Guarantor Financial Information (Statement of Earnings) (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Revenues and other income
Sales of goods and services	$ 26,814	$ 25,527	$ 80,156	$ 75,266
Other income	227	169	3,385	1,092
Equity in earnings (loss)	0	0	0	0
GE Capital earnings from continuing operations	2,224	2,332	7,063	7,136
Total revenues and other income	29,266	28,028	90,604	83,494
Costs and Expenses [Abstract]
Interest and other financial charges	961	897	4,023	2,228
Investment Contracts Insurance Losses And Insurance Annuity Benefits	684	673	2,101	1,942
Other costs and expenses	25,547	24,408	78,344	73,041
Total costs and expenses	27,191	25,978	84,467	77,211
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	2,074	2,050	6,137	6,283
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(18)	(135)	(302)	(7,227)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to the Company	2,056	1,915	5,835	(945)
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(105)	(629)	(954)	(11,253)
Net earnings (loss)	1,951	2,545	4,881	(12,198)
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(76)	39	(283)	229
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company	2,027	2,506	5,164	(12,427)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	477	1,221	2,107	1,189
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company	2,504	3,727	7,271	(11,238)
Parent Company Guarantor (General Electric)
Revenues and other income
Sales of goods and services	8,194	11,175	28,870	32,310
Other income	883	353	845	765
Equity in earnings (loss)	1,788	2,152	7,923	1,068
GE Capital earnings from continuing operations	0	0	0	0
Total revenues and other income	10,865	13,680	37,638	34,143
Costs and Expenses [Abstract]
Interest and other financial charges	1,166	805	2,828	2,374
Investment Contracts Insurance Losses And Insurance Annuity Benefits	0	0	0	0
Other costs and expenses	8,498	11,155	30,555	34,174
Total costs and expenses	9,664	11,960	33,383	36,549
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	1,201	1,720	4,255	(2,406)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	932	156	1,862	1,228
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to the Company	2,132	1,876	6,118	(1,178)
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(105)	629	(954)	(11,249)
Net earnings (loss)	2,027	2,506	5,164	(12,427)
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company	2,027	2,506	5,164	(12,427)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	477	1,221	2,107	1,189
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company	2,504	3,727	7,271	(11,238)
Subsidiary Issuer (GE Capital)
Revenues and other income
Sales of goods and services	0	0	0	0
Other income	0	0	0	0
Equity in earnings (loss)	0	0	0	0
GE Capital earnings from continuing operations	166	0	762	0
Total revenues and other income	166	0	762	0
Costs and Expenses [Abstract]
Interest and other financial charges	138	0	685	0
Investment Contracts Insurance Losses And Insurance Annuity Benefits	0	0	0	0
Other costs and expenses	0	0	0	0
Total costs and expenses	138	0	686	0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	28	0	76	0
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(3)	0	(10)	0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to the Company	24	0	67	0
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	0	0	0	0
Net earnings (loss)	24	0	67	0
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company	24	0	67	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0	(12)	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company	24	0	55	0
Subsidiary Guarantor (Subsidiary)
Revenues and other income
Sales of goods and services	0	0	0	0
Other income	0	0	0	0
Equity in earnings (loss)	428	0	1,093	0
GE Capital earnings from continuing operations	243	0	1,262	0
Total revenues and other income	671	0	2,355	0
Costs and Expenses [Abstract]
Interest and other financial charges	525	0	2,133	0
Investment Contracts Insurance Losses And Insurance Annuity Benefits	0	0	0	0
Other costs and expenses	16	0	71	0
Total costs and expenses	541	0	2,204	0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	130	0	150	0
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(11)	0	(58)	0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to the Company	119	0	93	0
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(552)	0	(1,547)	0
Net earnings (loss)	(433)	0	(1,455)	0
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company	(433)	0	(1,455)	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	51	0	114	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company	(382)	0	(1,341)	0
Non Guarantor Subsidiaries
Revenues and other income
Sales of goods and services	36,082	33,206	108,043	97,982
Other income	35,578	2,367	55,062	6,766
Equity in earnings (loss)	29,804	126,207	58,732	141,183
GE Capital earnings from continuing operations	2,838	7,376	9,182	25,000
Total revenues and other income	104,302	169,155	231,019	270,930
Costs and Expenses [Abstract]
Interest and other financial charges	856	2,251	4,027	6,898
Investment Contracts Insurance Losses And Insurance Annuity Benefits	701	717	2,188	2,070
Other costs and expenses	35,400	37,487	108,537	116,287
Total costs and expenses	36,957	40,455	114,752	125,255
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	67,345	128,700	116,267	145,675
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(951)	661	(1,908)	(9,266)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to the Company	66,395	129,362	114,359	136,409
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	224	1,466	398	(1,226)
Net earnings (loss)	66,619	130,828	114,757	135,182
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(51)	88	(143)	285
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company	66,670	130,740	114,900	134,897
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(711)	175	136	(3,610)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company	65,959	130,915	115,036	131,288
Consolidation adjustments
Revenues and other income
Sales of goods and services	(17,462)	(18,854)	(56,757)	(55,026)
Other income	(36,234)	(2,550)	(52,522)	(6,439)
Equity in earnings (loss)	(32,019)	(128,359)	(67,747)	(142,251)
GE Capital earnings from continuing operations	(1,023)	(5,044)	(4,144)	(17,863)
Total revenues and other income	(86,738)	(154,806)	(181,170)	(221,579)
Costs and Expenses [Abstract]
Interest and other financial charges	(1,724)	(2,159)	(5,651)	(7,045)
Investment Contracts Insurance Losses And Insurance Annuity Benefits	(17)	(44)	(87)	(128)
Other costs and expenses	(18,367)	(24,233)	(60,819)	(77,420)
Total costs and expenses	(20,109)	(26,436)	(66,558)	(84,592)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	(66,630)	(128,370)	(114,612)	(136,987)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	16	(952)	(189)	811
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to the Company	(66,614)	(129,322)	(114,801)	(136,176)
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	328	(1,466)	1,149	1,222
Net earnings (loss)	(66,286)	(130,789)	(113,652)	(134,953)
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(25)	(49)	(140)	(56)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company	(66,262)	(130,740)	(113,512)	(134,897)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	661	(175)	(238)	3,610
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company	$ (65,601)	$ (130,915)	$ (113,750)	$ (131,288)