Guarantor (Statement of Financial Position) (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Jun. 30, 2016		Mar. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015		Jun. 30, 2015		Mar. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014
Assets [Abstract]
Cash and equivalents		$ 52,123				$ 70,483
Investments		39,720				31,973
Receivables - net		43,813				45,856
Inventories		24,723				22,515
Property, plant and equipment - net		50,436				54,095
Investment in subsidiaries		0				0
Goodwill and intangible assets		83,747				83,323
Other assets		57,033				63,876
Assets of discontinued operations		49,865				120,951
Total assets	[1]	401,461				493,071
Liabilities [Abstract]
Short-term borrowings		31,927				49,860
Accounts payable		13,115				13,680
Other current liabilities		38,742				41,540
Long term and non-recourse borrowings		124,509				147,742
Other liabilities		89,031				90,651
Liabilities of discontinued operations		14,384				46,487
Liabilities	[1]	311,708				389,961
Redeemable noncontrolling interest		3,070		$ 3,036		2,972		$ 79		$ 73		$ 98
Total GE shareowners' equity		84,991				98,274		109,503				128,159
Noncontrolling interests		1,693	[2]	$ 1,667	[2]	1,864	[2]	8,776	[2]	$ 8,738	[2]	$ 8,674
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		86,684				100,138		$ 118,279
Liabilities and Equity		401,461				493,071
Parent Company Guarantor (General Electric)
Assets [Abstract]
Cash and equivalents		2,863				4,137
Investments		7				14
Receivables - net		67,759				88,696
Inventories		5,295				5,447
Property, plant and equipment - net		5,494				6,540
Investment in subsidiaries		284,657				274,471
Goodwill and intangible assets		7,709				7,793
Other assets		15,293				15,732
Assets of discontinued operations		0				0
Total assets		389,078				402,828
Liabilities [Abstract]
Short-term borrowings		166,625				145,051
Accounts payable		3,555				6,096
Other current liabilities		12,148				14,482
Long term and non-recourse borrowings		78,035				97,471
Other liabilities		42,031				41,455
Liabilities of discontinued operations		0				0
Liabilities		302,394				304,555
Redeemable noncontrolling interest		0				0
Total GE shareowners' equity		84,991				98,274
Noncontrolling interests		1,693				0
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		86,684				98,274
Liabilities and Equity		389,078				402,828
Subsidiary Issuer (GE Capital)
Assets [Abstract]
Cash and equivalents		0				0
Investments		0				0
Receivables - net		17,077				33,232
Inventories		0				0
Property, plant and equipment - net		0				0
Investment in subsidiaries		0				0
Goodwill and intangible assets		0				0
Other assets		1,558				11
Assets of discontinued operations		0				0
Total assets		18,635				33,242
Liabilities [Abstract]
Short-term borrowings		0				16,204
Accounts payable		0				0
Other current liabilities		27				(1)
Long term and non-recourse borrowings		18,361				16,423
Other liabilities		90				489
Liabilities of discontinued operations		0				0
Liabilities		18,478				33,115
Redeemable noncontrolling interest		0				0
Total GE shareowners' equity		158				127
Noncontrolling interests		0				0
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		158				127
Liabilities and Equity		18,635				33,242
Subsidiary Guarantor (Subsidiary)
Assets [Abstract]
Cash and equivalents		37				0
Investments		0				0
Receivables - net		61,339				69,306
Inventories		0				0
Property, plant and equipment - net		0				0
Investment in subsidiaries		77,908				78,505
Goodwill and intangible assets		0				0
Other assets		1,019				915
Assets of discontinued operations		0				0
Total assets		140,303				148,725
Liabilities [Abstract]
Short-term borrowings		47,814				71,862
Accounts payable		0				0
Other current liabilities		58				17
Long term and non-recourse borrowings		62,445				46,392
Other liabilities		714				224
Liabilities of discontinued operations		0				0
Liabilities		111,031				118,495
Redeemable noncontrolling interest		0				0
Total GE shareowners' equity		29,271				30,230
Noncontrolling interests		0				0
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		29,271				30,230
Liabilities and Equity		140,303				148,725
Non Guarantor Subsidiaries
Assets [Abstract]
Cash and equivalents		53,408				86,955
Investments		46,336				40,886
Receivables - net		73,581				75,909
Inventories		21,957				19,762
Property, plant and equipment - net		46,395				56,808
Investment in subsidiaries		420,869				405,686
Goodwill and intangible assets		54,590				61,412
Other assets		227,904				247,611
Assets of discontinued operations		0				0
Total assets		945,039				995,029
Liabilities [Abstract]
Short-term borrowings		31,729				60,601
Accounts payable		38,275				37,636
Other current liabilities		27,183				34,903
Long term and non-recourse borrowings		84,118				105,801
Other liabilities		59,862				57,996
Liabilities of discontinued operations		0				0
Liabilities		241,166				296,937
Redeemable noncontrolling interest		2,266				2,888
Total GE shareowners' equity		699,629				693,589
Noncontrolling interests		1,977				1,616
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		701,607				695,204
Liabilities and Equity		945,039				995,029
Consolidation adjustments
Assets [Abstract]
Cash and equivalents		(4,185)				(20,609)
Investments		(6,623)				(8,927)
Receivables - net		(175,943)				(221,286)
Inventories		(2,528)				(2,694)
Property, plant and equipment - net		(1,453)				(9,253)
Investment in subsidiaries		(783,434)				(758,662)
Goodwill and intangible assets		21,448				14,118
Other assets		(188,741)				(200,392)
Assets of discontinued operations		49,865				120,951
Total assets		(1,091,594)				(1,086,754)
Liabilities [Abstract]
Short-term borrowings		(214,242)				(243,858)
Accounts payable		(28,715)				(30,052)
Other current liabilities		(674)				(7,860)
Long term and non-recourse borrowings		(118,449)				(118,345)
Other liabilities		(13,665)				(9,514)
Liabilities of discontinued operations		14,384				46,487
Liabilities		(361,361)				(363,141)
Redeemable noncontrolling interest		803				84
Total GE shareowners' equity		(729,058)				(723,946)
Noncontrolling interests		(1,977)				248
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		(731,036)				(723,697)
Liabilities and Equity		$ (1,091,594)				$ (1,086,754)

[1] (a) O ur consolidated assets at June 30, 2016 included total assets of $7,651 million of certain variable interest entities (VIEs) that can only be used to settle the liabilities of those VIEs. These assets included current receivables and net financing receivables of $4,368 million and investment securities of $1,516 million w ithin continuing operations and assets of discontinued operations of $464 million. Our consolidated liabilities at June 30, 2016 included liabilities of certain VIEs for which the VIE creditors do not have recourse to GE. These liabilities included non-recourse borrowings of consolidated securitization entities (CSEs) of $2,005 million within continuing operations and non-recourse borrowings of CSEs within discontinued operations of $40 million. See Note 16.

[2] (c) Included AOCI attributable to noncontrolling interests of $(259) mi llion and $(264) million at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , respectively.