Financial Instruments (Details) (USD $) In Millions	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Guaranteed investment contracts	$ (4,793)	$ (5,502)
Effect of including interest rate and currency derivatives on borrowings and bank deposits	4,634	4,298
Reinsurance Recoverables	2,800	2,800
Loan Commitments By Notional Amount [Line Items]
Ordinary course of business lending commitments	3,545	3,584
Excluded investment commitments	1,494	1,990
Inventory financing arrangements excluded	12,400	11,840
Commitments Associated with Secured Financing Arrangements	13,614	16,243
Maximum Commitments Associated with Secured Financing Arrangements	18,053	20,268
Subsidiaries GECS [Member] \| Loan Commitments By Notional Amount [Member]
Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Insurance - credit life	2,006	1,825
Subsidiaries [Member] \| Carrying amount (net) [Member]
Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Investments and notes receivable	276	414
Borrowings	(10,927)	(10,112)
Subsidiaries GECS [Member] \| Carrying amount (net) [Member]
Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Loans	260,015	268,239
Other commercial mortgages	1,137	1,041
Loans held for sale	985	287
Other financial instruments	2,038	2,103
Borrowings and bank deposits	(463,228)	(470,520)
Investment contract benefits	(3,621)	(3,726)
Insurance - credit life	(106)	(103)
Subsidiaries [Member] \| Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Investments and notes receivable	276	414
Borrowings	(11,704)	(10,953)
Subsidiaries GECS [Member] \| Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Loans	257,272	264,550
Other commercial mortgages	1,192	1,103
Loans held for sale	986	287
Other financial instruments	2,571	2,511
Borrowings and bank deposits	(473,901)	(482,724)
Investment contract benefits	(4,316)	(4,264)
Guaranteed investment contracts	(4,796)	(5,524)
Insurance - credit life	(90)	(69)
Commercial [Member]
Loan Commitments By Notional Amount [Line Items]
Unused revolving credit lines	18,417	21,338
Consumer Principally Credit Cards [Member]
Loan Commitments By Notional Amount [Line Items]
Unused revolving credit lines	$ 246,159	$ 227,006

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.

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

- Definition

The amount of the financial commitments that the company has entered into associated with secured financing arrangements.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The estimated fair value amount excluded for interest rate and currency derivatives designated as hedges of borrowings.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Financial commitments related to investments that wre excluded from the amount disclosed as the company's ordinary course of business lending commitments.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Financial Instruments [Line Items]

+ Details

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

- Definition

Deposit type product that guarantees a minimum rate of return, which may be fixed or floating

+ Details

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

- Definition

The amount of inventory financing arrangements that were excluded from the unused revolving credit lines

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount represents the liablities related to annuity payments that will have to be made to holders of the annuity in future periods.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Debt and equity securities plus amounts due from parties as evidenced by a written promise to pay at the balance sheet date.

+ Details

Name:	ge_InvestmentsAndNotesReceivable
Namespace Prefix:	ge
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Loan Commitments By Notional Amount [Line Items]

+ Details

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

- Definition

An amount leant to a borrower (debtor) in exchange for a promise to repay the amount borrowed plus interest at a date certain in the future

+ Details

Name:	ge_LoansReceivable
Namespace Prefix:	ge
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum potential amount of the financial commitments that the company has entered into associated with secured financing arrangements.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Notional Amount Of Life Insurance Benefit Net

+ Details

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

- Definition

The company's commitment to lend amounts under the oridinary course of business.

+ Details

Name:	ge_OrdinaryCourseOfBusinessLendingCommitments
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 and long-term borrowings payable to another party.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The dollar amount of credit extended to the Company that was not used as of the balance sheet date.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The sum of the known and estimated amounts payable as of the balance sheet date to life insurance policyholders that relates to insured events which can be viewed as either (a) the present value of future benefits to be paid to or on behalf of policyholders and expenses less the present value of future net premiums payable under the insurance contracts or (b) the accumulated amount of net premiums already collected less the accumulated amount of benefits and expenses already paid to or on behalf of policyholders.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.13(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 60
-Paragraph 21-26
-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 SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Article 7
-Section 03
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph a

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 40
-Section 25
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6482067&loc=d3e13145-158430

+ Details

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

- Definition

Reflects the gross carrying amount of unpaid loans issued to businesses to provide financing on existing land or a building, which, pursuant to terms of the underlying debt instrument, are secured at a minimum but possibly exclusively by that real property. Mortgages represent permanent financing, and are issued to replace previously existing mortgages or pay off acquisition, development and construction loans, or to provide cash to the borrower.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=d3e5066-111524

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 210.9-03.7(a)(3))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Statement of Position (SOP)
-Number 01-6
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph e
-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 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Article 9
-Section 03
-Paragraph 7
-Subparagraph a

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG)
-Number AAG-DEP
-Chapter 8
-Paragraph 51
-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.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The aggregate carrying amount of loans receivable that will be sold to other entities. Includes mortgage and all other loans (collectively, loans) not classified as held for investment. Such loans are stated at the lower of cost or market, or elected fair value. Mortgage loans exclude mortgage-backed securities which are considered a debt security (other loan).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7(a))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Statement of Position (SOP)
-Number 01-6
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph d
-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 Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 65
-Paragraph 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 12, 28, 29
-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 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 35
-Paragraph 49
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6949992&loc=d3e3084-111518

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Article 9
-Section 03
-Paragraph 7
-Subparagraph a

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 948
-SubTopic 310
-Section 30
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6490209&loc=d3e48214-111002

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher OTS
-Name Federal Regulation (FR)
-Number Title 12
-Chapter V
-Section 563c.102
-Subsection I
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph h
-LegacyDoc This is a non-GAAP reference that was included in the 2009 taxonomy. It will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 65
-Paragraph 4
-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 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6375948&loc=d3e4428-111522

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LoansReceivableHeldForSaleNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Includes other investments and securities that are not at fair value as of the balance sheet date and those that are not accounted for under the equity method.

+ References

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

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherInvestmentsAndSecuritiesAtCost
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The known and estimated amount recoverable as of the balance sheet date from reinsurers for claims paid or incurred by the ceding insurer and associated claims settlement expenses, including estimated amounts for claims incurred but not reported, and policy benefits, net of any related valuation allowance.

+ References

Reference 1: 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),6)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Article 7
-Section 03
-Paragraph 6

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 113
-Paragraph 14, 16, 27, 113
-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 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6480758&loc=d3e6824-158387

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ReinsuranceRecoverables
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant