Acquisitions, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Aquisitions) (Details) € in Millions, $ in Millions					9 Months Ended
	Aug. 16, 2016 USD ($)	Feb. 25, 2016 EUR (€)	Nov. 02, 2015 EUR (€)	Nov. 02, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Nov. 02, 2015 USD ($)
Business Combination Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired And Liabilities Assumed Assets [Abstract]
Goodwill					$ 69,988		$ 65,526
Business Combination Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired And Liabilities Assumed Liabilities [Abstract]
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired					930	$ 1,738
Liabilities for Pension and Other Employee Related Cost					40,420		40,487
Alstom Acquisition
Business Combination Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired And Liabilities Assumed Assets [Abstract]
Cash And Equivalents			€ 1,600		1,750			$ 1,765
Current Receivables					4,050
Inventories					4,700
Property Plant And Equipment					2,850
Goodwill					17,200		13,500
Other Intangible Assets					4,400		5,200
All other assets, net(a)					3,750
Total Assets					38,700
Business Combination Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired And Liabilities Assumed Liabilities [Abstract]
Accounts Payable					1,900
Progress Collections					2,900
Accrued Contract Liabilities					10,500
Unfavorable Customer Contract Liabilities					2,350		1,100
All Other Liabilities(b)					7,850
Total Liabilities					23,200
Fair Value of Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests					3,000
Fair Value of Noncontrolling Interest					600			$ 3,600
Fair Value of Other Noncontrolling Interest							$ 700
Total Purchase Price					11,900
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired			€ 9,200	$ 10,124	10,100
Total Consideration for Acquired Businesses				$ 13,700
Net Deferred Tax Assets					350
Non-U.S. Loss Carry Forward					50
Indemnification Receivables					200
Liabilities for Unrecognized Income Tax Benefits					950
Liabilities for Pension and Other Employee Related Cost					$ 750
Business acquisition date					Nov. 02, 2015
Business Combination Provisional Information Initial Accounting Incomplete Adjustments Abstract
Derivative Contracts					$ 350
Inventories					(115)
Legal Reserves					1,000
Property, Plant AndEquipment					50
Aged Accounts Receivable					(200)
Project related costs such as warranty provisions and liquidating damages					625
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest					100
Other Noncontrolling Interest					(100)
Alstom Acquisition | Alstom Gas Turbine and Power Systems
Financial Information For Discontinued Operations
Proceeds from divestiture of businesses and interests in affiliates | €		€ 120
A reduction in the book value of assets					$ (450)
Number of years to make payments for purchase					5
Disposal Date					Feb. 25, 2016
Alstom Acquisition | Grid Technology and Renewable Energy JV [Member]
Limited Partners Capital Account [Abstract]
Investment Interest Redemption Period Earliest Date					9/1/2018
Investment Interest Redemption Period Latest Date					9/30/2019
Annual accretion rate					3.00%
Alstom Acquisition | Global Nuclear and French Steam Power JV [Member]
Limited Partners Capital Account [Abstract]
Investment Interest Redemption Period Earliest Date					5/1/2016
Investment Interest Redemption Period Latest Date					5/31/2019
Annual accretion rate					3.00%
Alstom Acquisition | Renewable Energy JV
Limited Partners Capital Account [Abstract]
Investment Interest Redemption Period Earliest Date					1/1/2022
Investment Interest Redemption Period Latest Date					3/31/2023
Annual accretion rate					2.00%
Doosan Acquisition
Business Combination Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired And Liabilities Assumed Assets [Abstract]
Goodwill	$ 170
Other Intangible Assets	35
Business Combination Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired And Liabilities Assumed Liabilities [Abstract]
Total Purchase Price	250
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	$ 220
Date of entry into transaction agreement	May 10, 2016
Business acquisition date	Aug. 16, 2016
Equity interest in acquiree	80.00%
Remaining equity interest in acquiree					20.00%
Doosan Acquisition | Earliest date [Member]
Business Combination Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired And Liabilities Assumed Liabilities [Abstract]
Business acquisition date					Oct. 01, 2016
Doosan Acquisition | Latest date [Member]
Business Combination Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired And Liabilities Assumed Liabilities [Abstract]
Business acquisition date					Jun. 30, 2017
Meridium Acquisition
Business Combination Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired And Liabilities Assumed Assets [Abstract]
Goodwill					$ 350
Other Intangible Assets					165
Business Combination Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired And Liabilities Assumed Liabilities [Abstract]
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired					$ 370
Business acquisition date					Sep. 14, 2016
Equity interest in acquiree					74.00%