Variable Interest Entities (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended																		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended																3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014 Loans and Finance Receivables [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Loans and Finance Receivables [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Investment Securities [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Investment Securities [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Assets Other [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Assets Other [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Assets, Total [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Assets, Total [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Borrowings [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Borrowings [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Nonrecourse Borrowings [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Nonrecourse Borrowings [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Liabilities Other [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Liabilities Other [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Liabilities, Total [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Liabilities, Total [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Consolidated Variable Interest Entities [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Consolidated Variable Interest Entities [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Consolidated Variable Interest Entities [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Consolidated Variable Interest Entities [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Power Generating Activities Entity [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Industrial Equipment Joint Venture [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Other 1 [Member] Loans and Finance Receivables [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Other 1 [Member] Loans and Finance Receivables [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Other 1 [Member] Investment Securities [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Other 1 [Member] Investment Securities [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Other 1 [Member] Assets Other [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Other 1 [Member] Assets Other [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Other 1 [Member] Assets, Total [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Other 1 [Member] Assets, Total [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Other 1 [Member] Insurance Entities [Member] Assets, Total [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Other 1 [Member] Insurance Entities [Member] Liabilities, Total [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Subsidiaries GECC [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Subsidiaries GECC [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Subsidiaries GECC [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Subsidiaries GECC [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Trinity [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Trinity [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Trinity [Member] Loans and Finance Receivables [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Trinity [Member] Loans and Finance Receivables [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Trinity [Member] Investment Securities [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Trinity [Member] Investment Securities [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Trinity [Member] Assets Other [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Trinity [Member] Assets Other [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Trinity [Member] Assets, Total [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Trinity [Member] Assets, Total [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Trinity [Member] Borrowings [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Trinity [Member] Borrowings [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Trinity [Member] Nonrecourse Borrowings [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Trinity [Member] Nonrecourse Borrowings [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Trinity [Member] Liabilities Other [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Trinity [Member] Liabilities Other [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Trinity [Member] Liabilities, Total [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Trinity [Member] Liabilities, Total [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Other 1 [Member] Borrowings [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Other 1 [Member] Borrowings [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Other 1 [Member] Nonrecourse Borrowings [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Other 1 [Member] Nonrecourse Borrowings [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Other 1 [Member] Liabilities Other [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Other 1 [Member] Liabilities Other [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Other 1 [Member] Liabilities, Total [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Other 1 [Member] Liabilities, Total [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Credit Card Receivable [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Loans and Finance Receivables [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Credit Card Receivable [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Loans and Finance Receivables [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Credit Card Receivable [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Investment Securities [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Credit Card Receivable [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Investment Securities [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Credit Card Receivable [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Assets Other [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Credit Card Receivable [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Assets Other [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Credit Card Receivable [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Assets, Total [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Credit Card Receivable [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Assets, Total [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Credit Card Receivable [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Borrowings [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Credit Card Receivable [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Borrowings [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Credit Card Receivable [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Nonrecourse Borrowings [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Credit Card Receivable [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Nonrecourse Borrowings [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Credit Card Receivable [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Liabilities Other [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Credit Card Receivable [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Liabilities Other [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Credit Card Receivable [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Liabilities, Total [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Credit Card Receivable [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Liabilities, Total [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Equipment [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Loans and Finance Receivables [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Equipment [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Loans and Finance Receivables [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Equipment [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Investment Securities [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Equipment [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Investment Securities [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Equipment [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Assets Other [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Equipment [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Assets Other [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Equipment [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Assets, Total [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Equipment [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Assets, Total [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Equipment [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Borrowings [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Equipment [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Borrowings [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Equipment [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Nonrecourse Borrowings [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Equipment [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Nonrecourse Borrowings [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Equipment [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Liabilities Other [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Equipment [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Liabilities Other [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Equipment [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Liabilities, Total [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Equipment [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Liabilities, Total [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Trade Accounts Receivable [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Loans and Finance Receivables [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Trade Accounts Receivable [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Loans and Finance Receivables [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Trade Accounts Receivable [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Investment Securities [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Trade Accounts Receivable [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Investment Securities [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Trade Accounts Receivable [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Assets Other [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Trade Accounts Receivable [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Assets Other [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Trade Accounts Receivable [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Assets, Total [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Trade Accounts Receivable [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Assets, Total [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Trade Accounts Receivable [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Borrowings [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Trade Accounts Receivable [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Borrowings [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Trade Accounts Receivable [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Nonrecourse Borrowings [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Trade Accounts Receivable [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Nonrecourse Borrowings [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Trade Accounts Receivable [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Liabilities Other [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Trade Accounts Receivable [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Liabilities Other [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Trade Accounts Receivable [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Liabilities, Total [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiaries GECC [Member] Trade Accounts Receivable [Member] Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member] Liabilities, Total [Member]
Assets And Liabilities Of Consolidated VIEs [Line Items]
Assets VIE					$ 43,690	$ 42,247	$ 3,500	$ 3,830	$ 4,744	$ 3,220	$ 51,934	$ 49,297													$ 681	$ 1,552			$ 2,754	$ 2,044	$ 1,049	$ 1,044	$ 2,865	$ 2,430	$ 6,668	$ 5,518	$ 1,222								$ 0	$ 0	$ 2,451	$ 2,786	$ 108	$ 213	$ 2,559	$ 2,999																	$ 25,043	$ 24,766	$ 0	$ 0	$ 999	$ 20	$ 26,042	$ 24,786									$ 12,849	$ 12,928	$ 0	$ 0	$ 771	$ 557	$ 13,620	$ 13,485									$ 3,044	$ 2,509	$ 0	$ 0	$ 1	$ 0	$ 3,045	$ 2,509
Liabilities VIE													547	598	28,780	28,574	3,731	3,334	33,058	32,506						690												578															0	0	0	0	1,285	1,482	1,285	1,482	547	598	447	49	1,498	1,351	2,492	1,998									0	0	15,091	15,363	331	228	15,422	15,591									0	0	10,763	10,982	596	248	11,359	11,230									0	0	2,479	2,180	21	25	2,500	2,205
Total revenues of consolidated VIEs	36,174	35,661	106,585	105,663																	2,070	1,950	5,780	5,598															10,451	10,606	31,213	32,990
Provision for Loan and Lease Losses	957	789	2,895	3,256																	246	175	814	764															957	789	2,895	3,256
Interest And Other Financial Charges	2,357	2,445	7,116	7,648																	93	85	262	270															2,093	2,224	6,325	6,994
Commingled cash amounts owed to CSEs																											3,040	6,314
Commingled cash receivable from CSEs																											2,918	5,540
Intercompany Advances Eliminated In Consolidation																																											$ 1,490	$ 1,837