Guarantor Financial Information (Statement of Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Cash flows - operating activities
Cash from (used for) operating activities - continuing operations	$ 3,846	$ 5,444
Cash from (used for) operating activities - discontinued operations	(5,719)	7,702
Cash from (used for) operating activities	(1,873)	13,146
Cash flows - investing activities
Cash from (used for) investing activities - continuing operations	53,559	59,466
Cash from (used for) investing activities - discontinued operations	(12,056)	305
Cash from (used for) investing activities	41,503	59,771
Cash flows - financing activities
Cash from (used for) financing activities - continuing operations	(75,188)	(47,556)
Cash from (used for) financing activities - discontinued operations	295	(2,250)
Cash from (used for) financing activities	(74,893)	(49,807)
Effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash and equivalents	(169)	(3,516)
Period Increase Decrease In Cash And Cash Equivalents	(35,432)	19,594
Cash and equivalents at beginning of year	90,878	91,016
Cash and equivalents at September 30	55,445	110,610
Less cash and equivalents of discontinued operations at September 30	2,915	26,743
Cash and equivalents of continuing operations at September 30	52,530	83,867
Parent Company Guarantor (General Electric)
Cash flows - operating activities
Cash from (used for) operating activities - continuing operations	(14,847)	(5,898)
Cash from (used for) operating activities - discontinued operations	(954)	(11,249)
Cash from (used for) operating activities	(15,801)	(17,147)
Cash flows - investing activities
Cash from (used for) investing activities - continuing operations	20,902	24,884
Cash from (used for) investing activities - discontinued operations	0	0
Cash from (used for) investing activities	20,902	24,884
Cash flows - financing activities
Cash from (used for) financing activities - continuing operations	(6,894)	(9,693)
Cash from (used for) financing activities - discontinued operations	0	0
Cash from (used for) financing activities	(6,894)	(9,693)
Effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash and equivalents	0	0
Period Increase Decrease In Cash And Cash Equivalents	(1,792)	(1,956)
Cash and equivalents at beginning of year	4,137	4,820
Cash and equivalents at September 30	2,344	2,864
Less cash and equivalents of discontinued operations at September 30	0	0
Cash and equivalents of continuing operations at September 30	2,344	2,864
Subsidiary Issuer (GE Capital)
Cash flows - operating activities
Cash from (used for) operating activities - continuing operations	175	0
Cash from (used for) operating activities - discontinued operations	0	0
Cash from (used for) operating activities	175	0
Cash flows - investing activities
Cash from (used for) investing activities - continuing operations	16,080	0
Cash from (used for) investing activities - discontinued operations	0	0
Cash from (used for) investing activities	16,080	0
Cash flows - financing activities
Cash from (used for) financing activities - continuing operations	(16,255)	0
Cash from (used for) financing activities - discontinued operations	0	0
Cash from (used for) financing activities	(16,255)	0
Effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash and equivalents	0	0
Period Increase Decrease In Cash And Cash Equivalents	0	0
Cash and equivalents at beginning of year	0	0
Cash and equivalents at September 30	0	0
Less cash and equivalents of discontinued operations at September 30	0	0
Cash and equivalents of continuing operations at September 30	0	0
Subsidiary Guarantor (Subsidiary)
Cash flows - operating activities
Cash from (used for) operating activities - continuing operations	(121)	0
Cash from (used for) operating activities - discontinued operations	0	0
Cash from (used for) operating activities	(121)	0
Cash flows - investing activities
Cash from (used for) investing activities - continuing operations	36,317	0
Cash from (used for) investing activities - discontinued operations	0	0
Cash from (used for) investing activities	36,317	0
Cash flows - financing activities
Cash from (used for) financing activities - continuing operations	(36,194)	0
Cash from (used for) financing activities - discontinued operations	0	0
Cash from (used for) financing activities	(36,194)	0
Effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash and equivalents	0	0
Period Increase Decrease In Cash And Cash Equivalents	3	0
Cash and equivalents at beginning of year	0	0
Cash and equivalents at September 30	3	0
Less cash and equivalents of discontinued operations at September 30	0	0
Cash and equivalents of continuing operations at September 30	3	0
Non Guarantor Subsidiaries
Cash flows - operating activities
Cash from (used for) operating activities - continuing operations	83,404	176,052
Cash from (used for) operating activities - discontinued operations	(4,366)	17,729
Cash from (used for) operating activities	79,038	193,781
Cash flows - investing activities
Cash from (used for) investing activities - continuing operations	32,000	(93,930)
Cash from (used for) investing activities - discontinued operations	(12,056)	305
Cash from (used for) investing activities	19,944	(93,625)
Cash flows - financing activities
Cash from (used for) financing activities - continuing operations	(150,446)	(46,188)
Cash from (used for) financing activities - discontinued operations	295	(2,250)
Cash from (used for) financing activities	(150,151)	(48,438)
Effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash and equivalents	(169)	(3,516)
Period Increase Decrease In Cash And Cash Equivalents	(51,339)	48,201
Cash and equivalents at beginning of year	107,350	88,216
Cash and equivalents at September 30	56,011	136,417
Less cash and equivalents of discontinued operations at September 30	2,915	26,743
Cash and equivalents of continuing operations at September 30	53,095	109,674
Consolidation adjustments
Cash flows - operating activities
Cash from (used for) operating activities - continuing operations	(64,766)	(164,710)
Cash from (used for) operating activities - discontinued operations	(399)	1,222
Cash from (used for) operating activities	(65,165)	(163,488)
Cash flows - investing activities
Cash from (used for) investing activities - continuing operations	(51,740)	128,512
Cash from (used for) investing activities - discontinued operations	0	0
Cash from (used for) investing activities	(51,740)	128,512
Cash flows - financing activities
Cash from (used for) financing activities - continuing operations	134,601	8,324
Cash from (used for) financing activities - discontinued operations	0	0
Cash from (used for) financing activities	134,601	8,324
Effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash and equivalents	0	0
Period Increase Decrease In Cash And Cash Equivalents	17,696	(26,651)
Cash and equivalents at beginning of year	(20,609)	(2,020)
Cash and equivalents at September 30	(2,913)	(28,671)
Less cash and equivalents of discontinued operations at September 30	0	0
Cash and equivalents of continuing operations at September 30	$ (2,913)	$ (28,671)