GECS Borrowings and Bank Deposits (Details) (USD $) In Millions	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	$ 123,489	$ 117,959
Long-term borrowings	277,855	293,323
Non Recourse Borrowings Of Consolidated Securitization Entities	29,075	30,018
Bank deposits	41,548	37,298
Subsidiaries GECS [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	123,643	118,797
Long-term borrowings	268,962	284,407
Non Recourse Borrowings Of Consolidated Securitization Entities	29,075	30,018
Bank deposits	41,548	37,298
Total borrowings and bank deposits	463,228	470,520
Subsidiaries GECS [Member] \| US Commercial Paper [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	30,838	32,547
Subsidiaries GECS [Member] \| Non US Commercial Paper [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	9,862	9,497
Subsidiaries GECS [Member] \| Current Portion Of Long Term Borrowings [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	72,948	65,612
Subsidiaries GECS [Member] \| GE Interest Plus notes [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	8,544	9,058
Subsidiaries GECS [Member] \| Other Short Term Borrowing [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	1,451	2,083
Subsidiaries GECS [Member] \| Short-term Debt [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	123,643	118,797
Subsidiaries GECS [Member] \| Senior unsecured notes [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings	243,364	262,789
Subsidiaries GECS [Member] \| Subordinated notes [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings	4,661	2,575
Subsidiaries GECS [Member] \| Subordinated Debt [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings	7,591	7,298
Subsidiaries GECS [Member] \| Other Long Term Borrowing [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings	13,346	11,745
Subsidiaries GECS [Member] \| Long-term Debt [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings	$ 268,962	$ 284,407

Borrowings And Bank Deposits

Name:	ge_BorrowingsAndBankDepositsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	ge
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The carrying amount as of the balance sheet date for non-recourse borrowings of variable interest entities (VIE) that are consolidated, primarily from securitization activity, in which the creditors of the VIE due not have recourse to the general credit of the primary beneficiary.

+ Details

Name:	ge_NonRecourseBorrowingsOfConsolidatedSecuritizationEntities
Namespace Prefix:	ge
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying amount as of the balance sheet date for the aggregate of short-term borrowings, long-term borrowings and bank deposits payable to another party.

+ Details

Name:	ge_TotalBorrowingsAndBankDeposits
Namespace Prefix:	ge
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The aggregate of all deposit liabilities held by the entity, including foreign and domestic, interest and noninterest bearing; may include demand deposits, saving deposits, Negotiable Order of Withdrawal (NOW) and time deposits among others.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 12
-Article 9

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG)
-Number AAG-DEP
-Chapter 13
-Paragraph 37, 38, 39
-IssueDate 2006-05-01
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.12)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Deposits
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of all long-term debt, which is debt initially having maturities due after one year from the balance sheet date or beyond the operating cycle, if longer, but excluding the portions thereof scheduled to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer plus capital lease obligations due to be paid more than one year after the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 22
-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 6
-Section H

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Reflects the total carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of debt having initial terms less than one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(a))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.13)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 19
-Subparagraph a
-Article 5

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.(a),16(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 13
-Article 9
-Subparagraph 2, 3

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Article 7
-Section 03
-Paragraph 16
-Subparagraph a(1)

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowings
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant