Earnings Per Share Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Amount attributable to the Company:
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations for per-share calculation, Basic									$ 15,157	$ 14,603	$ 14,101
Preferred stock dividends declared, Basic									0	0	1,031
Earnings from continuing operations attributable to common shareowners for per-share calculation, Basic									15,157	14,603	13,070
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations for per-share calculation, Basic									(2,116)	(980)	30
Net earnings attributable to GE common shareowners for per-share calculation, Basic									13,040	13,622	13,098
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations for per-share calculation, Diluted									15,145	14,604	14,102
Preferred stock dividends declared, Diluted									0	0	(1,031)
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations for per-share calculation, Diluted									(2,128)	(980)	30
Earnings from continuing operations attributable to common shareowners for per-share calculation, Diluted									15,145	14,604	13,070
Net earnings attributable to GE common shareowners for per-share calculation, Diluted									13,028	13,622	13,099
Average equivalent shares
Shares of GE common stock outstanding, Basic									10,222	10,523	10,591
Employee compensation-related shares (including stock options) and warrants, Basic									0	0	0
Shares of GE common stock Issued Basic									10,222	10,523	10,591
Shares of GE common stock outstanding, Diluted									10,289	10,564	10,620
Employee compensation-related shares (including stock options) and warrants, Diluted									67	41	29
Shares of GE common stock Issued Diluted									10,222	10,523	10,591
Per-share amounts
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations-Basic	$ 0.49	$ 0.32	$ 0.32	$ 0.35	$ 0.41	$ 0.33	$ 0.34	$ 0.30	$ 1.48	$ 1.39	$ 1.23
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations-Basic	$ (0.18)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.03)	$ 0	$ (0.05)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.21)	$ (0.09)	$ 0
Net earnings-Basic	$ 0.32	$ 0.31	$ 0.30	$ 0.34	$ 0.38	$ 0.33	$ 0.29	$ 0.29	$ 1.28	$ 1.29	$ 1.24
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations-Diluted	$ 0.49	$ 0.32	$ 0.31	$ 0.35	$ 0.41	$ 0.33	$ 0.34	$ 0.30	$ 1.47	$ 1.38	$ 1.23
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations-Diluted	$ (0.18)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.03)	$ 0	$ (0.05)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.21)	$ (0.09)	$ 0
Net earnings-Diluted	$ 0.32	$ 0.31	$ 0.30	$ 0.34	$ 0.38	$ 0.33	$ 0.29	$ 0.29	$ 1.27	$ 1.29	$ 1.23
Outstanding anti-dilutive stock awards not included in computation of diluted earnings per share									121	292	321
Dividend Equivalents Included In Earnings For EPS Calculation, Diluted									insignificant amount	insignificant amount	insignificant amount
Dividend Equivalents Included In Earnings For EPS Calculation, Basic									insignificant amount	insignificant amount	insignificant amount
Percentage Preferred Stock Dividend											10.00%
Preferred Stock Redemption [Member]
Amount attributable to the Company:
Preferred stock dividends declared, Basic											$ 806