Shareowners' Equity (Shares of GE Common Stock) (Details) - $ / shares	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Shares Of GE Common Stock
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding	8,683,963,000	8,742,614,000
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share	$ 0.06

Number of shares of common stock outstanding. Common stock represent the ownership interest in a corporation.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(29))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant