comprehensive income	(1		)	—
Balance, end of the period	$	59		$	68
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.
EMC has a 49% ownership percentage of LenovoEMC Limited, a joint venture with Lenovo that was formed in 2012. We account for our LenovoEMC joint venture using the fair value method of accounting. To determine the estimated fair value at inception of our investment, we use a discounted cash flow model using a three year time horizon, and utilized a discount rate of 6%, which represented 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. We had no changes to the assumptions utilized in the fair value calculation in the first quarter of 2014.
The following table provides a summary of changes in fair value of our LenovoEMC joint venture for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 (table in millions):
	For the Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2014			March 31, 2013
Balance, beginning of the period	$	35		$	33
Realized gain included in other expense, net	—			—
Balance, end of period	$	35		$	33
The carrying value of the strategic investments held at cost were accounted for under the cost method. As part of our quarterly impairment review, we perform a fair value calculation of our strategic investments held at cost 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 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 March 31, 2014 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	$	757		$	(2	)	$	—		$	—		$	757	$	(2	)
U.S. corporate debt securities	700			(1		)	—			—			700		(1		)
High yield corporate debt securities	69			(1		)	—			—			69		(1		)
Auction rate securities	—			—			59			(4		)	59		(4		)
Foreign debt securities	573			(2		)	—			—			573		(2		)
Publicly traded equity securities	8			(3		)	1			(1		)	9		(4		)
Total	$	2,107		$	(9	)	$	60		$	(5	)	$	2,167	$	(14	)
For all of our securities for which the amortized cost basis was greater than the fair value at March 31, 2014, 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 March 31, 2014 are as follows (table in millions):
	March 31, 2014
	Amortized			Aggregate
	Cost Basis			Fair Value
Due within one year	$	1,897		$	1,900
Due after 1 year through 5 years	5,919			5,933
Due after 5 years through 10 years	557			574
Due after 10 years	447			444
Total	$	8,820		$	8,851
Short-term investments on the consolidated balance sheet include $64 million in variable rate notes which have contractual maturities in 2014, and are not classified within investments due within one year above.

Inventories

Inventories	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Inventories	'
	Inventories
	Inventories consist of (table in millions):
		March 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Work-in-process	$	699	$	696
	Finished goods	722		638
		$	1,421	$	1,334

Accounts_and_Notes_Receivable_

Accounts and Notes Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
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 March 31, 2014 were as follows (table in millions):
	Year	Contractual Amounts
		Due Under Leases
	Due within one year	$	107
	Due within two years	86
	Due within three years	76
	Thereafter	1
	Total	270
	Less: Amounts representing interest	4
	Present value	266
	Current portion (included in accounts and notes receivable)	105
	Long-term portion (included in other assets, net)	$	161
	Subsequent to March 31, 2014, we sold $87 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 March 31, 2014, 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 three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 (table in millions):
		For the Three Months Ended
		March 31,			March 31,
		2014			2013
	Balance, beginning of the period	$	9		$	17
	Recoveries	(7		)	(6		)
	Provisions	7			6
	Balance, end of the period	$	9		$	17
	Gross lease receivables totaled $270 million and $252 million as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, 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	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment	'
	Property, Plant and Equipment
	Property, plant and equipment consist of (table in millions):
		March 31,			December 31,
		2014			2013
	Furniture and fixtures	$	239		$	229
	Equipment and software	6,182			5,973
	Buildings and improvements	2,237			2,089
	Land	133			132
	Building construction in progress	141			215
		8,932			8,638
	Accumulated depreciation	(5,364		)	(5,160		)
		$	3,568		$	3,478
	Building construction in progress at March 31, 2014 includes $74 million for facilities not yet placed in service that we are holding for future use.

Joint_Ventures

Joint Ventures	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
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 March 31, 2014, we have contributed $1,146 million in funding and $17 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 months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013. As of March 31, 2014, we have recorded net accumulated losses from VCE of $871 million since inception, of which $75 million and $69 million were recorded in the three months ending March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	We recognized $170 million and $74 million in revenue from sales of product and services to VCE during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, 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 $58 million and $52 million as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, included in other current assets in the consolidated balance sheets.

Accrued_Expenses

Accrued Expenses	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]	'
Accrued Expenses	'
	Accrued Expenses
	Accrued expenses consist of (table in millions):
		March 31,			December 31,
		2014			2013
	Salaries and benefits	$	897		$	1,078
	Product warranties	274			289
	Dividends payable (see Note 12)	211			205
	Partner rebates	166			214
	Restructuring, current (See Note 13)	154			84
	Derivatives	17			23
	Other	949			890
		$	2,668		$	2,783
	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 months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 (table in millions):
		March 31,			March 31,
		2014			2013
	Balance, beginning of the period	$	289		$	278
	Provision	42			45
	Amounts charged to the accrual	(57		)	(40		)
	Balance, end of the period	$	274		$	283
	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	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Income Taxes	'
	Income Taxes
	Our effective income tax rates were 24.3% and 11.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, 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 months ended March 31, 2014, 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 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. For the three months ended March 31, 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 and U.S. federal tax credit for increasing research activities. 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 three months ended March 31, 2013 included the estimated federal tax credit for increasing research activities for the full year 2012 as well as the three months ended March 31, 2013, which reduced our effective tax rate for the quarter.
	Our effective income tax rate increased in the three months ended March 31, 2014 from the three months ended March 31, 2013 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 10.9% for the three months ended March 31, 2013. Our effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2014 does not reflect any U.S. federal tax credit for increasing research activities because the credit expired on December 31, 2013. There were also differences in the mix of income attributable to foreign versus domestic jurisdictions, change in tax contingency reserves and discrete items, the net impact of which is immaterial.
	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 ongoing 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 2004. 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	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
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
		March 31,				March 31,
		2014				2013
	Numerator:
	Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	$	392			$	580
	Incremental dilution from VMware	(2		)		(1		)
	Net income – dilution attributable to EMC Corporation	$	390			$	579
	Denominator:
	Weighted average shares, basic	2,029				2,102
	Weighted common stock equivalents	26				30
	Assumed conversion of the 2013 Notes and associated warrants	21				57
	Weighted average shares, diluted	2,076				2,189
	Due to the cash settlement feature of the principal amount of the 2013 Notes, we only included the impact of the premium feature in our diluted earnings per share calculation when the 2013 Notes were convertible due to maturity or when the average stock price exceeded 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. Approximately half of the associated warrants were exercised during the year ended December 31, 2012. The remaining 109 million warrants were exercised between February 18, 2014 and March 17, 2014. These warrants were settled with shares of our common stock. As such, we included the impact of the remaining outstanding sold warrants in our diluted earnings per share calculation during the three months ended March 31, 2013 as the average stock price exceeded the exercise price, and during the three months ended March 31, 2014 for the period the warrants were outstanding.
	Restricted stock awards, restricted stock units and options to acquire shares of our common stock in the amount of 6 million and 3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, 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 February 2013. For the three months ended March 31, 2014, we spent $405 million to repurchase 16 million shares of our common stock. Of the 250 million shares authorized for repurchase, we have repurchased 110 million shares at a total cost of $2.8 billion, leaving a remaining balance of 140 million shares authorized for future repurchases.  We plan to spend up to $6.0 billion in the repurchase of shares during the three years ending December 31, 2015. This includes $3.0 billion spent during the year ended December 31, 2013 and $2.0 billion and $1.0 billion to be spent during the years ending December 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively.
	Cash Dividend on Common Stock
	In May 2013, our Board of Directors approved the initiation of a quarterly cash dividend to EMC shareholders of $0.10 per share of common stock. On April 17, 2014, our Board of Directors approved an increase in the quarterly cash dividend paid to EMC shareholders to $0.115 per share of common stock. Our Board of Directors also declared a cash dividend at this new rate which will be paid on July 23, 2014 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on July 1, 2014.
	During the three months ended March 31, 2014, EMC paid a cash dividend of $202 million. On April 23, 2014, EMC paid a cash dividend of $205 million to shareholders of record as of the close of business on April 1, 2014, which was declared on February 6, 2014.
	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 2013(a)	$	(53	)		$	31		$	(106	)	$	(110	)	$	(1	)	$	(239	)
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	(4		)		24			(1		)	—			(1		)	18
	Net losses (gains) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	—				(5		)	(2		)	—			—			(7		)
	Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)	(4		)		19			(3		)	—			(1		)	11
	Balance as of March 31, 2014(b)	$	(57	)		$	50		$	(109	)	$	(110	)	$	(2	)	$	(228	)
	__________________
	(a)	Net of taxes (benefits) of $18 million for unrealized net gains on investments, $(66) million for unrealized net losses on derivatives and $(61) million for actuarial net loss on pension plans.
	(b)	Net of taxes (benefits) of $29 million for unrealized net gains on investments, $(67) million for unrealized net losses on derivatives and $(61) million for actuarial net loss on pension plans.
	The amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2014 are as follows (table in millions):
	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Components		Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income				Impacted Line Item on
							Consolidated Income Statements
	Net gain on investments:		$	8			Investment income
			(3		)		Provision for income tax
	Net of tax		$	5
	Net gain on derivatives:
	Foreign exchange contracts		$	1			Product sales revenue
	Foreign exchange contracts		1				Cost of product sales
	Total net gain on derivatives before tax		2
			—				Provision for income tax
	Net of tax		$	2

