GECC Borrowings and Bank Deposits (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	$ 126,319	$ 137,611
Long-term borrowings	229,817	243,459
Non Recourse Borrowings Of Consolidated Securitization Entities	30,696	29,258
Bank deposits	41,942	43,115
Subsidiaries GECC [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	119,796	136,333
Long-term borrowings	225,539	234,391
Non Recourse Borrowings Of Consolidated Securitization Entities	30,696	29,258
Bank deposits	41,942	43,115
Total borrowings and bank deposits	417,973	443,097
Subsidiaries GECC [Member] | US Commercial Paper [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	33,536	33,591
Subsidiaries GECC [Member] | Non US Commercial Paper [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	9,519	10,569
Subsidiaries GECC [Member] | Current Portion Of Long Term Borrowings [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	67,107	82,650
Subsidiaries GECC [Member] | GE Interest Plus notes [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	8,545	8,474
Subsidiaries GECC [Member] | Other Short Term Borrowing [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	1,089	1,049
Subsidiaries GECC [Member] | Short-term Debt [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	119,796	136,333
Subsidiaries GECC [Member] | Senior unsecured notes [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings	203,037	210,154
Subsidiaries GECC [Member] | Subordinated notes [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings	4,889	4,862
Subsidiaries GECC [Member] | Subordinated Debt [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings	7,113	7,215
Subsidiaries GECC [Member] | Other Long Term Borrowing [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings	10,500	12,160
Subsidiaries GECC [Member] | Long-term Debt [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings	$ 225,539	$ 234,391