Postretirement Benefit Plans (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Years of service generally required of employees to receive health and life insurance benefits who retire under the GE Pension Plan's	10
Disclosure of other pension plans includes pension plans with pension assets or obligations in excess of threshold amount	$ 50		$ 50
Postretirement Benefit Plan Obligation Reduction	450		450
Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Expected return on plan assets	(939)	(984)	(2,830)	(2,953)
Service cost for benefits earned	356	296	1,044	857
Interest cost on benefit obligation	619	665	1,858	1,995
Prior service cost amortization	70	49	210	144
Net actuarial (gain) loss amortization	855	584	2,565	1,752
Pension plans cost	961	610	2,847	1,795
Other Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Expected return on plan assets	(155)	(151)	(467)	(451)
Service cost for benefits earned	98	70	292	210
Interest cost on benefit obligation	128	131	385	387
Prior service cost amortization	1	4	3	12
Net actuarial (gain) loss amortization	69	34	209	103
Pension plans cost	141	88	422	261
Principal Retiree Health and Life Insurance Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Expected return on plan assets	(19)	(24)	(56)	(72)
Service cost for benefits earned	58	48	168	140
Interest cost on benefit obligation	123	151	381	452
Prior service cost amortization	126	163	418	482
Net actuarial (gain) loss amortization	8	(27)	8	(83)
Net curtailment / other gain	(39)	0	(39)	0
Pension plans cost	$ 257	$ 311	$ 880	$ 919