Restructuring_and_AcquisitionR

Restructuring and Acquisition-Related Charges	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]	'
Restructuring and Acquisition-Related Charges	'
	Restructuring and Acquisition-Related Charges
	For the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, we incurred restructuring and acquisition-related charges of $119 million and $148 million, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2014, EMC incurred $114 million of restructuring charges, primarily related to our current year restructuring programs and VMware incurred $5 million of charges for financial, advisory, legal and accounting services in connection with acquisitions. For the three months ended March 31, 2013, EMC incurred $82 million of restructuring charges, primarily related to our 2013 restructuring programs, and $2 million of costs for financial, advisory, legal and accounting services in connection with acquisitions. For the three months ended March 31, 2013, VMware incurred $54 million of restructuring charges, primarily related to the 2013 restructuring program, $1 million of costs for financial, advisory, legal and accounting services in connection with acquisitions and $9 million of impairment charges related to its business realignment.
	In the first quarter of 2014, EMC implemented a restructuring program to create further operational efficiencies which will result in workforce reductions of approximately 1,326 positions. The actions will impact positions around the globe covering our Information Storage, RSA Information Security and Information Intelligence Group segments, and is expected to result in a total charge of approximately $126 million, with total cash payments associated with the plan expected to be approximately $118 million. All of these actions are expected to be completed within a year of the start of the program.
	During the first quarter of 2013, EMC implemented a restructuring program to create further operational efficiencies which resulted in a workforce reduction of 1,004 positions. The actions impacted positions around the globe covering our Information Storage, RSA Information Security and Information Intelligence Group segments. All of these actions were completed within a year of the start of the program.
	During the first quarter of 2013, VMware approved and initiated a business realignment plan to streamline its operations. The plan included the elimination of approximately 710 positions across all major functional groups and geographies. All of these actions were completed within a year of the start of the program.
	For the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, we recognized $5 million and $7 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. 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 March 31, 2014:
	2014 EMC Program
	Category	Balance as of		2014			Utilization			Balance as of March 31, 2014
		December 31,		Charges
		2013
	Workforce reductions	$	—	$	117		$	(15	)	$	102
	Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations	—		2			(1		)	1
	Total	$	—	$	119		$	(16	)	$	103
	Other EMC Programs
	Category	Balance as of		Adjustments to the Provision			Utilization			Balance as of March 31, 2014
		December 31,
		2013
	Workforce reductions	$	66	$	(8	)	$	(21	)	$	37
	Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations	24		3			(7		)	20
	Total	$	90	$	(5	)	$	(28	)	$	57
	Three Months Ended March 31, 2013:
	2013 EMC Programs
	Category	Balance as of		2013			Utilization			Balance as of March 31, 2013
		December 31,		Charges
		2012
	Workforce reductions	$	—	$	79		$	(13	)	$	66
	Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations	—		—			—			—
	Total	$	—	$	79		$	(13	)	$	66
	2013 VMware Programs
	Category	Balance as of		2013			Utilization			Balance as of March 31, 2013
		December 31,		Charges
		2012
	Workforce reductions	$	—	$	54		$	(28	)	$	26
	Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations	—		—			—			—
	Total	$	—	$	54		$	(28	)	$	26
	Other EMC Programs
	Category	Balance as of		Adjustments to the Provision			Utilization			Balance as of March 31, 2013
		December 31,
		2012
	Workforce reductions	$	63	$	(4	)	$	(12	)	$	47
	Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations	28		7			(5		)	30
	Total	$	91	$	3		$	(17	)	$	77

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
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	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Segment Information	'
	Segment Information
	We manage the Company as three federated businesses: EMC Information Infrastructure, VMware Virtual Infrastructure and Pivotal. EMC Information Infrastructure operates in three segments: Information Storage, Information Intelligence Group and RSA Information Security while VMware Virtual Infrastructure and Pivotal each operate as single segments.
	During the first quarter of 2014, the Information Storage segment acquired the Data Computing Appliance and implementation services businesses from the Pivotal segment. The acquisition of these businesses was accounted for as a business combination between entities under common control. We reflected the impact of the transaction on our segment for the first quarter of 2014 and included the financial results of the acquired businesses in the Information Storage segment and excluded these from the Pivotal segment. We recast the segment disclosures for the prior financial reporting period to present the impact of the transaction. None of the segment reclassifications impact EMC's 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 provision 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 within EMC amounts represent the revenues and expenses of VMware as reflected within EMC’s consolidated financial statements.
	Our segment information for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 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:
	March 31, 2014
	Revenues:
	Product revenues	$	2,302		$	35		$	104		$	2,441		$	11		$	2,452
	Services revenues	1,378			119			140			1,637			38			1,675
	Total consolidated revenues	3,680			154			244			4,078			49			4,127
	Gross profit	$	1,976		$	99		$	162		$	2,237		$	19		$	2,256
	Gross profit percentage	53.7		%	64.7		%	66.2		%	54.9		%	38.1		%	54.7		%
	Research and development										377			31			408
	Selling, general and administrative										1,102			41			1,143
	Restructuring and acquisition-related charges										—			—			—
	Total costs and expenses										1,479			72			1,551
	Operating income (expense)										$	758		$	(53	)	$	705
		EMC			VMware			Corp			Consolidated
		Information			Virtual			Reconciling
		Infrastructure plus Pivotal			Infrastructure			Items
					within EMC
	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2014
	Revenues:
	Product revenues	$	2,452		$	556		$	—		$	3,008
	Services revenues	1,675			796			—			2,471
	Total consolidated revenues	4,127			1,352			—			5,479
	Gross profit	$	2,256		$	1,184		$	(93	)	$	3,347
	Gross profit percentage	54.7		%	87.6		%	—			61.1		%
	Research and development	408			229			94			731
	Selling, general and administrative	1,143			537			172			1,852
	Restructuring and acquisition-related charges	—			—			119			119
	Total costs and expenses	1,551			766			385			2,702
	Operating income (expense)	705			418			(478		)	645
	Non-operating income (expense), net	(80		)	6			—			(74		)
	Income tax provision (benefit)	170			83			(114		)	139
	Net income	455			341			(364		)	432
	Net income attributable to the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.	—			(68		)	28			(40		)
	Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	$	455		$	273		$	(336	)	$	392
		EMC Information Infrastructure
		Information			Information			RSA			EMC			Pivotal			EMC Information Infrastructure plus Pivotal
		Storage			Intelligence			Information			Information
					Group			Security			Infrastructure
	Three Months Ended:
	March 31, 2013
	Revenues:
	Product revenues	$	2,472		$	43		$	100		$	2,615		$	13		$	2,628
	Services revenues	1,326			112			133			1,571			22			1,593
	Total consolidated revenues	3,798			155			233			4,186			35			4,221
	Gross profit	$	2,088		$	99		$	152		$	2,339		$	17		$	2,356
	Gross profit percentage	55		%	63.6		%	65.4		%	55.9		%	48.3		%	55.8		%
	Research and development										366			26			392
	Selling, general and administrative										1,076			37			1,113
	Restructuring and acquisition-related charges										—			—			—
	Total costs and expenses										1,442			63			1,505
	Operating income (expense)										$	897		$	(46	)	$	851
		EMC			VMware			Corp			Consolidated
		Information			Virtual			Reconciling
Infrastructure plus Pivotal			Infrastructure			Items
			within EMC
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2013
Revenues:
Product revenues	$	2,628		$	484		$	—		$	3,112
Services revenues	1,593			682			—			2,275
Total consolidated revenues	4,221			1,166			—			5,387
Gross profit	$	2,356		$	1,042		$	(100	)	$	3,298
Gross profit percentage	55.8		%	89.3		%	—			61.2		%
Research and development	392			191			93			676
Selling, general and administrative	1,113			450			150			1,713
Restructuring and acquisition-related charges	—			—			148			148
Total costs and expenses	1,505			641			391			2,537
Operating income (expense)	851			401			(491		)	761
Non-operating income (expense), net	(74		)	4			—			(70		)
Income tax provision (benefit)	187			83			(194		)	76
Net income	590			322			(297		)	615
Net income attributable to the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.	—			(62		)	27			(35		)
Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	$	590		$	260		$	(270	)	$	580
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
	March 31,			March 31,
	2014			2013
United States	$	2,835		$	2,832
Europe, Middle East and Africa	1,592			1,477
Asia Pacific and Japan	722			738
Latin America, Mexico and Canada	330			340
Total	$	5,479		$	5,387
No country other than the United States accounted for 10% or more of revenues during the three months ended March 31, 2014 or 2013.
Long-lived assets, excluding financial instruments, deferred tax assets, goodwill and intangible assets, in the United States were $4,480 million at March 31, 2014 and $4,433 million at December 31, 2013. Internationally, long-lived assets, excluding financial instruments, deferred tax assets, goodwill and intangible assets, were $961 million at March 31, 2014 and $877 million at December 31, 2013. 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 March 31, 2014 or December 31, 2013.

