Borrowings and Bank Deposits (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings (Note 8)	$ 69,916		$ 77,890
Long-term borrowings (Note 8)	213,179		221,665
Non Recourse Borrowings Of Consolidated Securitization Entities	30,231		30,124
Bank deposits (Note 8)	60,815		53,361
Total borrowings and bank deposits	374,141		383,040
Scenario, Adjustment [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings (Note 8)	(803)		(1,249)
Long-term borrowings (Note 8)	(99)		(129)
Subsidiaries [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings (Note 8)	2,043	[1]	1,841	[1]
Long-term borrowings (Note 8)	14,543	[1]	11,515	[1]
Non Recourse Borrowings Of Consolidated Securitization Entities	0	[1]	0	[1]
Bank deposits (Note 8)	0	[1]	0	[1]
Subsidiaries [Member] | Commercial Paper [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings (Note 8)	350		0
Subsidiaries [Member] | Notes Payable to Banks [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings (Note 8)	652		346
Long-term borrowings (Note 8)	6		10
Subsidiaries [Member] | Current Portion Of Long Term Borrowings [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings (Note 8)	82		70
Subsidiaries [Member] | Other Short Term Borrowing [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings (Note 8)	959		1,425
Subsidiaries [Member] | Senior unsecured notes [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings (Note 8)	13,944		10,968
Subsidiaries [Member] | Other Long Term Borrowing [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings (Note 8)	593		537
Subsidiaries [Member] | Non Recourse Borrowings Of Consolidated Securitization Entites [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Non Recourse Borrowings Of Consolidated Securitization Entities	30,231		30,124
Subsidiaries GECC [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings (Note 8)	68,676		77,298
Long-term borrowings (Note 8)	198,735		210,279
Non Recourse Borrowings Of Consolidated Securitization Entities	30,231		30,124
Bank deposits (Note 8)	60,815		53,361
Subsidiaries GECC [Member] | US Commercial Paper [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings (Note 8)	21,999		24,877
Subsidiaries GECC [Member] | Non US Commercial Paper [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings (Note 8)	3,014		4,168
Subsidiaries GECC [Member] | Current Portion Of Long Term Borrowings [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings (Note 8)	37,319		39,215
Subsidiaries GECC [Member] | GE Interest Plus notes [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings (Note 8)	5,732		8,699
Subsidiaries GECC [Member] | Other Short Term Borrowing [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings (Note 8)	612		339
Subsidiaries GECC [Member] | Senior unsecured notes [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings (Note 8)	170,048		186,433
Subsidiaries GECC [Member] | Subordinated notes [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings (Note 8)	4,775		4,821
Subsidiaries GECC [Member] | Subordinated Debt [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings (Note 8)	7,263		7,462
Subsidiaries GECC [Member] | Other Long Term Borrowing [Member]
Borrowings And Bank Deposits [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings (Note 8)	$ 16,649		$ 11,563

[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.