CONTRACT & OTHER DEFERRED ASSETS AND PROGRESS COLLECTIONS & DEFERRED INCOME - Progress Collections and Deferred Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Capitalized Contract Cost [Line Items]
Total progress collections & deferred income		$ 20,225	$ 20,577
GE
Capitalized Contract Cost [Line Items]
Progress collections		16,932	17,188
Deferred income		3,536	3,645
Total progress collections & deferred income	[1]	20,469	20,833
GE | Equipment
Capitalized Contract Cost [Line Items]
Progress collections		8,143	8,105
GE | Other
Capitalized Contract Cost [Line Items]
Progress collections		8,789	9,083
GE | Power
Capitalized Contract Cost [Line Items]
Progress collections		7,131	7,382
Deferred income		147	163
Total progress collections & deferred income		7,278	7,545
GE | Power | Equipment
Capitalized Contract Cost [Line Items]
Progress collections		6,596	6,690
GE | Power | Other
Capitalized Contract Cost [Line Items]
Progress collections		535	692
GE | Aviation
Capitalized Contract Cost [Line Items]
Progress collections		4,257	4,148
Deferred income		1,385	1,338
Total progress collections & deferred income		5,642	5,486
GE | Aviation | Equipment
Capitalized Contract Cost [Line Items]
Progress collections		98	114
GE | Aviation | Other
Capitalized Contract Cost [Line Items]
Progress collections		4,159	4,034
GE | Oil & Gas
Capitalized Contract Cost [Line Items]
Progress collections		1,610	1,430
Deferred income		132	164
Total progress collections & deferred income		1,742	1,594
GE | Oil & Gas | Equipment
Capitalized Contract Cost [Line Items]
Progress collections		1,075	878
GE | Oil & Gas | Other
Capitalized Contract Cost [Line Items]
Progress collections		535	552
GE | Renewable Energy
Capitalized Contract Cost [Line Items]
Progress collections		3,657	3,890
Deferred income		255	241
Total progress collections & deferred income		3,912	4,131
GE | Renewable Energy | Equipment
Capitalized Contract Cost [Line Items]
Progress collections		374	423
GE | Renewable Energy | Other
Capitalized Contract Cost [Line Items]
Progress collections		3,283	3,467
GE | Other
Capitalized Contract Cost [Line Items]
Progress collections		277	338
Deferred income		1,617	1,739
Total progress collections & deferred income		1,894	2,077
GE | Other | Equipment
Capitalized Contract Cost [Line Items]
Progress collections		0	0
GE | Other | Other
Capitalized Contract Cost [Line Items]
Progress collections		$ 277	$ 338

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