Basis_of_Presentation_Basis_of

Basis of Presentation Basis of Presentation (Policies)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
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 manages the Company as part of a federation of three businesses: EMC Information Infrastructure, VMware Virtual Infrastructure and Pivotal.
	EMC’s Information Infrastructure business provides a foundation for organizations to store, manage, protect, analyze and secure ever-increasing quantities of information, while at the same time improving business agility, lowering cost, and enhancing competitive advantage. These benefits are primarily achieved though virtualization. EMC’s Information Infrastructure business comprises three segments – Information Storage, RSA Information Security and Information Intelligence Group.
	EMC’s VMware Virtual Infrastructure business, which is represented by EMC’s majority equity stake in VMware, Inc. ("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.
	EMC's Pivotal business ("Pivotal") was formed in the second quarter of 2013. Pivotal unites strategic technology, people and programs formerly within EMC and VMware, including Greenplum, Cloud Foundry, Spring, Cetas, Pivotal Labs, GemFire and other products. Pivotal is building a new platform comprising next-generation data fabrics, application fabrics and a cloud independent platform-as-a-service ("PaaS").
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 VMware and Pivotal, 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, 2013 which are contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 25, 2014.
	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-month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013.
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, the shares issuable under our $1.725 billion 1.75% convertible senior notes due 2013 (the "2013 Notes") and the 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 and comparability of prior year financial data	'
	Reclassifications
	Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current year's presentation. During the first quarter of 2014, the Information Storage segment acquired the Data Computing Appliance and implementation services businesses from the Pivotal segment. The acquisition of these businesses was accounted for as a business combination between entities under common control. We reflected the impact of the transaction on our segment for the first quarter of 2014 and included the financial results of the acquired businesses in the Information Storage segment and excluded these from the Pivotal segment. We recast the segment disclosures for the prior financial reporting period to present the impact of the transaction. 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 April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued new accounting guidance on reporting discontinued operations and disclosures of disposals of components of an entity which clarifies the scope of what should be reported as discontinued operations and expands required disclosures. This new guidance is effective for the periods beginning after December 15, 2014. We do not expect that the adoption of this new guidance will have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
	In July 2013, the 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. The prospective adoption of this new accounting guidance in the first quarter of 2014 did not 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. The adoption of this new accounting guidance in the first quarter of 2014 did not 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)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
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 Three Months Ended
		March 31,			March 31,
		2014			2013
	Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	$	392		$	580
	Transfers (to) from the non-controlling interests in VMware, Inc.:
	Increase in EMC Corporation’s additional paid-in-capital for VMware’s equity issuances	47			36
	Decrease in EMC Corporation’s additional paid-in-capital for VMware’s other equity activity	(171		)	(168		)
	Net transfers (to) from non-controlling interests	(124		)	(132		)
	Change from net income attributable to EMC Corporation and transfers from the non-controlling interests in VMware, Inc.	$	268		$	448

Business_Combinations_Intangib1

Business Combinations, Intangibles and Goodwill (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Intangible Assets, Excluding Goodwill	'
	Intangible Assets
	Intangible assets, excluding goodwill, as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 consist of (tables in millions):
		March 31, 2014
		Gross Carrying			Accumulated			Net Book Value
		Amount			Amortization
	Purchased technology	$	2,476		$	(1,485	)	$	991
	Patents	225			(106		)	119
	Software licenses	102			(91		)	11
	Trademarks and tradenames	212			(122		)	90
	Customer relationships and customer lists	1,463			(883		)	580
	Leasehold interest	147			(12		)	135
	Other	43			(28		)	15
	Total intangible assets, excluding goodwill	$	4,668		$	(2,727	)	$	1,941
		December 31, 2013
		Gross Carrying			Accumulated			Net Book Value
		Amount			Amortization
	Purchased technology	$	2,356		$	(1,429	)	$	927
	Patents	225			(102		)	123
	Software licenses	101			(90		)	11
	Trademarks and tradenames	171			(118		)	53
	Customer relationships and customer lists	1,386			(855		)	531
	Leasehold interest	145			(11		)	134
	Other	28			(27		)	1
	Total intangible assets, excluding goodwill	$	4,412		$	(2,632	)	$	1,780
Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill	'
	Goodwill
	Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill, net, on a consolidated basis and by segment, for the three months ended March 31, 2014 consist of (table in millions):
		Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
		Information			Information			RSA		Pivotal			VMware		Total
		Storage			Intelligence			Information					Virtual
					Group			Security					Infrastructure
	Balance, beginning of the period	$	7,486		$	1,487		$	2,203	$	177		$	3,071	$	14,424
	Goodwill resulting from acquisitions	—			—			—		—			879		879
	Finalization of purchase price allocations and other, net	—			(2		)	—		—			—		(2		)
	Goodwill transferred in acquisition of Pivotal businesses	6			—			—		(6		)	—		—
	Balance, end of the period	$	7,492		$	1,485		$	2,203	$	171		$	3,950	$	15,301
VMware | AirWatch	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Schedule of Business Acquisitions, by Acquisition	'
	The following table summarizes the allocation of the consideration to the fair value of the assets acquired and net liabilities assumed, net of cash acquired (table in millions):
	Other current assets	$	60
	Intangible assets:
	Purchased technology (weighted-average useful life of 6 years)	118
	Customer relationships and customer lists (weighted-average useful life of 8 years)	78
	Trademarks and tradenames (weighted-average useful life of 8 years)	40
	Other (weighted-average useful life of 3 years)	14
	Total intangible assets, net, excluding goodwill	250
	Goodwill	879
	Other assets	17
	Total assets acquired	1,206
	Unearned revenue	(45		)
	Other assumed liabilities, net of acquired assets	(69		)
	Total net liabilities assumed	(114		)
	Fair value of assets acquired and net liabilities assumed	$	1,092

Debt_Tables

Debt (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Key Components of Convertible Debt	'
	The following table represents the key components of our interest expense on convertible debt for the three months ended March 31, 2013 (table in millions):
		March 31,
		2013
	Contractual interest expense on the coupon	$	7
	Amortization of the discount component recognized as interest expense	16
	Total interest expense on the convertible debt	$	23
	Our long-term debt as of March 31, 2014 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	%	$	1,996
	$1.0 billion 3.375% Notes due 2023		99.925	%	$	999
					$	5,494

