GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Earnings (Loss) and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Revenues
Sales of goods and services	$ 28,093	$ 27,075	$ 54,967	$ 51,691
GE Capital revenues from services	2,011	2,022	3,797	4,286
Total revenues	30,104	29,097	58,764	55,978
Costs and expenses
Interest and other financial charges	1,295	1,174	2,580	2,313
Other costs and expenses	28,341	27,126	55,509	53,118
Total costs and expenses	29,636	28,300	58,089	55,431
Other income (loss)	864	330	1,069	527
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates	0	0	0	0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	1,331	1,127	1,744	1,074
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(542)	38	(515)	142
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	789	1,164	1,229	1,217
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(121)	(146)	(1,673)	(385)
Net earnings (loss)	669	1,019	(444)	832
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(132)	(38)	(98)	(142)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company	800	1,057	(347)	974
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(571)	1,309	971	3,131
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company	229	2,366	625	4,105
Reportable Legal Entities | Parent Company Guarantor
Revenues
Sales of goods and services	7,947	8,080	15,651	16,872
GE Capital revenues from services	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	7,947	8,080	15,651	16,872
Costs and expenses
Interest and other financial charges	1,868	767	3,248	1,677
Other costs and expenses	11,692	8,571	19,829	18,200
Total costs and expenses	13,560	9,338	23,077	19,877
Other income (loss)	1,621	57	1,896	111
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates	4,442	2,028	7,034	3,736
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	450	828	1,503	843
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	471	375	(177)	519
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	921	1,203	1,326	1,362
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(121)	(146)	(1,673)	(388)
Net earnings (loss)	800	1,057	(347)	974
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company	800	1,057	(347)	974
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(571)	1,309	971	3,131
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company	229	2,366	625	4,105
Reportable Legal Entities | Subsidiary Issuer
Revenues
Sales of goods and services	0	0	0	0
GE Capital revenues from services	233	173	441	329
Total revenues	233	173	441	329
Costs and expenses
Interest and other financial charges	230	159	436	309
Other costs and expenses	0	0	0	0
Total costs and expenses	230	159	436	309
Other income (loss)	0	0	0	0
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates	0	0	0	0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	3	14	5	20
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0	(2)	(1)	(2)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	3	12	4	17
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	0	0	0	0
Net earnings (loss)	3	12	4	17
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company	3	12	4	17
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company	3	12	4	17
Reportable Legal Entities | Subsidiary Guarantor
Revenues
Sales of goods and services	0	0	0	0
GE Capital revenues from services	326	188	551	374
Total revenues	326	188	551	374
Costs and expenses
Interest and other financial charges	617	489	1,164	943
Other costs and expenses	0	9	0	22
Total costs and expenses	617	497	1,163	965
Other income (loss)	0	0	0	0
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates	(127)	450	493	692
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(418)	141	(119)	101
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0	0	0	115
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	(418)	141	(119)	215
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(63)	(5)	(81)	278
Net earnings (loss)	(482)	136	(200)	493
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company	(482)	136	(200)	493
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(94)	32	(55)	649
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company	(575)	168	(254)	1,142
Reportable Legal Entities | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries
Revenues
Sales of goods and services	41,000	37,615	78,980	73,705
GE Capital revenues from services	2,593	2,589	4,151	4,859
Total revenues	43,593	40,204	83,131	78,564
Costs and expenses
Interest and other financial charges	1,381	1,221	2,645	2,303
Other costs and expenses	38,372	37,570	76,515	73,510
Total costs and expenses	39,753	38,791	79,160	75,813
Other income (loss)	2,970	28,005	1,097	32,625
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates	12,249	13,982	12,090	50,664
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	19,059	43,400	17,159	86,040
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(1,162)	(230)	(562)	(699)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	17,897	43,170	16,596	85,341
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	0	3	1	3
Net earnings (loss)	17,897	43,172	16,597	85,344
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(116)	16	(121)	(32)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company	18,013	43,156	16,719	85,377
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(2,509)	(25,537)	(1,631)	(26,994)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company	15,503	17,619	15,087	58,383
Consolidating Adjustments
Revenues
Sales of goods and services	(20,854)	(18,621)	(39,664)	(38,886)
GE Capital revenues from services	(1,141)	(928)	(1,346)	(1,275)
Total revenues	(21,995)	(19,549)	(41,010)	(40,161)
Costs and expenses
Interest and other financial charges	(2,801)	(1,463)	(4,912)	(2,920)
Other costs and expenses	(21,722)	(19,023)	(40,835)	(38,615)
Total costs and expenses	(24,523)	(20,486)	(45,746)	(41,534)
Other income (loss)	(3,727)	(27,732)	(1,924)	(32,209)
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates	(16,563)	(16,460)	(19,617)	(55,093)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(17,763)	(43,255)	(16,804)	(85,929)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	150	(105)	225	210
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	(17,613)	(43,361)	(16,579)	(85,719)
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	63	2	79	(278)
Net earnings (loss)	(17,550)	(43,359)	(16,500)	(85,997)
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(16)	(54)	24	(110)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company	(17,534)	(43,304)	(16,523)	(85,887)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	2,603	25,505	1,686	26,345
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company	$ (14,931)	$ (17,799)	$ (14,837)	$ (59,542)