Supplemental Information (Cash Flows Information) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
All other operating activities
All other operating activities	$ (2,060)	$ (103)
Net dispositions (purchases) of GE shares for treasury
Net dispositions (purchases) of GE shares for treasury	(1,578)	(6,326)
Net decrease (increase) in GE Capital financing receivables
Net decrease (increase) in GE Capital financing receivables	306	(11)
All other investing activities
All other investing activities	4,970	(10,593)
Repayments and other reductions (maturities longer than 90 days)
Repayments and other debt reductions (maturities longer than 90 days)	(8,666)	(14,381)
All Other financing activities [Abstract]
All other financing activities	(959)	(508)
GE
All other operating activities
(Gains) losses on purchases and sales of business interests(a)	(2)	(59)
Contract assets (net)(a)	(1,894)	(722)
Income taxes(b)	(415)	(635)
Interest charges(c)	198	116
Principal pension plan(d)	929	853
Other	(485)	(56)
All other operating activities	(1,669)	(502)
Net dispositions (purchases) of GE shares for treasury
Open market purchases under share repurchase program(e)	(1,888)	(6,412)
Other purchases	0	(309)
Dispositions	309	394
Net dispositions (purchases) of GE shares for treasury	(1,578)	(6,326)
Net decrease (increase) in GE Capital financing receivables
Net decrease (increase) in GE Capital financing receivables	0	0
All other investing activities
All other investing activities	(309)	(614)
Repayments and other reductions (maturities longer than 90 days)
Repayments and other debt reductions (maturities longer than 90 days)	(1,411)	(150)
All Other financing activities [Abstract]
All other financing activities	(217)	(228)
GE Capital
All other operating activities
All other operating activities	(562)	(176)
Net dispositions (purchases) of GE shares for treasury
Net dispositions (purchases) of GE shares for treasury	0	0
Net decrease (increase) in GE Capital financing receivables
Net decrease (increase) in GE Capital financing receivables	2,967	1,466
All other investing activities
All other investing activities	3,124	(9,592)
Repayments and other reductions (maturities longer than 90 days)
Repayments and other debt reductions (maturities longer than 90 days)	(8,594)	(14,231)
All Other financing activities [Abstract]
All other financing activities	$ (737)	$ (415)