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Assets1

Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Composition of Investments	'
	The following tables summarize the composition of our short- and long-term investments at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 (tables in millions):
		March 31, 2014
		Amortized			Unrealized			Unrealized			Aggregate
		Cost			Gains			(Losses)			Fair Value
	U.S. government and agency obligations	$	2,743		$	4		$	(2	)	$	2,745
	U.S. corporate debt securities	2,352			5			(1		)	2,356
	High yield corporate debt securities	543			23			(1		)	565
	Municipal obligations	825			3			—			828
	Auction rate securities	63			—			(4		)	59
	Foreign debt securities	2,294			6			(2		)	2,298
	Total fixed income securities	8,820			41			(10		)	8,851
	Publicly traded equity securities	71			52			(4		)	119
	Total	$	8,891		$	93		$	(14	)	$	8,970
		December 31, 2013
		Amortized			Unrealized			Unrealized			Aggregate
		Cost			Gains			(Losses)			Fair Value
	U.S. government and agency obligations	$	3,726		$	4		$	(3	)	$	3,727
	U.S. corporate debt securities	2,260			8			(2		)	2,266
	High yield corporate debt securities	515			19			(3		)	531
	Municipal obligations	860			3			—			863
	Auction rate securities	63			—			(3		)	60
	Foreign debt securities	2,152			6			(3		)	2,155
	Total fixed income securities	9,576			40			(14		)	9,602
	Publicly traded equity securities	72			24			(1		)	95
	Total	$	9,648		$	64		$	(15	)	$	9,697
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 March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 (tables in millions):
		March 31, 2014
		Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
	Cash	$	1,707		$	—		$	—		$	1,707
	Cash equivalents	4,264			320			—			4,584
	U.S. government and agency obligations	1,796			949			—			2,745
	U.S. corporate debt securities	—			2,356			—			2,356
	High yield corporate debt securities	—			565			—			565
	Municipal obligations	—			828			—			828
	Auction rate securities	—			—			59			59
	Foreign debt securities	—			2,298			—			2,298
	Publicly traded equity securities	119			—			—			119
	Total cash and investments	$	7,886		$	7,316		$	59		$	15,261
	Other items:
	Strategic investments held at cost	$	—		$	—		$	384		$	384
	Investment in joint venture	—			—			35			35
	Long-term debt carried at discounted cost	—			(5,496		)	—			(5,496		)
	Foreign exchange derivative assets	—			21			—			21
	Foreign exchange derivative liabilities	—			(18		)	—			(18		)
	Commodity derivative assets	—			1			—			1
		31-Dec-13
		Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
	Cash	$	1,725		$	—		$	—		$	1,725
	Cash equivalents	5,674			492			—			6,166
	U.S. government and agency obligations	1,797			1,930			—			3,727
	U.S. corporate debt securities	—			2,266			—			2,266
	High yield corporate debt securities	—			531			—			531
	Municipal obligations	—			863			—			863
	Auction rate securities	—			—			60			60
	Foreign debt securities	—			2,155			—			2,155
	Publicly traded equity securities	95			—			—			95
	Total cash and investments	$	9,291		$	8,237		$	60		$	17,588
	Other items:
	Strategic investments held at cost	$	—		$	—		$	379		$	379
	Investment in joint venture	—			—			35			35
	Convertible debt carried at discounted cost	—			(5,419		)	—			(5,419		)
	Foreign exchange derivative assets	—			31			—			31
	Foreign exchange derivative liabilities	—			(20		)	—			(20		)
	Commodity derivative liabilities	—			4			—			4
Changes in Fair Value of Level 3 Financial Assets	'
	The following table provides a summary of changes in fair value of our Level 3 auction rate securities for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 (table in millions):
		For the Three Months Ended
		31-Mar-14			31-Mar-13
	Balance, beginning of the period	$	60		$	70
	Calls at par value	—			(1		)
	Other-than-temporary impairment loss	—			(1		)
	(Increase) decrease in previously recognized unrealized losses included in other comprehensive income	(1		)	—
	Balance, end of the period	$	59		$	68
	The following table provides a summary of changes in fair value of our LenovoEMC joint venture for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 (table in millions):
		For the Three Months Ended
		March 31, 2014			March 31, 2013
	Balance, beginning of the period	$	35		$	33
	Realized gain included in other expense, net	—			—
	Balance, end of period	$	35		$	33
Unrealized Losses on Investments by Investment Category and Length of Time in Continuous Unrealized Loss Position	'
	Unrealized losses on investments at March 31, 2014 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	$	757		$	(2	)	$	—		$	—		$	757	$	(2	)
	U.S. corporate debt securities	700			(1		)	—			—			700		(1		)
	High yield corporate debt securities	69			(1		)	—			—			69		(1		)
	Auction rate securities	—			—			59			(4		)	59		(4		)
	Foreign debt securities	573			(2		)	—			—			573		(2		)
	Publicly traded equity securities	8			(3		)	1			(1		)	9		(4		)
	Total	$	2,107		$	(9	)	$	60		$	(5	)	$	2,167	$	(14	)
Contractual Maturities of Investments	'
	The contractual maturities of fixed income securities held at March 31, 2014 are as follows (table in millions):
		March 31, 2014
		Amortized			Aggregate
		Cost Basis			Fair Value
	Due within one year	$	1,897		$	1,900
	Due after 1 year through 5 years	5,919			5,933
	Due after 5 years through 10 years	557			574
	Due after 10 years	447			444
	Total	$	8,820		$	8,851

Inventories_Tables

Inventories (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Components of Inventories	'
	Inventories consist of (table in millions):
		March 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Work-in-process	$	699	$	696
	Finished goods	722		638
		$	1,421	$	1,334

Accounts_and_Notes_Receivable_1

Accounts and Notes Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Receivables [Abstract]	'
Contractual Amounts Due Under Leases	'
	The contractual amounts due under the leases we retained as of March 31, 2014 were as follows (table in millions):
	Year	Contractual Amounts
		Due Under Leases
	Due within one year	$	107
	Due within two years	86
	Due within three years	76
	Thereafter	1
	Total	270
	Less: Amounts representing interest	4
	Present value	266
	Current portion (included in accounts and notes receivable)	105
	Long-term portion (included in other assets, net)	$	161
Allowance for Credit Losses	'
	The following table presents the activity of our allowance for credit losses related to lease receivables for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 (table in millions):
		For the Three Months Ended
		March 31,			March 31,
		2014			2013
	Balance, beginning of the period	$	9		$	17
	Recoveries	(7		)	(6		)
	Provisions	7			6
	Balance, end of the period	$	9		$	17

Property_Plant_and_Equipment_T

Property, Plant and Equipment (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]	'
Components of Property, Plant and Equipment	'
	Property, plant and equipment consist of (table in millions):
		March 31,			December 31,
		2014			2013
	Furniture and fixtures	$	239		$	229
	Equipment and software	6,182			5,973
	Buildings and improvements	2,237			2,089
	Land	133			132
	Building construction in progress	141			215
		8,932			8,638
	Accumulated depreciation	(5,364		)	(5,160		)
		$	3,568		$	3,478

Accrued_Expenses_Tables

Accrued Expenses (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]	'
Components of Accrued Expenses	'
	Accrued expenses consist of (table in millions):
		March 31,			December 31,
		2014			2013
	Salaries and benefits	$	897		$	1,078
	Product warranties	274			289
	Dividends payable (see Note 12)	211			205
	Partner rebates	166			214
	Restructuring, current (See Note 13)	154			84
	Derivatives	17			23
	Other	949			890
		$	2,668		$	2,783
Activity in Warranty Accrual for Product Warranty	'
	The following represents the activity in our warranty accrual for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 (table in millions):
		March 31,			March 31,
		2014			2013
	Balance, beginning of the period	$	289		$	278
	Provision	42			45
	Amounts charged to the accrual	(57		)	(40		)
	Balance, end of the period	$	274		$	283

Stockholders_Equity_Tables

Stockholders' Equity (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
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
		March 31,				March 31,
		2014				2013
	Numerator:
	Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	$	392			$	580
	Incremental dilution from VMware	(2		)		(1		)
	Net income – dilution attributable to EMC Corporation	$	390			$	579
	Denominator:
	Weighted average shares, basic	2,029				2,102
	Weighted common stock equivalents	26				30
	Assumed conversion of the 2013 Notes and associated warrants	21				57
	Weighted average shares, diluted	2,076				2,189
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 2013(a)	$	(53	)		$	31		$	(106	)	$	(110	)	$	(1	)	$	(239	)
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	(4		)		24			(1		)	—			(1		)	18
	Net losses (gains) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	—				(5		)	(2		)	—			—			(7		)
	Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)	(4		)		19			(3		)	—			(1		)	11
	Balance as of March 31, 2014(b)	$	(57	)		$	50		$	(109	)	$	(110	)	$	(2	)	$	(228	)
	__________________
	(a)	Net of taxes (benefits) of $18 million for unrealized net gains on investments, $(66) million for unrealized net losses on derivatives and $(61) million for actuarial net loss on pension plans.
	(b)	Net of taxes (benefits) of $29 million for unrealized net gains on investments, $(67) million for unrealized net losses on derivatives and $(61) 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 months ended March 31, 2014 are as follows (table in millions):
	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Components		Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income				Impacted Line Item on
							Consolidated Income Statements
	Net gain on investments:		$	8			Investment income
			(3		)		Provision for income tax
	Net of tax		$	5
	Net gain on derivatives:
	Foreign exchange contracts		$	1			Product sales revenue
	Foreign exchange contracts		1				Cost of product sales
	Total net gain on derivatives before tax		2
			—				Provision for income tax
	Net of tax		$	2

Restructuring_and_AcquisitionR1

Restructuring and Acquisition-Related Charges (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
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 March 31, 2014:
	2014 EMC Program
	Category	Balance as of		2014			Utilization			Balance as of March 31, 2014
		December 31,		Charges
		2013
	Workforce reductions	$	—	$	117		$	(15	)	$	102
	Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations	—		2			(1		)	1
	Total	$	—	$	119		$	(16	)	$	103
	Other EMC Programs
	Category	Balance as of		Adjustments to the Provision			Utilization			Balance as of March 31, 2014
		December 31,
		2013
	Workforce reductions	$	66	$	(8	)	$	(21	)	$	37
	Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations	24		3			(7		)	20
	Total	$	90	$	(5	)	$	(28	)	$	57
	Three Months Ended March 31, 2013:
	2013 EMC Programs
	Category	Balance as of		2013			Utilization			Balance as of March 31, 2013
		December 31,		Charges
		2012
	Workforce reductions	$	—	$	79		$	(13	)	$	66
	Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations	—		—			—			—
	Total	$	—	$	79		$	(13	)	$	66
	2013 VMware Programs
	Category	Balance as of		2013			Utilization			Balance as of March 31, 2013
		December 31,		Charges
		2012
	Workforce reductions	$	—	$	54		$	(28	)	$	26
	Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations	—		—			—			—
	Total	$	—	$	54		$	(28	)	$	26
	Other EMC Programs
	Category	Balance as of		Adjustments to the Provision			Utilization			Balance as of March 31, 2013
		December 31,
		2012
	Workforce reductions	$	63	$	(4	)	$	(12	)	$	47
	Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations	28		7			(5		)	30
	Total	$	91	$	3		$	(17	)	$	77

Segment_Information_Tables

Segment Information (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Segment Information	'
	Our segment information for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 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:
	March 31, 2014
	Revenues:
	Product revenues	$	2,302		$	35		$	104		$	2,441		$	11		$	2,452
	Services revenues	1,378			119			140			1,637			38			1,675
	Total consolidated revenues	3,680			154			244			4,078			49			4,127
	Gross profit	$	1,976		$	99		$	162		$	2,237		$	19		$	2,256
	Gross profit percentage	53.7		%	64.7		%	66.2		%	54.9		%	38.1		%	54.7		%
	Research and development										377			31			408
	Selling, general and administrative										1,102			41			1,143
	Restructuring and acquisition-related charges										—			—			—
	Total costs and expenses										1,479			72			1,551
	Operating income (expense)										$	758		$	(53	)	$	705
		EMC			VMware			Corp			Consolidated
		Information			Virtual			Reconciling
		Infrastructure plus Pivotal			Infrastructure			Items
					within EMC
	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2014
	Revenues:
	Product revenues	$	2,452		$	556		$	—		$	3,008
	Services revenues	1,675			796			—			2,471
	Total consolidated revenues	4,127			1,352			—			5,479
	Gross profit	$	2,256		$	1,184		$	(93	)	$	3,347
	Gross profit percentage	54.7		%	87.6		%	—			61.1		%
	Research and development	408			229			94			731
	Selling, general and administrative	1,143			537			172			1,852
	Restructuring and acquisition-related charges	—			—			119			119
	Total costs and expenses	1,551			766			385			2,702
	Operating income (expense)	705			418			(478		)	645
	Non-operating income (expense), net	(80		)	6			—			(74		)
	Income tax provision (benefit)	170			83			(114		)	139
	Net income	455			341			(364		)	432
	Net income attributable to the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.	—			(68		)	28			(40		)
	Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	$	455		$	273		$	(336	)	$	392
		EMC Information Infrastructure
		Information			Information			RSA			EMC			Pivotal			EMC Information Infrastructure plus Pivotal
		Storage			Intelligence			Information			Information
					Group			Security			Infrastructure
	Three Months Ended:
	March 31, 2013
	Revenues:
	Product revenues	$	2,472		$	43		$	100		$	2,615		$	13		$	2,628
	Services revenues	1,326			112			133			1,571			22			1,593
	Total consolidated revenues	3,798			155			233			4,186			35			4,221
	Gross profit	$	2,088		$	99		$	152		$	2,339		$	17		$	2,356
	Gross profit percentage	55		%	63.6		%	65.4		%	55.9		%	48.3		%	55.8		%
	Research and development										366			26			392
	Selling, general and administrative										1,076			37			1,113
	Restructuring and acquisition-related charges										—			—			—
	Total costs and expenses										1,442			63			1,505
	Operating income (expense)										$	897		$	(46	)	$	851
		EMC			VMware			Corp			Consolidated
		Information			Virtual			Reconciling
		Infrastructure plus Pivotal			Infrastructure			Items
					within EMC
	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2013
Revenues:
Product revenues	$	2,628		$	484		$	—		$	3,112
Services revenues	1,593			682			—			2,275
Total consolidated revenues	4,221			1,166			—			5,387
Gross profit	$	2,356		$	1,042		$	(100	)	$	3,298
Gross profit percentage	55.8		%	89.3		%	—			61.2		%
Research and development	392			191			93			676
Selling, general and administrative	1,113			450			150			1,713
Restructuring and acquisition-related charges	—			—			148			148
Total costs and expenses	1,505			641			391			2,537
Operating income (expense)	851			401			(491		)	761
Non-operating income (expense), net	(74		)	4			—			(70		)
Income tax provision (benefit)	187			83			(194		)	76
Net income	590			322			(297		)	615
Net income attributable to the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.	—			(62		)	27			(35		)
Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	$	590		$	260		$	(270	)	$	580
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
		March 31,			March 31,
		2014			2013
	United States	$	2,835		$	2,832
	Europe, Middle East and Africa	1,592			1,477
	Asia Pacific and Japan	722			738
	Latin America, Mexico and Canada	330			340
	Total	$	5,479		$	5,387

Basis_of_Presentation_Addition

Basis of Presentation - Additional Information (Detail) (Convertible Senior Notes 2013, USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	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 $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]	'	'
Non-controlling interest	$1,543	$1,485
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	1,438	1,380
Pivotal	'	'
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]	'	'
Percentage of ownership non-controlling interest	84.00%	'
Non-controlling interest	$105	$105

Effect_of_Changes_in_Ownership

Effect of Changes in Ownership Interest in VMware on Equity (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]	'	'
Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	$392	$580
Net transfers (to) from non-controlling interest	-107	-136
VMware	'	'
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]	'	'
Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	392	580
Increase in EMC Corporation’s additional paid-in-capital for VMware’s equity issuances	47	36
Decrease in EMC Corporation’s additional paid-in-capital for VMware’s other equity activity	-171	-168
Net transfers (to) from non-controlling interest	-124	-132
Change from net income attributable to EMC Corporation and transfers from the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.	$268	$448

Business_Combinations_Intangib2

Business Combinations, Intangibles and Goodwill - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	$1,068	$184
Increase in Restricted Cash	76	0
VMware | AirWatch	'	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred, Equity Interests Issued and Issuable	24	'
Business Combination, Contingent Compensation	300	'
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred	1,092	'
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	1,068	'
Business Combination, Retention Bonus	$19	'

Business_Combinations_Intangib3

Business Combinations, Intangibles and Goodwill - Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Schedule of Intangible Assets, Excluding Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Carrying Amount	$4,668	$4,412
Accumulated Amortization	-2,727	-2,632
Net Book Value	1,941	1,780
Purchased Technology	'	'
Schedule of Intangible Assets, Excluding Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Carrying Amount	2,476	2,356
Accumulated Amortization	-1,485	-1,429
Net Book Value	991	927
Patents	'	'
Schedule of Intangible Assets, Excluding Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Carrying Amount	225	225
Accumulated Amortization	-106	-102
Net Book Value	119	123
Software Licenses	'	'
Schedule of Intangible Assets, Excluding Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Carrying Amount	102	101
Accumulated Amortization	-91	-90
Net Book Value	11	11
Trademarks And Tradenames	'	'
Schedule of Intangible Assets, Excluding Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Carrying Amount	212	171
Accumulated Amortization	-122	-118
Net Book Value	90	53
Customer Relationships And Customer Lists	'	'
Schedule of Intangible Assets, Excluding Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Carrying Amount	1,463	1,386
Accumulated Amortization	-883	-855
Net Book Value	580	531
Leasehold Interest	'	'
Schedule of Intangible Assets, Excluding Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Carrying Amount	147	145
Accumulated Amortization	-12	-11
Net Book Value	135	134
Other Intangible Assets	'	'
Schedule of Intangible Assets, Excluding Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Carrying Amount	43	28
Accumulated Amortization	-28	-27
Net Book Value	$15	$1

Business_Combinations_Intangib4

Business Combinations, Intangibles and Goodwill - Goodwill (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014
Goodwill [Roll Forward]	'
Balance, beginning of the period	$14,424
Goodwill resulting from acquisitions	879
Finalization of purchase price allocations and other, net	-2
Goodwill transferred in formation of Pivotal	0
Balance, end of the period	15,301
Information Storage	'
Goodwill [Roll Forward]	'
Balance, beginning of the period	7,486
Goodwill resulting from acquisitions	0
Finalization of purchase price allocations and other, net	0
Goodwill transferred in formation of Pivotal	6
Balance, end of the period	7,492
Information Intelligence Group	'
Goodwill [Roll Forward]	'
Balance, beginning of the period	1,487
Goodwill resulting from acquisitions	0
Finalization of purchase price allocations and other, net	-2
Goodwill transferred in formation of Pivotal	0
Balance, end of the period	1,485
RSA Information Security	'
Goodwill [Roll Forward]	'
Balance, beginning of the period	2,203
Goodwill resulting from acquisitions	0
Finalization of purchase price allocations and other, net	0
Goodwill transferred in formation of Pivotal	0
Balance, end of the period	2,203
Pivotal	'
Goodwill [Roll Forward]	'
Balance, beginning of the period	177
Goodwill resulting from acquisitions	0
Finalization of purchase price allocations and other, net	0
Goodwill transferred in formation of Pivotal	-6
Balance, end of the period	171
VMware Virtual Infrastructure Within EMC	'
Goodwill [Roll Forward]	'
Balance, beginning of the period	3,071
Goodwill resulting from acquisitions	879
Finalization of purchase price allocations and other, net	0
Goodwill transferred in formation of Pivotal	0
Balance, end of the period	$3,950

Business_Combinations_Intangib5

Business Combinations, Intangibles and Goodwill - Allocation of Purchase Price (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014
Other Intangible Assets	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life	'3 years
Trademarks and Trade Names	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life	'8 years
Customer Relationships And Customer Lists	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life	'8 years
Developed Technology Rights	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life	'6 years
VMware | AirWatch	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Other current assets	60
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Noncurrent Liabilities, Deferred Revenue	-45
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Assets	1,206
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Liabilities	-114
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Other Current Liabilities, Net of Current Assets	-69
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired, Goodwill, and Liabilities Assumed, Net	1,092
Other Assets	17
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles	250
Goodwill	879
VMware | Other Intangible Assets | AirWatch	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles	14
VMware | Trademarks and Trade Names | AirWatch	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles	40
VMware | Customer Relationships And Customer Lists | AirWatch	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles	78
VMware | Developed Technology Rights | AirWatch	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles	118

