Income Taxes (Tax Reconciliations) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Reconciliation of the beginning and ending amounts of unrecognized tax benefits
Balance at January 1,	$ 5,445	$ 5,230
Additions for tax positions of current year	771	293
Additions for tax positions of prior years	872	882
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(1,140)	(723)
Settlements with tax authorities	(98)	(191)
Expiration on the statute of limitations	(34)	(46)
Balance at December 31,	5,816	5,445	5,230
Interest on tax deficiencies	22	(45)	(197)
Income tax penalties	$ 0	$ 33	$ 10
Reconciliation of U.S. Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate to Actual Income Tax Rate
U.S. federal statutory income tax rate	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Inclusion of after-tax earnings of GECC in before-tax earnings of GE	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Tax on global activities including exports	(24.70%)	(12.50%)	(10.40%)
NBCU gain	(0.70%)	0.00%	9.30%
U.S. business credits	(3.60%)	(2.60%)	(3.20%)
All other - net	(1.80%)	(3.40%)	(2.20%)
Total income tax reconciliation items	(30.80%)	(20.40%)	(6.50%)
Actual income tax rate	4.20%	14.60%	28.50%
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Disposition of Business	0.00%	(1.90%)	0.00%
Cembra [Member]
Reconciliation of U.S. Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate to Actual Income Tax Rate
Tax on global activities including exports	6.00%
Subsidiaries [Member]
Reconciliation of U.S. Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate to Actual Income Tax Rate
U.S. federal statutory income tax rate	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Inclusion of after-tax earnings of GECC in before-tax earnings of GE	(16.90%)	(15.30%)	(11.90%)
Tax on global activities including exports	(4.10%)	(4.30%)	(5.20%)
NBCU gain	(0.70%)	0.00%	9.80%
U.S. business credits	(1.50%)	(0.70%)	(1.50%)
All other - net	(2.00%)	(2.70%)	(0.90%)
Total income tax reconciliation items	(25.20%)	(23.00%)	(9.70%)
Actual income tax rate	9.80%	12.00%	25.30%
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Disposition of Business	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Subsidiaries GECC [Member]
Reconciliation of U.S. Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate to Actual Income Tax Rate
U.S. federal statutory income tax rate	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Inclusion of after-tax earnings of GECC in before-tax earnings of GE	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Tax on global activities including exports	(45.00%)	(18.40%)	(14.70%)
NBCU gain	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
U.S. business credits	(4.60%)	(4.30%)	(4.70%)
All other - net	1.00%	(1.50%)	(3.50%)
Total income tax reconciliation items	(48.60%)	(28.40%)	(22.90%)
Actual income tax rate	(13.60%)	6.60%	12.10%
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Disposition of Business	0.00%	(4.20%)	0.00%
Subsidiaries GECC [Member] | Cembra [Member]
Reconciliation of U.S. Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate to Actual Income Tax Rate
Tax on global activities including exports	13.30%