Summary of Operating Segments (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 36,233		$ 35,059		$ 70,411		$ 70,002
Corporate items and eliminations revenues	(922)		(1,025)		(1,808)		(224)
Segment profit	5,869		5,628		11,081		10,502
GE interest and other financial charges	(2,345)		(2,600)		(4,759)		(5,203)
GE provision for income taxes	(193)		(310)		(709)		(818)
Earnings from continuing operations attributable the Company's common shareowners	3,586		3,257		6,573		6,904
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes					(29)		(244)
Net earnings attributable to the Company	3,545		3,133		6,544		6,660
Percent Increase Decrease In Revenues	0.03349%				0.00584%
Percent increase decrease in GE interest and other financial charges	(0.22699%)				(0.17692%)
Percent increase decrease in GE provision for income taxes	(0.3771%)				(0.00832%)
Percent increase decrease in Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	0.10101%				(0.04794%)
Percent Increase (decrease) in earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	0.66935%				0.88115%
Percent increase decrease in net earnings attributable to the Company	0.1315%				(0.01742%)
Power And Water [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	6,292		5,715		11,801		10,540
Segment profit	1,133		1,087		2,021		1,806
Percent Increase Decrease In Revenues	0.10096%				0.11964%
Percent increase decrease in Segment Profit	0.04232%				0.11905%
Oil And Gas [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	4,761		3,955		9,069		7,354
Segment profit	665		532		1,111		857
Percent Increase Decrease In Revenues	0.20379%				0.23321%
Percent increase decrease in Segment Profit	0.25%				0.29638%
Energy Management [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	1,856		1,981		3,528		3,729
Segment profit	69		31		74		46
Percent Increase Decrease In Revenues	(0.0631%)				(0.0539%)
Percent increase decrease in Segment Profit					0.6087%
Favorable Unfavorable Change In Segment Profit	F
Aviation [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	6,090		5,303		11,868		10,377
Segment profit	1,197		1,067		2,312		2,003
Percent Increase Decrease In Revenues	0.14841%				0.14368%
Percent increase decrease in Segment Profit	0.12184%				0.15427%
Healthcare [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	4,483		4,490		8,681		8,779
Segment profit	730		726		1,300		1,321
Percent Increase Decrease In Revenues	0.00%				(0.01116%)
Percent increase decrease in Segment Profit	0.00551%				(0.0159%)
Transportation [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	1,306		1,597		2,533		3,019
Segment profit	270		313		472		580
Percent Increase Decrease In Revenues	(0.18222%)				(0.16098%)
Percent increase decrease in Segment Profit	(0.13738%)				(0.18621%)
Appliances And Lighting [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	2,120		2,127		3,977		4,044
Segment profit	102		83		155		162
Percent Increase Decrease In Revenues	0.00%				(0.01657%)
Percent increase decrease in Segment Profit	0.22892%				(0.04321%)
GE Capital [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	10,247		10,916		20,762		22,384
Segment profit	1,703		1,789		3,636		3,727
Percent Increase Decrease In Revenues	(0.06129%)				(0.07246%)
Percent increase decrease in Segment Profit	(0.04807%)				(0.02442%)
Industrial Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	26,908		25,168		51,457		47,842
Segment profit	4,166		3,839		7,445		6,775
Percent Increase Decrease In Revenues	0.06914%				0.07556%
Percent increase decrease in Segment Profit	0.08518%				0.09889%
Total Segment Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	37,155		36,084		72,219		70,226
Percent Increase Decrease In Revenues	0.02968%				0.02838%
Percent increase decrease in Segment Profit	0.04282%				0.05513%
Corporate Items And Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment profit	(1,474)		(1,748)		(3,016)		(2,227)
Percent Increase Decrease In Revenues	0.10049%
Percent increase decrease in Segment Profit	0.15675%				(0.35429%)
Favorable Unfavorable Change In Revenues					U
Subsidiaries [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	28,382	[1]	26,549	[1]	54,487	[1]	52,410	[1]
GE interest and other financial charges	(400)	[1]	(326)	[1]	(765)	[1]	(650)	[1]
GE provision for income taxes	(409)	[1]	(297)	[1]	(727)	[1]	(721)	[1]
Earnings from continuing operations attributable the Company's common shareowners	3,586	[1]	3,257	[1]	6,573	[1]	6,904	[1]
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes					(29)	[1]	(244)	[1]
Net earnings attributable to the Company	$ 3,545	[1]	$ 3,133	[1]	$ 6,544	[1]	$ 6,660	[1]

[1] Represents the adding together of all affiliated companies except General Electric Capital Corporation (GECC or Financial Services), which is presented on a one-line basis.