Debt_Key_Components_of_Longter

Debt Key Components of Long-term Debt (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	1.00%	'
Long-term Debt	$5,494	$5,494
Long-term Notes $2.5B	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	99.94%	'
Long-term Debt	2,499	'
Long-term Notes $2.0B	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	99.76%	'
Long-term Debt	1,996	'
Long-term Notes $1.0B	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	99.93%	'
Long-term Debt	999	'
Long-term Notes $5.5B	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term Debt	$5,494	'

Key_Components_of_Convertible_

Key Components of Convertible Debt (Detail) (Convertible Senior Notes 2011 and 2013, USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013
Convertible Senior Notes 2011 and 2013	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Contractual interest expense on the coupon	$7
Amortization of the discount component recognized as interest expense	16
Total interest expense on the convertible debt	$23

Debt_Additional_Information_De

Debt - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)

Dec. 31, 2013

Jan. 07, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Nov. 13, 2006

Nov. 30, 2006

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2013

Jan. 07, 2014

Nov. 30, 2006

Dec. 31, 2013

Nov. 30, 2006

Nov. 13, 2006

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Jun. 30, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2010

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

Warrant

Convertible Senior Notes 2013

Convertible Senior Notes 2013

Convertible Senior Notes 2013

Convertible Senior Notes 2011 and 2013

Convertible Senior Notes 2011 and 2013

Convertible Senior Notes 2011 and 2013

Purchased Options

Purchased Options

Purchased Options

Sold Warrants

Sold Warrants

Exercised Warrants

Long-term Debt

Long-term Debt

Interest Rate Swap

Interest Rate Swap

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

'

35

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

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

'

858,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Observation period

'

'

'20 days

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

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

'

'

62.6978

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Conversion premium

'

'

26.50%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Conversion price

'

'

$15.95

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Long term debt, aggregate principal

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

5,500,000,000

'

'

Debt Instrument, unamortized discount

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

6,000,000

'

'

'

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate During Period

'

'

'

'

'

5.60%

5.60%

'

'

'

'

'

'

2.54%

'

'

'

Semi-annual interest rate

'

'

1.75%

1.75%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt Instrument, frequency of periodic payment

'

'

'semi-annually

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Incremental common shares attributable to call options and warrants

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

215

'

215

'

'

'

'

'

'

Aggregate amount paid for purchased options

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

669,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Purchased options shares received

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

35

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Purchased Options Remaining

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

108

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Common stock at an exercise price

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$19.55

$19.31

'

'

'

'

'

Proceeds from issuance of warrants

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

391,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

Warrants and Rights Outstanding

109,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Shares issues for exercised warrants

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

29

'

'

'

'

Conversion premium based on the closing price

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

53.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

Closing price per share

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$12.61

'

'

'

'

'

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

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

900,000,000

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

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$176,000,000

'

Composition_of_Investments_Det

Composition of Investments (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
US Government Agencies Debt Securities	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost	$2,743	$3,726
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Gains	4	4
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Losses	-2	-3
Available For Sale Securities Fair Value	2,745	3,727
Debt Securities	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost	8,820	9,576
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Gains	41	40
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Losses	-10	-14
Available For Sale Securities Fair Value	8,851	9,602
Publicly Traded Equity Securities	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost	71	72
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Gains	52	24
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Losses	-4	-1
Available For Sale Securities Fair Value	119	95
Debt and Equity Securities	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost	8,891	9,648
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Gains	93	64
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Losses	-14	-15
Available For Sale Securities Fair Value	8,970	9,697
US Corporate Debt Securities	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost	2,352	2,260
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Gains	5	8
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Losses	-1	-2
Available For Sale Securities Fair Value	2,356	2,266
High Yield Corporate Debt Securities	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost	543	515
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Gains	23	19
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Losses	-1	-3
Available For Sale Securities Fair Value	565	531
Municipal Obligations	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost	825	860
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Gains	3	3
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Losses	0	0
Available For Sale Securities Fair Value	828	863
Auction Rate Securities	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost	63	63
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Gains	0	0
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Losses	-4	-3
Available For Sale Securities Fair Value	59	60
Foreign Debt Securities	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost	2,294	2,152
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Gains	6	6
Available For Sale Securities Unrealized Losses	-2	-3
Available For Sale Securities Fair Value	$2,298	$2,155

Fair_Value_Hierarchy_For_Finan

Fair Value Hierarchy For Financial Assets And Liabilities Measured At Fair Value (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
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	$15,261	$17,588
Investment in joint venture, fair value	35	35
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	59	60
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	7,316	8,237
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	7,886	9,291
Investment in joint venture, fair value	0	0
Cash Equivalents	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	4,584	6,166
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	320	492
Cash Equivalents | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	4,264	5,674
Cash	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	1,707	1,725
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	1,707	1,725
Convertible Debt	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Convertible debt	'	-5,419
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	'	-5,419
Convertible Debt | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Convertible debt	'	'
Long-term Debt	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term Debt	5,496	'
Long-term Debt | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term Debt	0	'
Long-term Debt | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term Debt	-5,496	'
Long-term Debt | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term Debt	0	'
Private Equity Securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	384	379
Private Equity Securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	384	379
Private Equity Securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	'	'
Private Equity Securities | 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	119	95
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	119	95
Foreign Debt Securities	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	2,298	2,155
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	2,298	2,155
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	59	60
Auction Rate Securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	59	60
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	828	863
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	828	863
Municipal Obligations | 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	565	531
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	565	531
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	2,356	2,266
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	2,356	2,266
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	2,745	3,727
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	949	1,930
US Government Agencies Debt Securities | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Total cash and investments	1,796	1,797
Foreign Exchange Contract	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Foreign exchange derivative assets	21	31
Foreign exchange derivative liabilities	-18	-20
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	21	31
Foreign exchange derivative liabilities	-18	-20
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	4
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	4
Commodity Contract | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Commodity derivative liabilities	'	'

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Assets2

Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2012

Mar. 31, 2014

Security

Minimum

Maximum

US Government Agencies Debt Securities

US Government Agencies Debt Securities

US Corporate Debt Securities

US Corporate Debt Securities

High Yield Corporate Debt Securities

High Yield Corporate Debt Securities

Municipal Obligations

Municipal Obligations

Debt Securities

Debt Securities

Foreign Debt Securities

Foreign Debt Securities

Foreign Sovereign Debt Securities

Auction Rate Securities

Auction Rate Securities

Variable Rate Demand Note

LenovoEMC

LenovoEMC

Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Joint Venture, Ownership Interest Percentage

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

49.00%

Short-term investments

$1,964,000,000

$2,773,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$64,000,000

'

'

Number of Auction Rate Securities With Underlying Loans Which Have No Guarantees

1

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Available-for-sale Securities

'

'

'

'

2,745,000,000

3,727,000,000

2,356,000,000

2,266,000,000

565,000,000

531,000,000

828,000,000

863,000,000

8,851,000,000

9,602,000,000

2,298,000,000

2,155,000,000

'

59,000,000

60,000,000

'

'

'

Average credit rating

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'A+

'

'AAA

'AA

'

'

'

'

Investment Holding Period

'5 years

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Percentage of Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

4.00%

'

'

'

'

'

Auction rate securities that have partial guarantees by the U.S. government, market value

$0

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Coupon rate used to estimate fair value of invesments - Start Range

'

'

10.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Coupon rate used to estimate fair value of invesments - End Range

'

'

'

0.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Discount rate used to estimate fair value of investments

1.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

6.00%

'

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%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Changes_In_Fair_Value_of_Level

Changes In Fair Value of Level 3 Financial Assets (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
LenovoEMC	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]	'	'
Balance, beginning of the period	$35	$33
Realized gain (loss) included in other income (expense)	0	0
Balance, end of the period	35	33
Auction Rate Securities	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]	'	'
Balance, beginning of the period	60	70
Calls at par value	0	-1
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments	0	-1
(Increase) decrease in previously recognized unrealized losses included in other comprehensive income	-1	0
Balance, end of the period	$59	$68

