SHAREOWNERS’ EQUITY - Shares of GE Preferred Stock (Details) - USD ($)		12 Months Ended
	Jan. 20, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Jan. 01, 2018
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock issued		$ 6,000,000	$ 6,000,000	$ 6,000,000
Preferred stock, shares outstanding		5,939,874	5,944,250
GE
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock issued		$ 5,424,000,000
Preferred stock dividends		436,000,000	$ 656,000,000	18,000,000
Cash dividends		$ 295,000,000	$ 332,000,000	$ 8,000,000
Authorized shares of preferred stock		50,000,000	50,000,000	50,000,000
Par value (in dollars per share)		$ 1	$ 1	$ 1
Preferred stock, shares outstanding		5,939,874	5,944,250	5,944,250
GE | Subsequent Event
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock issued					$ 5,944,000,000
GE | Series D Preferred Stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock issued	$ 5,694,000,000
Fixed interest rate	5.00%
Floating rate	3.33%
GE | Series A, B and C Preferred Stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock, value outstanding	$ 250,000,000
GE | Series A Preferred Stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Fixed interest rate	4.07%
GE | Series B Preferred Stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Fixed interest rate	4.07%
GE | Series C Preferred Stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Fixed interest rate	4.07%