EARNINGS PER SHARE INFORMATION (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Consolidated
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations for per-share calculation									$ (5,495)	$ 9,764	$ 1,680
Preferred stock dividends									(436)	(656)	(18)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to common shareowners for per-share calculation									(5,931)	9,108	1,662
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations for per-share calculation									(328)	(955)	(7,795)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to GE common shareowners for per-share calculation									$ (6,246)	$ 8,157	$ (6,135)
Average equivalent shares
Shares of GE common stock outstanding (in shares)									8,687	9,025	9,944
Employee compensation-related shares (including stock options) and warrants (in shares)									0	105	72
Total average equivalent shares (in shares)									8,687	9,130	10,016
Per-share amounts
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (1.15)	$ 0.22	$ 0.15	$ 0.10	$ 0.39	$ 0.23	$ 0.36	$ 0.03	$ (0.68)	$ 1.00	$ 0.17
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.02	(0.01)	(0.02)	(0.03)	0.00	(0.01)	(0.06)	(0.03)	(0.04)	(0.10)	(0.78)
Net earnings (loss) (in dollars per share)	(1.13)	0.21	0.13	0.07	0.39	0.22	0.30	(0.01)	$ (0.72)	$ 0.89	$ (0.61)
Consolidated
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations for per-share calculation									$ (5,495)	$ 9,769	$ 1,679
Preferred stock dividends									(436)	(656)	(18)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to common shareowners for per-share calculation									(5,931)	9,113	1,661
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations for per-share calculation									(328)	(950)	(7,795)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to GE common shareowners for per-share calculation									$ (6,246)	$ 8,163	$ (6,135)
Average equivalent shares
Shares of GE common stock outstanding (in shares)									8,687	9,025	9,944
Employee compensation-related shares (including stock options) and warrants (in shares)									0	0	0
Total average equivalent shares (in shares)									8,687	9,025	9,944
Per-share amounts
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	(1.15)	0.22	0.15	0.10	0.39	0.24	0.36	0.03	$ (0.68)	$ 1.01	$ 0.17
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.02	(0.01)	(0.02)	(0.03)	0.00	(0.01)	(0.06)	(0.03)	(0.04)	(0.11)	(0.78)
Net earnings (loss) (in dollars per share)	$ (1.13)	$ 0.21	$ 0.14	$ 0.07	$ 0.40	$ 0.22	$ 0.30	$ (0.01)	$ (0.72)	$ 0.90	$ (0.62)
Outstanding anti-dilutive stock awards not included in computation of diluted earnings per share (in shares)									119	22	97