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 $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]	'
Less Than 12 Months Fair Value	$2,107
Less than 12 Months Unrealized Losses	-9
12 Months or Greater Fair Value	60
12 Months or Greater Unrealized Losses	-5
Total Fair Value	2,167
Total, Gross Unrealized Losses	14
US Government Agencies Debt Securities	'
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]	'
Less Than 12 Months Fair Value	757
Less than 12 Months Unrealized Losses	-2
12 Months or Greater Fair Value	0
12 Months or Greater Unrealized Losses	0
Total Fair Value	757
Total, Gross Unrealized Losses	2
US Corporate Debt Securities	'
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]	'
Less Than 12 Months Fair Value	700
Less than 12 Months Unrealized Losses	-1
12 Months or Greater Fair Value	0
12 Months or Greater Unrealized Losses	0
Total Fair Value	700
Total, Gross Unrealized Losses	1
High Yield Corporate Debt Securities	'
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]	'
Less Than 12 Months Fair Value	69
Less than 12 Months Unrealized Losses	-1
12 Months or Greater Fair Value	0
12 Months or Greater Unrealized Losses	0
Total Fair Value	69
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	59
12 Months or Greater Unrealized Losses	-4
Total Fair Value	59
Total, Gross Unrealized Losses	4
Foreign Debt Securities	'
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]	'
Less Than 12 Months Fair Value	573
Less than 12 Months Unrealized Losses	-2
12 Months or Greater Fair Value	0
12 Months or Greater Unrealized Losses	0
Total Fair Value	573
Total, Gross Unrealized Losses	2
Public Equity Securities [Member]	'
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]	'
Less Than 12 Months Fair Value	8
Less than 12 Months Unrealized Losses	3
12 Months or Greater Fair Value	1
12 Months or Greater Unrealized Losses	1
Total Fair Value	9
Total, Gross Unrealized Losses	($4)

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Assets4

Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities Contractual Maturities of Investments (Detail) (Debt Securities, USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Debt Securities	'	'
Amortized Cost Basis	'	'
Due within one year	$1,897	'
Due after 1 year through 5 years	5,919	'
Due after 5 years through 10 years	557	'
Due after 10 years	447	'
Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost	8,820	9,576
Aggregate Fair Value	'	'
Due within one year	1,900	'
Due after 1 year through 5 years	5,933	'
Due after 5 years through 10 years	574	'
Due after 10 years	444	'
Available For Sale Securities Fair Value	$8,851	$9,602

Components_of_Inventories_Deta

Components of Inventories (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Work-in-process	$699	$696
Finished goods	722	638
Inventory, Net, Total	$1,421	$1,334

Contractual_Amounts_Due_under_

Contractual Amounts Due under Leases (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Receivables [Abstract]	'	'
Due within one year	$107	'
Due within two years	86	'
Due within three years	76	'
Thereafter	1	'
Total	270	252
Less amounts representing interest	4	'
Present value	266	'
Current portion (included in accounts and notes receivable)	105	'
Long-term portion (included in other assets, net)	$161	'

Allowance_for_Credit_Losses_De

Allowance for Credit Losses (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Roll Forward]	'	'
Balance, beginning of the period	$9	$17
Recoveries	-7	-6
Provisions	7	6
Balance, end of the period	$9	$17

Accounts_and_Notes_Receivable_2

Accounts and Notes Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	1-May-14
In Millions, unless otherwise specified			Subsequent Event
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]	'	'	'
Gross lease receivables	$270	$252	'
Sales of leases to third parties without recourse	'	'	$87

Components_of_Property_Plant_a

Components of Property, Plant and Equipment (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	$8,932	$8,638
Accumulated depreciation	-5,364	-5,160
Property, plant and equipment, net	3,568	3,478
Furniture and Fixtures	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	239	229
Assets Held For Future Use	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Construction in Progress, Gross	74	'
Computer Equipment and Capitalized Software	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	6,182	5,973
Building and Building Improvements	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	2,237	2,089
Land	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	133	132
Construction in Progress	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	$141	$215

Joint_Ventures_Detail

Joint Ventures (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		75 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Capital contribution	$0	$95	'	'
VCE Company LLC	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Accumulated stock-based compensation contributed to joint venture	'	'	17	'
Consolidated ownership perentage of outstanding equity	58.00%	'	58.00%	'
Capital contribution	'	'	1,146	'
Consolidated share of losses	63.00%	63.00%	'	'
Loss From VCE	75	69	871	'
Revenue recognized from sales to VCE	170	74	'	'
Receivable from joint venture	$58	'	$58	$52

Components_of_Accrued_Expenses

Components of Accrued Expenses (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Salaries and benefits	$897	$1,078	'	'
Product warranties	274	289	283	278
Dividends Payable	211	205	'	'
Partner rebates	166	214	'	'
Restructuring, current (see Note 13)	154	84	'	'
Derivatives	17	23	'	'
Other	949	890	'	'
Accrued Liabilities, Current, Total	$2,668	$2,783	'	'

Activity_in_Warranty_Accrual_f

Activity in Warranty Accrual for Product Warranty (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Movement in Standard Product Warranty Accrual [Roll Forward]	'	'
Balance, beginning of the period	$289	$278
Provision	42	45
Amounts charged to the accrual	-57	-40
Balance, end of the period	$274	$283

Income_Taxes_Additional_Inform

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Effective income tax rates	24.30%	11.00%
Impact of the expiration of the U.S. federal research and development tax credit	'	10.90%

Reconciliation_from_Basic_To_D

Reconciliation from Basic To Diluted Earnings Per Share for both Numerators and Denominators (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Numerator:	'	'
Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	$392	$580
Incremental dilution from VMware	-2	-1
Net income - dilution attributable to EMC Corporation	$390	$579
Denominator:	'	'
Weighted average shares, basic	2,029	2,102
Weighted common stock equivalents	26	30
Assumed conversion of the 2013 Notes and associated warrants	21	57
Weighted average shares, diluted	2,076	2,189

Stockholders_Equity_Additional

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

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

13 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

Share data in Millions, unless otherwise specified

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

30-May-13

Feb. 28, 2013

Nov. 30, 2006

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

Nov. 30, 2006

Dec. 31, 2013

Apr. 23, 2014

Apr. 17, 2014

Scenario, Forecast

Scenario, Forecast

Sold Warrants

Warrant

Subsequent Event

Subsequent Event

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

6

3

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Warrants and Rights Outstanding

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$109,000,000

'

'

Repurchases of Common Stock, shares authorized to repurchase

'

'

'

'

'

250

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Total Repurchases of Common Stock, shares

16

'

'

110

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Total Repurchases of Common Stock

405,000,000

'

'

2,800,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Shares authorized for future repurchases

140

'

'

140

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Plan to spend for the year on common stock repurchases

6,000,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,000,000,000

2,000,000,000

'

'

'

'

Common Stock Dividend Rate

'

'

'

'

0.1

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.115

Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock

390,000,000

323,000,000

3,000,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Cash Paid

$202,000,000

$0

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$205,000,000

'

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net of Tax (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'
Provision for income tax	$139	$76	'
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	-228	'	-239
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	18	'	'
Net losses (gains) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	-7	'	'
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)	11	'	'
Accumulated Translation Adjustment	'	'	'
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	-57	'	-53
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	-4	'	'
Net losses (gains) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	0	'	'
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)	-4	'	'
Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss)	'	'	'
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'
Provision for income tax	29	18	'
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	50	'	31
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	24	'	'
Net losses (gains) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	-5	'	'
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)	19	'	'
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member]	'	'	'
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'
Provision for income tax	-67	-66	'
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	-109	'	-106
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	-1	'	'
Net losses (gains) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	-2	'	'
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)	-3	'	'
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment	'	'	'
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'
Provision for income tax	-61	-61	'
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	-110	'	-110
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	0	'	'
Net losses (gains) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	0	'	'
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)	0	'	'
Non-controlling Interest in VMware	'	'	'
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	-2	'	-1
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	-1	'	'
Net losses (gains) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	0	'	'
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)	($1)	'	'

Reclassification_Out_of_Accumu

Reclassification Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	'	'
Investment income	$36,000,000	$33,000,000
Provision for income tax	-139,000,000	-76,000,000
Product sales revenue	3,008,000,000	3,112,000,000
Cost of product sales	1,296,000,000	1,356,000,000
Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss)	'	'
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	'	'
Provision for income tax	-29,000,000	-18,000,000
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member]	'	'
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	'	'
Provision for income tax	67,000,000	66,000,000
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment	'	'
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	'	'
Provision for income tax	61,000,000	61,000,000
Reclassification Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss)	'	'
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	'	'
Investment income	8,000,000	'
Net of tax	5,000,000	'
Reclassification Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member]	'	'
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	'	'
Provision for income tax	0	'
Net of tax	2,000,000	'
Total net gain on derivatives before tax	2,000,000	'
Foreign Exchange Contract | Reclassification Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member]	'	'
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	'	'
Product sales revenue	1,000,000	'
Cost of product sales	-1,000,000	'
Unrealized Gain on Investments | Reclassification Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss)	'	'
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	'	'
Provision for income tax	($3,000,000)	'

Restructuring_and_AcquisitionR2

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

3 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2013

Jan. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2013

VMware

VMware

Restructuring 2014 Programs

Restructuring 2014 Programs

Restructuring 2013 Programs

Restructuring 2013 Programs

Restructuring 2013 Programs

Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations

Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations

Workforce reductions

Positions

Positions

VMware

VMware

Restructuring 2013 Programs

Restructuring 2013 Programs

Positions

VMware

VMware

Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Restructuring and acquisition-related charges

$119,000,000

$148,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Restructuring charges

114,000,000

82,000,000

'

54,000,000

'

'

'

54,000,000

'

