Earnings Per Share Information (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Amount attributable to the Company:
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations for per-share calculation, Diluted	$ 886	$ 533
Preferred stock dividends declared, Diluted	(34)	(289)
Earnings from continuing operations attributable to common shareowners for per-share calculation, Diluted	852	244
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations for per-share calculation, Diluted	(243)	(311)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to GE common shareowners for per-share calculation, Diluted	613	(64)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations for per-share calculation, basic	886	533
Preferred stock dividends	(34)	(289)
Earnings from continuing operations attributable to common shareowners for per share calculation basic	852	244
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations for per-share calculation, basic	(243)	(311)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to GE common shareowners for per-share calculation, Basic	$ 613	$ (64)
Average equivalent shares
Shares of GE common stock outstanding, Diluted	8,714	9,288
Employee compensation-related shares (including stock options) and warrants, Diluted	98	95
Total average equivalent shares, Diluted	8,811	9,383
Shares of GE common stock outstanding, Basic	8,714	9,288
Employee compensation-related shares (including stock options) and warrants, Basic	0	0
Total average equivalent shares, Basic	8,714	9,288
Per-share amounts
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations-Diluted	$ 0.1	$ 0.03
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations-Diluted	(0.03)	(0.03)
Net earnings (loss)-Diluted	0.07	(0.01)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations-Basic	0.1	0.03
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations-Basic	(0.03)	(0.03)
Net earnings (loss)-Basic	$ 0.07	$ (0.01)
Outstanding anti-dilutive stock awards not included in computation of diluted earnings per share	15	33