Shareowners' Equity (Changes In Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]
Investment Securities Beginning Balance	$ 677	[1]
Investment Securities Balance at December 31	307	[1]	677	[1]
Currency Translation Adjustment Beginning Balance	412	[1]
Currency Translation Adjustment Balance December 31	126	[1]	412	[1]
Cash Flow Hedges Beginning Balance	(722)	[1]
Cash Flow Hedges Balance December 31	(257)	[1]	(722)	[1]
Benefit Plans Beginning Balance	(20,597)	[1]
Benefit Plans Balance December 31	(9,296)	[1]	(20,597)	[1]
Other comprehensive income (OCI) before reclassifications - net of deferred taxes	8,844		841		(9,601)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	11,085		3,757		(6,134)
Less: Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(25)		13		(15)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(9,120)		(20,230)		(23,974)	(17,855)
Stockholders Equity Note Parenthetical
Reclassification from OCI	2,266		2,903		3,482
Adjustment To Reclass Unrealized Gains To Offset Deferred Acquisition Costs And Present Value Of Future Profits	(1,171)		527		786
Securities Investment [Member]
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]
Investment Securities Beginning Balance			(30)		(636)
Investment Securities Balance at December 31					(30)
Other comprehensive income (OCI) before reclassifications - net of deferred taxes	(692)		683		577
Reclassification from OCI net of deferred taxes	318		22		31
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	(374)		705		608
Less: Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(4)		(2)		2
Stockholders Equity Note Parenthetical
OCI before reclassification tax	(407)		387		341
Reclassification from OCI	222		13		1
Currency Translation Adjustment [Member]
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]
Currency Translation Adjustment Beginning Balance			133		(86)
Currency Translation Adjustment Balance December 31					133
Other comprehensive income (OCI) before reclassifications - net of deferred taxes	510		474		(201)
Reclassification from OCI net of deferred taxes	(818)		(174)		381
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	(308)		300		180
Less: Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(22)		21		(39)
Stockholders Equity Note Parenthetical
OCI before reclassification tax	(613)		(266)		(717)
Reclassification from OCI	793		54		357
Cash Flow Hedge [Member]
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]
Cash Flow Hedges Beginning Balance			(1,176)		(1,280)
Cash Flow Hedges Balance December 31					(1,176)
Other comprehensive income (OCI) before reclassifications - net of deferred taxes	738		385		(860)
Reclassification from OCI net of deferred taxes	(271)		68		978
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	467		453		118
Less: Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	2		(1)		14
Stockholders Equity Note Parenthetical
OCI before reclassification tax	250		392		238
Reclassification from OCI	(177)		(245)		202
Pension Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]
Benefit Plans Beginning Balance			22,901		15,853
Benefit Plans Balance December 31					22,901
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	11,300		2,299		(7,040)
Less: Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1)		(5)		8
Stockholders Equity Note Parenthetical
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Net Prior Service Cost (Credit) Arising During Period, Net of Tax	6		(534)		495
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Net Prior Service Cost (Credit), Tax	(5)		304		(276)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Amortization Adjustment from AOCI, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, for Net Prior Service (Cost) Credit, Net of Tax	397		497		514
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Amortization Adjustment from AOCI, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, for Net Prior Service (Cost) Credit, Tax	267		326		341
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Net Unamortized Gain (Loss) Arising During Period, Net of Tax	8,269		(1,396)		(8,637)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Net Unamortized Gain (Loss) Arising During Period, Tax	4,506		(574)		(4,746)
Other Comprehensive Income Net Amortization Of Net Actuarial Gain Loss	2,640		2,490		1,578
Other Comprehensive Income Net Amortization Of Net Actuarial Gain Loss Tax	1,343		1,278		811
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Finalization of Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plan Valuation, Net of Tax	0		174		0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Finalization of Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plan Valuation, Tax	$ 0		$ 123		$ 0

[1] (b)        The sum of accumulated other comprehensive income attributable to GE was $(9,120) million and $(20,230) million at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.