XML 289 R107.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Postretirement Benefit Plans (Asset Allocation) (Details)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Asset Allocation    
Percentage Of Trust Assets That Were Investments In Restricted Securities Excluding Real Estate Investments That Are Not Freely Tradable 17.00%ge_PercentageOfTrustAssetsThatWereInvestmentsInRestrictedSecuritiesExcludingRealEstateInvestmentsThatAreNotFreelyTradable  
Percentage Of Securities That May Be Rated A-2/P-2 15.00%ge_PercentageOfSecuritiesThatMayBeRatedA2p2  
Maximum Percentage Of Total Assets That Can Be Real Estate Investments 25.00%ge_MaximumPercentageOfTotalAssetsThatCanBeRealEstateInvestments  
Percentage Of Fair Value Of Trust Assets At Time Of Purchase Of Aggregate Holdings Of All Qualifying Employer Securities And Qualifying Employer Real Property 10.00%ge_PercentageOfFairValueOfTrustAssetsAtTimeOfPurchaseOfAggregateHoldingsOfAllQualifyingEmployerSecuritiesAndQualifyingEmployerRealProperty  
Percentage Of Trust Assets Comprised Of Qualifying Employer Securities 3.80%ge_PercentageOfTrustAssetsComprisedOfQualifyingEmployerSecurities 4.50%ge_PercentageOfTrustAssetsComprisedOfQualifyingEmployerSecurities
Maximum Percentage Of Sector Concentration Of Plan Assets 15.00%ge_MaximumPercentageOfSectorConcentrationOfPlanAssets  
Maximum Percentage Of Total Assets That Can Be Investments In Restricted Securites Excluding Real Estate Investments That Are Not Freely Tradable 30.00%ge_Maximumpercentageoftotalassetsthatcanbeinvestmentsinrestrictedsecuritesexcludingrealestateinvestmentsthatarenotfreelytradable  
Parentage Of US Government Direct And Indirect Obligations Represented In Plan Assets 16.00%ge_ParentageOfUsGovernmentDirectAndIndirectObligationsRepresentedInPlanAssets  
Pension Benefit Plan [Member] | Us Equity Securities [Member]    
Asset Allocation    
Actual allocation 25.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_PensionBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= ge_UsEquitySecuritiesMember		  
Pension Benefit Plan [Member] | Non Us Equity Securities [Member]    
Asset Allocation    
Actual allocation 20.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_PensionBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= ge_NonUsEquitySecuritiesMember		  
Pension Benefit Plan [Member] | Principal pension plans [Member] | Equity Securities [Member]    
Asset Allocation    
Debt securities (including cash equivalents), minimum 17.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocationsRangeMinimum
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_PensionBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember		  
Debt securities (including cash equivalents), maximum 57.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocationsRangeMaximum
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_PensionBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember		  
Actual allocation 45.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_PensionBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember		  
Pension Benefit Plan [Member] | Principal pension plans [Member] | Debt Securities [Member]    
Asset Allocation    
Debt securities (including cash equivalents), minimum 13.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocationsRangeMinimum
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_PensionBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember		  
Debt securities (including cash equivalents), maximum 53.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocationsRangeMaximum
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_PensionBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember		  
Actual allocation 31.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_PensionBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember		  
Pension Benefit Plan [Member] | Principal pension plans [Member] | Private Equities [Member]    
Asset Allocation    
Debt securities (including cash equivalents), minimum 8.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocationsRangeMinimum
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_PensionBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= ge_PrivateEquitiesMember		  
Debt securities (including cash equivalents), maximum 18.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocationsRangeMaximum
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_PensionBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= ge_PrivateEquitiesMember		  
Actual allocation 11.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_PensionBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= ge_PrivateEquitiesMember		  
Pension Benefit Plan [Member] | Principal pension plans [Member] | Real Estate Asset [Member]    
Asset Allocation    
Debt securities (including cash equivalents), minimum 2.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocationsRangeMinimum
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_PensionBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= ge_RealEstateAssetMember		  
Debt securities (including cash equivalents), maximum 12.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocationsRangeMaximum
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_PensionBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= ge_RealEstateAssetMember		  
Actual allocation 7.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_PensionBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= ge_RealEstateAssetMember		  
Pension Benefit Plan [Member] | Principal pension plans [Member] | Other Securities [Member]    
Asset Allocation    
Debt securities (including cash equivalents), minimum 3.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocationsRangeMinimum
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_PensionBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= ge_OtherSecuritiesMember		  
Debt securities (including cash equivalents), maximum 13.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocationsRangeMaximum
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_PensionBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= ge_OtherSecuritiesMember		  
Actual allocation 6.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_PensionBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= ge_OtherSecuritiesMember		  
Pension Benefit Plan [Member] | Other Pension Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]    
Asset Allocation    
Equity securities (weighted average) 39.00%ge_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetAllocationPercentageOfAssetsEquitySecuritiesWeightedAverage
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_PensionBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember		  
Actual allocation percentage of investments in debt securities to total plan assets presented on a weighted-average basis as of the measurement date of the latest statement of financial position. 35.00%ge_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetAllocationPercentageOfAssetsDebtSecuritiesWeightedAverage
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_PensionBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember		  
Private equities (weighted average) 7.00%ge_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetAllocationPercentageOfAssetsPrivateEquitiesWeightedAverage
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_PensionBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember		  
Real estate (weighted average) 9.00%ge_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetAllocationPercentageOfAssetsRealEstateWeightedAverage
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_PensionBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember		  
Other (weighted average) 10.00%ge_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetAllocationPercentageOfAssetsOtherWeightedAverage
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_PensionBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember		  
Pension Benefit Plan [Member] | Other Pension Plan, Defined Benefit [Member] | Equity Securities [Member]    
Asset Allocation    
Actual allocation 48.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_PensionBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember		  
