Earnings Per Share Information (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Amount attributable to the Company:
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations for per-share calculation, Diluted	$ 2,127	$ 1,962	$ 6,110	$ (913)
Preferred stock dividends declared, Diluted	(33)	0	(474)	0
Earnings from continuing operations attributable to common shareowners for per-share calculation, Diluted	2,094	1,962	5,636	(913)
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations for per-share calculation, Diluted	(100)	540	(956)	(11,532)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to GE common shareowners for per-share calculation, Diluted	1,991	2,502	4,680	(12,436)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations for per-share calculation, basic	2,127	1,962	6,110	(913)
Preferred stock dividends	(33)	0	(474)	0
Earnings from continuing operations attributable to common shareowners for per share calculation basic	2,094	1,962	5,636	(913)
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations for per-share calculation, basic	(100)	540	(956)	(11,532)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to GE common shareowners for per-share calculation, Basic	$ 1,991	$ 2,502	$ 4,680	$ (12,436)
Average equivalent shares
Shares of GE common stock outstanding, Diluted	8,904,000,000	10,103,000,000	9,096,000,000	10,085,000,000
Employee compensation-related shares (including stock options) and warrants, Diluted	112,000,000	70,000,000	105,000,000	0
Total average equivalent shares, Diluted	9,016,000,000	10,173,000,000	9,201,000,000	10,085,000,000
Shares of GE common stock outstanding, Basic	8,904,000,000	10,103,000,000	9,096,000,000	10,085,000,000
Employee compensation-related shares (including stock options) and warrants, Basic	0	0	0	0
Total average equivalent shares, Basic	8,904,000,000	10,103,000,000	9,096,000,000	10,085,000,000
Per-share amounts
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations-Diluted	$ 0.23	$ 0.19	$ 0.61	$ (0.09)
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations-Diluted	(0.01)	0.05	(0.1)	(1.14)
Net earnings (loss)-Diluted	0.22	0.25	0.51	(1.23)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations-Basic	0.24	0.19	0.62	(0.09)
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations-Basic	(0.01)	0.05	(0.11)	(1.14)
Net earnings (loss)-Basic	$ 0.22	$ 0.25	$ 0.51	$ (1.23)
Outstanding anti-dilutive stock awards not included in computation of diluted earnings per share	15,000,000	89,000,000	24,000,000	398,000,000
Accelerated share repurchases initial delivery of shares			71,189,280