Earnings Per Share Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Amount attributable to the Company:
Preferred stock dividends declared	$ (75)	$ (75)	$ (150)	$ (150)
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations for per-share calculation	217	(101)	273	(454)
Per-share amounts
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations-Basic	$ 0.33	$ 0.29	$ 0.64	$ 0.50
Net earnings-Basic	$ 0.35	$ 0.28	$ 0.66	$ 0.46
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations-Diluted	$ 0.33	$ 0.29	$ 0.64	$ 0.50
Net earnings-Diluted	$ 0.35	$ 0.28	$ 0.66	$ 0.45
Common Stock, Shares Authorized	13,200,000,000		13,200,000,000
Outstanding anti-dilutive stock awards not included in computation of diluted earnings per share	283,000,000	309,000,000	290,000,000	311,000,000
Common stock, par value per share	$ 0.06		$ 0.06
Divided Equivalents Included In Earnings For EPS Calculation		insignificant amount	insignificant amount	insignificant amount
Redeemable Securities Accretion Included In Earnings For EPS Calculation	insignificant amount			insignificant amount
Earnings Per Share, Basic [Member]
Amount attributable to the Company:
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations for per-share calculation	3,541	3,205	6,912	5,497
Preferred stock dividends declared	(75)	(75)	(150)	(150)
Earnings from continuing operations attributable to common shareowners for per-share calculation	3,466	3,130	6,762	5,347
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations for per-share calculation	216	(119)	273	(484)
Net earnings attributable to GE common shareowners for per-share calculation	3,682	3,011	7,034	4,863
Average equivalent shares
Shares of GE common stock outstanding	10,604,000,000	10,685,000,000	10,608,000,000	10,678,000,000
Employee compensation-related shares, including stock options	0	0	0	0
Total average equivalent shares-Basic	10,604,000,000	10,685,000,000	10,608,000,000	10,678,000,000
Per-share amounts
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations-Basic	$ 0.33	$ 0.29	$ 0.64	$ 0.50
Earnings (Loss) from discontinued operations-Basic	$ 0.02	$ (0.01)	$ 0.03	$ (0.05)
Net earnings-Basic	$ 0.35	$ 0.28	$ 0.66	$ 0.46
Earnings Per Share, Diluted [Member]
Amount attributable to the Company:
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations for per-share calculation	3,542	3,205	6,912	5,497
Preferred stock dividends declared	(75)	(75)	(150)	(150)
Earnings from continuing operations attributable to common shareowners for per-share calculation	3,467	3,130	6,762	5,347
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations for per-share calculation	216	(119)	273	(484)
Net earnings attributable to GE common shareowners for per-share calculation	$ 3,683	$ 3,011	$ 7,034	$ 4,863
Average equivalent shares
Shares of GE common stock outstanding	10,604,000,000	10,685,000,000	10,608,000,000	10,678,000,000
Employee compensation-related shares, including stock options	35,000,000	17,000,000	32,000,000	17,000,000
Total average equivalent shares-Diluted	10,639,000,000	10,702,000,000	10,640,000,000	10,694,000,000
Per-share amounts
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations-Diluted	$ 0.33	$ 0.29	$ 0.64	$ 0.50
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations-Diluted	$ 0.02	$ (0.01)	$ 0.03	$ (0.05)
Net earnings-Diluted	$ 0.35	$ 0.28	$ 0.66	$ 0.45