GECC Borrowings and Bank Deposits (Parenthetical) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 Subsidiaries GECC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Subsidiaries GECC [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Guaranteed investment contracts [Member] Subsidiaries GECC [Member]	Apr. 03, 2012 Guaranteed investment contracts [Member] Subsidiaries GECC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Guaranteed investment contracts [Member] Subsidiaries GECC [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Subordinated Notes Guaranteed By GE [Member] Subsidiaries GECC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Subordinated Notes Guaranteed By GE [Member] Subsidiaries GECC [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Covered Bonds Included in Other Long Term Borrowings [Member] Subsidiaries GECC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Covered Bonds Included in Other Long Term Borrowings [Member] Subsidiaries GECC [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Borrowings Issued By Consolidated Securitzation Entites [Member] Subsidiaries GECC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Borrowings Issued By Consolidated Securitzation Entites [Member] Subsidiaries GECC [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Non US Banks [Member] Subsidiaries GECC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Non US Banks [Member] Subsidiaries GECC [Member]	Oct. 09, 2012 Unsecured Debt [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Current Portion Of Long Term Borrowings [Member] Borrowings Issued By Consolidated Securitzation Entites [Member] Subsidiaries GECC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Current Portion Of Long Term Borrowings [Member] Borrowings Issued By Consolidated Securitzation Entites [Member] Subsidiaries GECC [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Non Recourse [Member] Subsidiaries GECC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Non Recourse [Member] Subsidiaries GECC [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Certificates of Deposit [Member] Subsidiaries GECC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Certificates of Deposit [Member] Subsidiaries GECC [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Notes Reclassified To Current Portion Of Long Term Borrowing [Member] Unsecured Debt [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Notes Due In 2015 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Notes Due In 2015 [Member] Unsecured Debt [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Notes Due In 2022 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Notes Due In 2022 [Member] Unsecured Debt [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Notes Due In 2042 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Notes Due In 2042 [Member] Unsecured Debt [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
GECC issued and outstanding senior, unsecured debt guaranteed by the FDIC			$ 12,550	$ 35,040
Long-term debt, current maturities								117									8,514	10,714
Long-term borrowings	234,673	243,459	230,402	234,391	817		1,845	300	417	1,942	1,955	22,657	18,544
Principal Amount Of GICs Redeemed					386
Amount Of GICs Redeemable By Holder						1,120
Secured Debt			8,061	8,538															3,260	2,983	18,538	17,201
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			711
U.S. dollar equivalent of subordinated debentures hedged at issuance			7,725
Bank deposits	45,196	43,115	45,196	43,115										16,030	16,281
Short-term borrowings	120,435	137,611	113,587	136,333
Amount GECC could be required to repay for obligations to holders of GICs if long-term credit rating falls below AA-/A2					731
Senior Notes																$ 7,000							$ 5,000		$ 2,000		$ 3,000		$ 2,000
Senior Unsecured Note Interest Rate																								0.85%		2.70%		4.125%