Variable Interest Entities (Unconsolidated Variable Interest Entities) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Financing receivables	$ 292,917	$ 303,012
Unconsolidated VIEs [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Debt Investment Fund	2,522
Factored Receivables	2,553
PTL [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Non Controlling Stake In VIE	6,595
Partnership interest	837
Partnership interest	49.90%
Loans and advances	5,720
PTL [Member] \| Investment in Unconsolidated VIEs [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Other assets and investment securities	6,595	5,790
Financing receivables	0	0
Total investment	6,595	5,790
Contractual obligations to fund new investments or guarantees	600	600
Revolving lines of credit	1,685	2,431
Total	8,880	8,821
All Other [Member] \| Investment in Unconsolidated VIEs [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Real Estate Investments	2,102
Other assets and investment securities	5,336	4,585
Financing receivables	2,085	2,240
Total investment	7,421	6,825
Contractual obligations to fund new investments or guarantees	3,699	1,990
Revolving lines of credit	148	0
Total	11,268	8,815
Total [Member] \| Investment in Unconsolidated VIEs [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Other assets and investment securities	11,931	10,375
Financing receivables	2,085	2,240
Total investment	14,016	12,615
Contractual obligations to fund new investments or guarantees	4,299	2,590
Revolving lines of credit	1,833	2,431
Total	$ 20,148	$ 17,636

A contractual obligation that requires payments to be made to fund investments or guarantees. These amounts are included in potential maximum exposure to loss with respect to our investment in the unconsolidated variable interest entity.

Name:	ge_ContractualObligationsToFundNewInvestmentsOrGuarantees
Namespace Prefix:	ge
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Exposure related to an investment in a corporate debt fund that is classified as a unconsolidated variable interest entity.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Exposure related to an investment in a joint venture, which is classified as a unconsolidated variable interest entity, that purchases factored receivables.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of our investment in an unconsolidated VIE that was related to the loans and advances made by the company to the entity.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Represents the reporting entity maximum exposure for unconsolidated variable interest entities.

+ Details

Name:	ge_MaximumExposureInUnconsolidatedVariableInterestEntities
Namespace Prefix:	ge
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Investment in a non consolidated variable interest entity, including equity ownership and loans and advances.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The aggregate carrying amounts, as of the balance sheet date, of other assets and investment securities of unconsolidated variable interest entities.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Partnership interest in PTL

+ Details

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

- Definition

Total potential maximum exposure of revolving lines of credit for unconsolidated variable interst entites

+ Details

Name:	ge_RevolvingLinesOfCredit
Namespace Prefix:	ge
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Investments in unconsolidated VIEs consisting of our equity investment, any loans or advances, and investment securities.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 159
-Paragraph 18
-Subparagraph f
-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 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
-Number 18
-Paragraph 20
-Subparagraph a (1)
-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 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of the recorded investment in a contractual right to receive money on demand or on fixed or determinable dates that is recognized as an asset in the creditor's statement of financial position. Examples include, but are not limited to, accounts receivable (with terms exceeding one year), notes receivable and receivables relating to lessor's rights to payments from leases other than operating leases that have been recorded as assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Financing Receivable
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6953735

+ Details

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

- Definition

Investments in real estate held solely for investment purposes (income production and capital appreciation).

+ References

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

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(d))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

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

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration