GECC Borrowings and Bank Deposits (Parenthetical) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	May 02, 2012	May 01, 2012	Apr. 03, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings				$ 233,487	$ 243,459
Principal Amount Of GICs Redeemed		133
Amount Of GICs For Which Contractual Redemption Period Has Not ended	788
Amount Of GICs Redeemable By Holder			1,103
Bank deposits				41,106	43,115
Short-term borrowings				138,659	137,611
Subsidiaries GECC [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
GECC issued and outstanding senior, unsecured debt guaranteed by the FDIC				27,896	35,040
Long-term borrowings				229,195	234,391
Secured Debt				8,598	8,538
Amount GECC would be required to partially cash collateralize for covered bonds if the short-term credit rating of GECC were reduced below A-1/P-1				725
U.S. dollar equivalent of subordinated debentures hedged at issuance				7,725
Bank deposits				41,106	43,115
Short-term borrowings				132,028	136,333
Guaranteed investment contracts [Member] | Subsidiaries GECC [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings				1,284	1,845
Subordinated Notes Guaranteed By GE [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Long-term debt, current maturities				117
Subordinated Notes Guaranteed By GE [Member] | Subsidiaries GECC [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings				417	417
Covered Bonds Included in Other Long Term Borrowings [Member] | Subsidiaries GECC [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings				1,958	1,955
Long Term Borrowings Issued By Consolidated Liquidating Securitization Entities [Member] | Subsidiaries GECC [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings				20,042	18,544
Non US Banks [Member] | Subsidiaries GECC [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Bank deposits				16,682	16,281
Current Portion Of Long Term Borrowings [Member] | Long Term Borrowings Issued By Consolidated Liquidating Securitization Entities [Member] | Subsidiaries GECC [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Long-term debt, current maturities				9,502	10,714
Non Recourse [Member] | Subsidiaries GECC [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Secured Debt				3,408	2,983
Certificates of Deposit [Member] | Subsidiaries GECC [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Secured Debt				$ 16,596	$ 17,201