Guarantor Financial Information (Statement of Earnings) (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Revenues and other income
Sales of goods and services	$ 25,228	$ 25,314
Other Income	168	9
Equity in earnings (loss)	0	0
GE Capital revenues from services	2,264	2,522
Total revenues and other income	27,660	27,845
Costs and Expenses [Abstract]
Interest and other financial charges	1,139	1,736
Investment Contracts Insurance Losses And Insurance Annuity Benefits	634	642
Other costs and expenses	25,055	25,228
Total Costs and Expenses	26,829	27,606
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	832	238
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(16)	177
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to the Company	816	415
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(239)	308
Net earnings (loss)	577	107
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(76)	(121)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company	653	228
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,827	824
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company	2,479	1,052
Parent Company Guarantor (General Electric)
Revenues and other income
Sales of goods and services	8,792	10,013
Other Income	54	226
Equity in earnings (loss)	2,444	908
GE Capital revenues from services	0	0
Total revenues and other income	11,289	11,146
Costs and Expenses [Abstract]
Interest and other financial charges	910	811
Investment Contracts Insurance Losses And Insurance Annuity Benefits	0	0
Other costs and expenses	9,629	10,455
Total Costs and Expenses	10,539	11,266
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	751	(120)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(144)	(619)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to the Company	895	499
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(242)	(308)
Net earnings (loss)	653	191
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company	653	191
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,827	824
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company	2,479	1,015
Subsidiary Issuer (GE Capital)
Revenues and other income
Sales of goods and services	0	0
Other Income	0	0
Equity in earnings (loss)	0	0
GE Capital revenues from services	156	396
Total revenues and other income	156	396
Costs and Expenses [Abstract]
Interest and other financial charges	150	373
Investment Contracts Insurance Losses And Insurance Annuity Benefits	0	0
Other costs and expenses	0	0
Total Costs and Expenses	150	373
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	6	24
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(1)	(3)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to the Company	5	21
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	0	0
Net earnings (loss)	5	21
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company	5	21
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	(12)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company	5	9
Subsidiary Guarantor (Subsidiary)
Revenues and other income
Sales of goods and services	0	0
Other Income	0	0
Equity in earnings (loss)	242	669
GE Capital revenues from services	186	297
Total revenues and other income	428	967
Costs and Expenses [Abstract]
Interest and other financial charges	455	931
Investment Contracts Insurance Losses And Insurance Annuity Benefits	0	0
Other costs and expenses	13	36
Total Costs and Expenses	468	968
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	(40)	(1)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	115	(3)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to the Company	74	(4)
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	283	(475)
Net earnings (loss)	357	(479)
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company	357	(479)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	617	(182)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company	974	(662)
Non Guarantor Subsidiaries
Revenues and other income
Sales of goods and services	36,090	33,759
Other Income	4,620	3,441
Equity in earnings (loss)	36,682	13,623
GE Capital revenues from services	2,270	4,585
Total revenues and other income	79,662	55,407
Costs and Expenses [Abstract]
Interest and other financial charges	1,082	1,759
Investment Contracts Insurance Losses And Insurance Annuity Benefits	636	672
Other costs and expenses	35,305	35,166
Total Costs and Expenses	37,023	37,597
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	42,640	17,811
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	469	485
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to the Company	42,171	17,325
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	1	(426)
Net earnings (loss)	42,172	16,899
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(48)	(26)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company	42,220	16,925
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(1,457)	268
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company	40,763	17,193
Consolidation adjustments
Revenues and other income
Sales of goods and services	(19,654)	(18,458)
Other Income	(4,507)	(3,659)
Equity in earnings (loss)	(39,368)	(15,200)
GE Capital revenues from services	(347)	(2,756)
Total revenues and other income	(63,875)	(40,072)
Costs and Expenses [Abstract]
Interest and other financial charges	(1,457)	(2,137)
Investment Contracts Insurance Losses And Insurance Annuity Benefits	(2)	(30)
Other costs and expenses	(19,892)	(20,429)
Total Costs and Expenses	(21,351)	(22,597)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	(42,525)	(17,475)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(195)	(49)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to the Company	(42,330)	(17,425)
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(280)	901
Net earnings (loss)	(42,610)	(16,524)
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(28)	(96)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company	(42,582)	(16,429)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	840	(74)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company	$ (41,742)	$ (16,502)