Equity - Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Jul. 02, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			$ 38,410
Other comprehensive income (loss)			(573)	$ 57	$ (370)
Less: Other comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests			343	(80)	14
Ending balance	$ 38,410		35,013	38,410
Investment Securities, Parent
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		$ 0	1	0
Ending balance	1		0	1	0
Investment Securities
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications			(1)	41
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss			0	(39)
Deferred taxes			(2)	2
Other comprehensive income (loss)			(3)	4
Investment Securities, Noncontrolling Interest
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Less: Other comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests			(2)	3
Less: Other adjustments				0
Less: Reallocation of AOCL based on ownership of GE and previous Baker Hughes stockholders			0	0
Less: Activity related to noncontrolling interest			0	0
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment, Parent
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		(1,795)	(682)	(1,795)
Ending balance	(682)		(1,152)	(682)	(1,795)
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications			(502)	(4)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss			0	0
Deferred taxes			0	(10)
Other comprehensive income (loss)			(502)	(14)
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment, Noncontrolling Interest
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Less: Other comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests			(303)	38
Less: Other adjustments				0
Less: Reallocation of AOCL based on ownership of GE and previous Baker Hughes stockholders			271	(1,170)
Less: Activity related to noncontrolling interest			0	5
Cash Flow Hedges, Parent
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		(10)	1	(10)
Ending balance	1		(1)	1	(10)
Cash Flow Hedges
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications			(6)	8
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss			1	7
Deferred taxes			1	(3)
Other comprehensive income (loss)			(4)	12
Cash Flow Hedges, Noncontrolling Interest
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Less: Other comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests			(2)	2
Less: Other adjustments				0
Less: Reallocation of AOCL based on ownership of GE and previous Baker Hughes stockholders			0	(1)
Less: Activity related to noncontrolling interest			0	0
Benefit Plans, Parent
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		(83)	(23)	(83)
Ending balance	(23)		(66)	(23)	(83)
Benefit Plans
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications			(70)	45
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss			5	1
Deferred taxes			1	9
Other comprehensive income (loss)			(64)	55
Benefit Plans, Noncontrolling Interest
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Less: Other comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests			(36)	37
Less: Other adjustments				13
Less: Reallocation of AOCL based on ownership of GE and previous Baker Hughes stockholders			11	(63)
Less: Activity related to noncontrolling interest			4	8
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		(1,888)	(703)	(1,888)	(1,532)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	46	(69)	(230)		(356)
Less: Reallocation of AOCL based on ownership of GE and previous Baker Hughes stockholders		$ 1,234
Less: Activity related to noncontrolling interest	(13)
Ending balance	$ (703)		(1,219)	(703)	$ (1,888)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications			(579)	90
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss			6	(31)
Deferred taxes			0	(2)
Other comprehensive income (loss)			(573)	57
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Noncontrolling Interest
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Less: Other comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests			(343)	80
Less: Other adjustments				13
Less: Reallocation of AOCL based on ownership of GE and previous Baker Hughes stockholders			282	(1,234)
Less: Activity related to noncontrolling interest			$ 4	$ 13