Earnings Per Share - Basic and Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Earnings Per Share
Net income (loss)	$ (270)	$ 117	$ (16,712)	$ 177
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(100)	60	(6,120)	97
Net income (loss) attributable to Baker Hughes Company	$ (170)	$ 57	$ (10,592)	$ 80
Common Class A
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Class A basic (in shares)	676	538	662	523
Class A diluted (in shares)	676	541	662	525
Net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders:
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per Class A common stock (in dollars per share)	$ (0.25)	$ 0.11	$ (16.01)	$ 0.15