GECC Borrowings and Bank Deposits (Parenthetical) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012	Apr. 03, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings	$ 229,817		$ 243,459
Principal Amount Of GICs Redeemed	386
Amount Of GICs Redeemable By Holder		1,120
Bank deposits	41,942		43,115
Short-term borrowings	126,319		137,611
Subsidiaries GECC [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
GECC issued and outstanding senior, unsecured debt guaranteed by the FDIC	16,950		35,040
Long-term borrowings	225,539		234,391
Secured Debt	8,144		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	696
U.S. dollar equivalent of subordinated debentures hedged at issuance	7,725
Bank deposits	41,942		43,115
Short-term borrowings	119,796		136,333
Guaranteed investment contracts [Member] | Subsidiaries GECC [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings	869		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	300		417
Covered Bonds Included in Other Long Term Borrowings [Member] | Subsidiaries GECC [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings	1,894		1,955
Borrowings Issued By Consolidated Securitzation Entites [Member] | Subsidiaries GECC [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings	21,962		18,544
Non US Banks [Member] | Subsidiaries GECC [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Bank deposits	15,224		16,281
Current Portion Of Long Term Borrowings [Member] | Borrowings Issued By Consolidated Securitzation Entites [Member] | Subsidiaries GECC [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Long-term debt, current maturities	8,734		10,714
Non Recourse [Member] | Subsidiaries GECC [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Secured Debt	3,276		2,983
Certificates of Deposit [Member] | Subsidiaries GECC [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Secured Debt	$ 18,244		$ 17,201