Name:	ge_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesExcludingMortgageBackedAndAssetBackedSecuritiesAfterFiveThroughTenYearsAmortizedCost
Namespace Prefix:	ge_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

This item represents the fair value of debt securities (excluding mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities) which are expected to mature after five years and through ten years from the balance sheet date and which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

No definition available.

Name:	ge_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesExcludingMortgageBackedAndAssetBackedSecuritiesAfterFiveThroughTenYearsFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	ge_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

This item represents debt securities (excluding mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities), at cost, net of adjustments made for accretion, amortization, other-than-temporary impairments, and hedging, if any, which are expected to mature after one year and through five years from the balance sheet date and which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

No definition available.

Name:	ge_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesExcludingMortgageBackedAndAssetBackedSecuritiesAfterOneThroughFiveYearsAmortizedCost
Namespace Prefix:	ge_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

This item represents the fair value of debt securities (excluding mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities) which are expected to mature after one year and through five years from the balance sheet date and which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

No definition available.

Name:	ge_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesExcludingMortgageBackedAndAssetBackedSecuritiesAfterOneThroughFiveYearsFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	ge_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

This item represents debt securities (excluding mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities), at cost, net of adjustments made for accretion, amortization, other-than-temporary impairments, and hedging, if any, which are expected to mature after ten years from the balance sheet date and which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

No definition available.

Name:	ge_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesExcludingMortgageBackedAndAssetBackedSecuritiesAfterTenYearsAmortizedCost
Namespace Prefix:	ge_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

This item represents the fair value of debt securities (excluding mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities) which are expected to mature after ten years from the balance sheet date which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

No definition available.

Name:	ge_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesExcludingMortgageBackedAndAssetBackedSecuritiesAfterTenYearsFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	ge_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

This item represents debt securities (excluding mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities), at cost, net of adjustments made for accretion, amortization, other-than-temporary impairments, and hedging, if any, which are expected to mature within one year of the balance sheet date and which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

No definition available.

Name:	ge_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesExcludingMortgageBackedAndAssetBackedSecuritiesWithinOneYearAmortizedCost
Namespace Prefix:	ge_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

This item represents the fair value of debt securities (excluding mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities) which are expected to mature within one year of the balance sheet date and which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

No definition available.