'

0

54,000,000

Asset Impairment Charges

'

'

'

9,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Acquisition-related charges

'

2,000,000

5,000,000

1,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Restructuring and Related Cost, Number of Positions Eliminated

'

'

'

'

'

1,326

1,004

'

710

'

'

'

Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost

'

'

'

'

126,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost, to be Settled with Cash

'

'

'

'

118,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Lease termination costs for facilities

$5,000,000

$7,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

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

'

'

'

'

'

'within a year of the start of the program

'

'

'

'2015

'

'

Activity_For_Restructuring_Pro

Activity For Restructuring Program (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'	'
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)	$114	$82
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring 2014 Programs	'	'
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'	'
Beginning Balance	0	'
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)	119	'
Utilization	-16	'
Ending Balance	103	'
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring 2014 Programs | Workforce reductions	'	'
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'	'
Beginning Balance	0	'
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)	117	'
Utilization	-15	'
Ending Balance	102	'
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring 2014 Programs | Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations	'	'
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'	'
Beginning Balance	0	'
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)	2	'
Utilization	-1	'
Ending Balance	1	'
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring Other Programs	'	'
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'	'
Beginning Balance	90	91
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)	-5	3
Utilization	-28	-17
Ending Balance	57	77
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring Other Programs | Workforce reductions	'	'
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'	'
Beginning Balance	66	63
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)	-8	-4
Utilization	-21	-12
Ending Balance	37	47
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring Other Programs | Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations	'	'
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'	'
Beginning Balance	24	28
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)	3	7
Utilization	-7	-5
Ending Balance	20	30
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring 2013 Programs	'	'
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'	'
Beginning Balance	'	0
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)	'	79
Utilization	'	-13
Ending Balance	'	66
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring 2013 Programs | Workforce reductions	'	'
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'	'
Beginning Balance	'	0
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)	'	79
Utilization	'	-13
Ending Balance	'	66
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring 2013 Programs | Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations	'	'
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'	'
Beginning Balance	'	0
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)	'	0
Utilization	'	0
Ending Balance	'	0
VMware	'	'
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'	'
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)	'	54
VMware | Restructuring 2013 Programs	'	'
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'	'
Beginning Balance	'	0
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)	'	54
Utilization	'	-28
Ending Balance	'	26
VMware | Restructuring 2013 Programs | Workforce reductions	'	'
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'	'
Beginning Balance	'	0
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)	'	54
Utilization	'	-28
Ending Balance	'	26
VMware | Restructuring 2013 Programs | Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations	'	'
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'	'
Beginning Balance	'	0
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)	'	0
Utilization	'	0
Ending Balance	'	$0

Segment_Information_Additional

Segment Information - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended							3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
	segment		EMC Information Infrastructure	United States	United States	International Segment	International Segment	Geographic Concentration	Geographic Concentration	Geographic Concentration	Geographic Concentration
			segment					Sales Revenue, Segment	Sales Revenue, Segment	Long-lived Assets, Total	Long-lived Assets, Total
								Country	Country	Country
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Number of federated businesses	3	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Number of operating segments	'	'	3	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Payments to Acquire Interest in Joint Venture	$0	$95	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
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	'	'	'	$4,480	$4,433	$961	$877	'	'	'	'

Segment_Information_Segment_in

Segment Information Segment information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Revenues:	'	'
Product sales	$3,008,000,000	$3,112,000,000
Services revenues	2,471,000,000	2,275,000,000
Total consolidated revenues	5,479,000,000	5,387,000,000
Gross profit	3,347,000,000	3,298,000,000
Gross profit percentage	61.10%	61.20%
Research and development	731,000,000	676,000,000
Selling, general and administrative	1,852,000,000	1,713,000,000
Restructuring and Acquisition-related Charges	119,000,000	148,000,000
Total costs and expenses	2,702,000,000	2,537,000,000
Operating income	645,000,000	761,000,000
Other income (expense), net	-74,000,000	-70,000,000
Income before provision for income taxes	571,000,000	691,000,000
Income tax provision	139,000,000	76,000,000
Net income	432,000,000	615,000,000
Less: Net income attributable to the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.	-40,000,000	-35,000,000
Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	392,000,000	580,000,000
Information Storage	'	'
Revenues:	'	'
Product sales	2,302,000,000	2,472,000,000
Services revenues	1,378,000,000	1,326,000,000
Total consolidated revenues	3,680,000,000	3,798,000,000
Gross profit	1,976,000,000	2,088,000,000
Gross profit percentage	53.70%	55.00%
Information Intelligence Group	'	'
Revenues:	'	'
Product sales	35,000,000	43,000,000
Services revenues	119,000,000	112,000,000
Total consolidated revenues	154,000,000	155,000,000
Gross profit	99,000,000	99,000,000
Gross profit percentage	64.70%	63.60%
RSA Information Security	'	'
Revenues:	'	'
Product sales	104,000,000	100,000,000
Services revenues	140,000,000	133,000,000
Total consolidated revenues	244,000,000	233,000,000
Gross profit	162,000,000	152,000,000
Gross profit percentage	66.20%	65.40%
EMC Information Infrastructure	'	'
Revenues:	'	'
Product sales	2,441,000,000	2,615,000,000
Services revenues	1,637,000,000	1,571,000,000
Total consolidated revenues	4,078,000,000	4,186,000,000
Gross profit	2,237,000,000	2,339,000,000
Gross profit percentage	54.90%	55.90%
Research and development	377,000,000	366,000,000
Selling, general and administrative	1,102,000,000	1,076,000,000
Restructuring and Acquisition-related Charges	0	0
Total costs and expenses	1,479,000,000	1,442,000,000
Operating income	758,000,000	897,000,000
EMC Information Infrastructure Plus Pivotal	'	'
Revenues:	'	'
Product sales	2,452,000,000	2,628,000,000
Services revenues	1,675,000,000	1,593,000,000
Total consolidated revenues	4,127,000,000	4,221,000,000
Gross profit	2,256,000,000	2,356,000,000
Gross profit percentage	54.70%	55.80%
Research and development	408,000,000	392,000,000
Selling, general and administrative	1,143,000,000	1,113,000,000
Restructuring and Acquisition-related Charges	0	0
Total costs and expenses	1,551,000,000	1,505,000,000
Operating income	705,000,000	851,000,000
Other income (expense), net	-80,000,000	-74,000,000
Income tax provision	170,000,000	187,000,000
Net income	455,000,000	590,000,000
Less: Net income attributable to the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.	0	0
Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	455,000,000	590,000,000
VMware Virtual Infrastructure Within EMC	'	'
Revenues:	'	'
Product sales	556,000,000	484,000,000
Services revenues	796,000,000	682,000,000
Total consolidated revenues	1,352,000,000	1,166,000,000
Gross profit	1,184,000,000	1,042,000,000
Gross profit percentage	87.60%	89.30%
Research and development	229,000,000	191,000,000
Selling, general and administrative	537,000,000	450,000,000
Restructuring and Acquisition-related Charges	0	0
Total costs and expenses	766,000,000	641,000,000
Operating income	418,000,000	401,000,000
Other income (expense), net	6,000,000	4,000,000
Income tax provision	83,000,000	83,000,000
Net income	341,000,000	322,000,000
Less: Net income attributable to the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.	68,000,000	62,000,000
Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	273,000,000	260,000,000
Corp Reconciling Items [Member]	'	'
Revenues:	'	'
Product sales	0	0
Services revenues	0	0
Total consolidated revenues	0	0
Gross profit	-93,000,000	-100,000,000
Gross profit percentage	0.00%	0.00%
Research and development	94,000,000	93,000,000
Selling, general and administrative	172,000,000	150,000,000
Restructuring and Acquisition-related Charges	119,000,000	148,000,000
Total costs and expenses	385,000,000	391,000,000
Operating income	-478,000,000	-491,000,000
Other income (expense), net	0	0
Income tax provision	-114,000,000	-194,000,000
Net income	-364,000,000	-297,000,000
Less: Net income attributable to the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.	28,000,000	-27,000,000
Net income attributable to EMC Corporation	-336,000,000	-270,000,000
Pivotal	'	'
Revenues:	'	'
Product sales	11,000,000	13,000,000
Services revenues	38,000,000	22,000,000
Total consolidated revenues	49,000,000	35,000,000
Gross profit	19,000,000	17,000,000
Gross profit percentage	38.10%	48.30%
Research and development	31,000,000	26,000,000
Selling, general and administrative	41,000,000	37,000,000
Restructuring and Acquisition-related Charges	0	0
Total costs and expenses	72,000,000	63,000,000
Operating income	($53,000,000)	($46,000,000)

Revenues_By_Geographic_Area_De

Revenues By Geographic Area (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Total consolidated revenues	$5,479	$5,387
United States	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Total consolidated revenues	2,835	2,832
Europe, Middle East and Africa	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Total consolidated revenues	1,592	1,477
Asia Pacific And Japan	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Total consolidated revenues	722	738
Latin America, Mexico And Canada	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Total consolidated revenues	$330	$340