Earnings Per Share - Basic and Diluted Net Income (Loss) per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Earnings Per Share
Net income (loss)									$ 283	$ (391)	$ 185
Less: Net income attributable to GE O&G pre-merger									0	42	254
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests									88	(330)	(69)
Net income (loss) attributable to Baker Hughes, a GE company	$ 131	$ 13	$ (19)	$ 70	$ 31	$ (134)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 195	$ (103)	$ 0
Net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders:
Class A basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.28	$ 0.03	$ (0.05)	$ 0.17	$ 0.07	$ (0.31)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.46	$ (0.24)
Class A diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.28	$ 0.03	$ (0.05)	$ 0.17	$ 0.07	$ (0.31)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.45	$ (0.24)
Class A
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Class A basic (in shares)									427	427
Class A diluted (in shares)									429	427
Net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders:
Class A basic (in dollars per share)									$ 0.46	$ (0.24)	$ 0
Class A diluted (in dollars per share)									$ 0.45	$ (0.24)	$ 0