OPERATING SEGMENTS - Reconciliation of Revenues (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 122,092	$ 123,693	$ 117,386
Power
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	34,598	35,465	27,328
Renewable Energy
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	10,211	9,022	6,261
Oil & Gas
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	16,584	12,515	16,063
Aviation
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	26,790	25,530	24,242
Healthcare
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	19,098	18,276	17,633
Transportation
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	4,168	4,713	5,932
Lighting
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	1,956	4,795	8,729
GE Industrial
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	113,406	110,316	106,188
Capital
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	7,451	9,617	9,650
Operating segments | Power
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	35,990	36,795	28,903
Operating segments | Renewable Energy
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	10,280	9,033	6,273
Operating segments | Oil & Gas
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	17,231	12,898	16,450
Operating segments | Aviation
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	27,375	26,261	24,660
Operating segments | Healthcare
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	19,116	18,291	17,639
Operating segments | Transportation
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	4,178	4,713	5,933
Operating segments | Lighting
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	1,987	4,823	8,751
Operating segments | GE Industrial
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	116,157	112,814	108,609
Operating segments | Capital
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	9,070	10,905	10,801
Corporate items and eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	(3,135)	(26)	(2,024)
Intersegment revenues
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	(4,371)	(3,786)	(3,572)
Intersegment revenues | Power
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	1,392	1,330	1,574
Intersegment revenues | Renewable Energy
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	69	11	12
Intersegment revenues | Oil & Gas
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	646	383	387
Intersegment revenues | Aviation
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	585	730	418
Intersegment revenues | Healthcare
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	18	15	7
Intersegment revenues | Transportation
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	10	1	1
Intersegment revenues | Lighting
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	31	28	22
Intersegment revenues | GE Industrial
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	2,751	2,498	2,421
Intersegment revenues | Capital
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	1,620	1,288	1,151
Corporate items and eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 1,236	$ 3,760	$ 1,548