CONTRACT & OTHER DEFERRED ASSETS AND PROGRESS COLLECTIONS & DEFERRED INCOME - Schedule of Contract Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Contract and other deferred assets		$ 19,371	$ 19,231
GE
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total contract assets		12,776	12,480
Deferred inventory costs		3,226	3,488
Nonrecurring engineering costs		2,234	2,117
Customer advances and other		1,136	1,146
Contract and other deferred assets	[1]	19,371	19,231
GE | Long-term product service agreements
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Revenues in excess of billings		11,442	11,482
Billings in excess of revenues		(4,996)	(5,176)
Total contract assets		6,446	6,306
GE | Equipment contract revenue
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total contract assets		6,329	6,174
GE | Equipment upgrades
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total contract assets		895	883
GE | Power
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total contract assets		7,837	7,574
Deferred inventory costs		808	1,012
Nonrecurring engineering costs		125	124
Customer advances and other		0	0
Contract and other deferred assets		8,770	8,709
GE | Power | Long-term product service agreements
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Revenues in excess of billings		5,498	5,368
Billings in excess of revenues		(1,693)	(1,693)
Total contract assets		3,805	3,675
GE | Power | Equipment contract revenue
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total contract assets		4,032	3,899
GE | Aviation
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total contract assets		2,604	2,468
Deferred inventory costs		434	673
Nonrecurring engineering costs		2,005	1,916
Customer advances and other		1,136	1,146
Contract and other deferred assets		6,179	6,204
GE | Aviation | Long-term product service agreements
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Revenues in excess of billings		5,274	5,412
Billings in excess of revenues		(3,108)	(3,297)
Total contract assets		2,166	2,115
GE | Aviation | Equipment contract revenue
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total contract assets		438	352
GE | Oil & Gas
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total contract assets		1,515	1,600
Deferred inventory costs		144	179
Nonrecurring engineering costs		48	22
Customer advances and other		0	0
Contract and other deferred assets		1,707	1,800
GE | Oil & Gas | Long-term product service agreements
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Revenues in excess of billings		670	703
Billings in excess of revenues		(195)	(187)
Total contract assets		475	516
GE | Oil & Gas | Equipment contract revenue
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total contract assets		1,040	1,085
GE | Renewable Energy
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total contract assets		328	287
Deferred inventory costs		1,517	1,258
Nonrecurring engineering costs		22	22
Customer advances and other		0	0
Contract and other deferred assets		1,866	1,567
GE | Renewable Energy | Long-term product service agreements
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Revenues in excess of billings		0	0
Billings in excess of revenues		0	0
Total contract assets		0	0
GE | Renewable Energy | Equipment contract revenue
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total contract assets		328	287
GE | Other
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total contract assets		492	551
Deferred inventory costs		324	365
Nonrecurring engineering costs		34	34
Customer advances and other		0	0
Contract and other deferred assets		849	951
GE | Other | Long-term product service agreements
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Revenues in excess of billings		0	0
Billings in excess of revenues		0	0
Total contract assets		0	0
GE | Other | Equipment contract revenue
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total contract assets		492	551
GE | Aviation and Healthcare | Equipment contract revenue | Short-term contract
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total contract assets		$ 714	$ 592

[1] Represents the adding together of all affiliated companies except GE Capital, which is presented on a one-line basis. See Note 1.