Pension Benefit Plan [Member] | Other Pension Plan, Defined Benefit [Member] | Debt Securities [Member]    
Asset Allocation    
Actual allocation 38.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_PensionBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember		  
Pension Benefit Plan [Member] | Other Pension Plan, Defined Benefit [Member] | Private Equities [Member]    
Asset Allocation    
Actual allocation 2.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_PensionBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= ge_PrivateEquitiesMember		  
Pension Benefit Plan [Member] | Other Pension Plan, Defined Benefit [Member] | Real Estate Asset [Member]    
Asset Allocation    
Actual allocation 6.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_PensionBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= ge_RealEstateAssetMember		  
Pension Benefit Plan [Member] | Other Pension Plan, Defined Benefit [Member] | Other Securities [Member]    
Asset Allocation    
Actual allocation 6.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_PensionBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= ge_OtherSecuritiesMember		  
Retiree Benefit Plan [Member] | Equity Securities [Member]    
Asset Allocation    
Debt securities (including cash equivalents), minimum 35.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocationsRangeMinimum
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_RetireeBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember		  
Debt securities (including cash equivalents), maximum 75.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocationsRangeMaximum
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_RetireeBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember		  
Actual allocation 50.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_RetireeBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember		  
Retiree Benefit Plan [Member] | Debt Securities [Member]    
Asset Allocation    
Debt securities (including cash equivalents), minimum 11.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocationsRangeMinimum
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_RetireeBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember		  
Debt securities (including cash equivalents), maximum 46.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocationsRangeMaximum
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_RetireeBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember		  
Actual allocation 26.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_RetireeBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember		  
Retiree Benefit Plan [Member] | Private Equities [Member]    
Asset Allocation    
Debt securities (including cash equivalents), minimum 0.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocationsRangeMinimum
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_RetireeBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= ge_PrivateEquitiesMember		  
Debt securities (including cash equivalents), maximum 25.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocationsRangeMaximum
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_RetireeBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= ge_PrivateEquitiesMember		  
Actual allocation 13.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_RetireeBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= ge_PrivateEquitiesMember		  
Retiree Benefit Plan [Member] | Real Estate Asset [Member]    
Asset Allocation    
Debt securities (including cash equivalents), minimum 0.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocationsRangeMinimum
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_RetireeBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= ge_RealEstateAssetMember		  
Debt securities (including cash equivalents), maximum 12.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocationsRangeMaximum
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_RetireeBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= ge_RealEstateAssetMember		  
Actual allocation 9.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_RetireeBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= ge_RealEstateAssetMember		  
Retiree Benefit Plan [Member] | Other Securities [Member]    
Asset Allocation    
Debt securities (including cash equivalents), minimum 0.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocationsRangeMinimum
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_RetireeBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= ge_OtherSecuritiesMember		  
Debt securities (including cash equivalents), maximum 10.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocationsRangeMaximum
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_RetireeBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= ge_OtherSecuritiesMember		  
Actual allocation 2.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_RetireeBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= ge_OtherSecuritiesMember		  
Retiree Benefit Plan [Member] | Fair Value Of Plan Assets [Member]    
Asset Allocation    
Percentage Of Securities That May Be Rated A-2/P-2 15.00%ge_PercentageOfSecuritiesThatMayBeRatedA2p2
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_RetireeBenefitPlanMember
/ ge_DefinedBenefitPlanAssetAxis
= ge_FairValueOfPlanAssetsMember		  
Percentage Of Fair Value Of Trust Assets At Time Of Purchase Of Aggregate Holdings Of All Qualifying Employer Securities And Qualifying Employer Real Property 10.00%ge_PercentageOfFairValueOfTrustAssetsAtTimeOfPurchaseOfAggregateHoldingsOfAllQualifyingEmployerSecuritiesAndQualifyingEmployerRealProperty
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_RetireeBenefitPlanMember
/ ge_DefinedBenefitPlanAssetAxis
= ge_FairValueOfPlanAssetsMember		  
Percentage Of Trust Assets Comprised Of Qualifying Employer Securities 3.90%ge_PercentageOfTrustAssetsComprisedOfQualifyingEmployerSecurities
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_RetireeBenefitPlanMember
/ ge_DefinedBenefitPlanAssetAxis
= ge_FairValueOfPlanAssetsMember		 4.00%ge_PercentageOfTrustAssetsComprisedOfQualifyingEmployerSecurities
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_RetireeBenefitPlanMember
/ ge_DefinedBenefitPlanAssetAxis
= ge_FairValueOfPlanAssetsMember
Retiree Benefit Plan [Member] | Us Equity Securities [Member] | Equity Securities [Member]    
Asset Allocation    
Debt securities (including cash equivalents), minimum 18.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocationsRangeMinimum
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_RetireeBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= ge_UsEquitySecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember		  
Debt securities (including cash equivalents), maximum 38.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocationsRangeMaximum
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_RetireeBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= ge_UsEquitySecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember		  
Actual allocation 29.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_RetireeBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= ge_UsEquitySecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember		  
Retiree Benefit Plan [Member] | Non Us Equity Securities [Member] | Equity Securities [Member]    
Asset Allocation    
Debt securities (including cash equivalents), minimum 17.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocationsRangeMinimum
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_RetireeBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= ge_NonUsEquitySecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember		  
Debt securities (including cash equivalents), maximum 37.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocationsRangeMaximum
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_RetireeBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= ge_NonUsEquitySecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember		  
Actual allocation 21.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
/ ge_BenefitPlanCategoryAxis
= ge_RetireeBenefitPlanMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= ge_NonUsEquitySecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember