SEGMENT OPERATIONS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 28,660	$ 26,881
Revenues, V%	7.00%
Corporate items and eliminations	$ 413	(53)
GE interest and other financial charges	(1,285)	(1,139)
GE non-operating benefit costs	(688)	(651)
GE benefit (provision) for income taxes	27	105
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to GE common shareowners	369	122
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(1,553)	(239)
Less net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests, discontinued operations	0	0
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax and noncontrolling interest	(1,553)	(239)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to GE common shareowners	(1,184)	(117)
Oil & Gas
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating profit excluding restructuring and other charges	181
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 29,569	27,894
Revenues, V%	6.00%
Segment profit (loss)	$ 2,460	2,760
Segment profit (loss), V%	(11.00%)
Operating Segments | Total industrial segment revenues
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 27,395	25,213
Revenues, V%	9.00%
Segment profit (loss)	$ 2,675	2,807
Segment profit (loss), V%	(5.00%)
Operating Segments | Power
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 7,222	7,940
Revenues, V%	(9.00%)
Segment profit (loss)	$ 273	438
Segment profit (loss), V%	(38.00%)
Operating Segments | Renewable Energy
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 1,646	1,767
Revenues, V%	(7.00%)
Segment profit (loss)	$ 77	70
Segment profit (loss), V%	10.00%
Operating Segments | Oil & Gas
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 5,385	3,086
Revenues, V%	74.00%
Segment profit (loss)	$ (144)	260
Operating Segments | Aviation
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 7,112	6,673
Revenues, V%	7.00%
Segment profit (loss)	$ 1,603	1,273
Segment profit (loss), V%	26.00%
Operating Segments | Healthcare
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 4,702	4,305
Revenues, V%	9.00%
Segment profit (loss)	$ 735	661
Segment profit (loss), V%	11.00%
Operating Segments | Transportation
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 872	979
Revenues, V%	(11.00%)
Segment profit (loss)	$ 130	95
Segment profit (loss), V%	37.00%
Operating Segments | Lighting
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 456	462
Revenues, V%	(1.00%)
Segment profit (loss)	$ 1	10
Segment profit (loss), V%	(90.00%)
Operating Segments | Capital
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 2,173	2,681
Revenues, V%	(19.00%)
Segment profit (loss)	$ (215)	(47)
Corporate Items and Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ (908)	(1,013)
Revenues, V%	10.00%
Corporate items and eliminations	$ (653)	(1,402)
Corporate items and eliminations, V%	53.00%
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
GE interest and other financial charges	$ (642)	(564)
GE interest and other financial charges, V%	(14.00%)
GE non-operating benefit costs	$ (684)	(649)
GE non-operating benefit costs, V%	(5.00%)
GE benefit (provision) for income taxes	$ (112)	$ (23)