Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Goodwill) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Feb. 12, 2014 Acquisition API Healthcare [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Acquisition API Healthcare [Member]	Mar. 21, 2014 Acquisition ThermoFisher Scientific Inc [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Acquisition ThermoFisher Scientific Inc [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Power And Water [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Power And Water [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Oil And Gas [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Oil And Gas [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Energy Management [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Energy Management [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Aviation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Aviation [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Healthcare [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Healthcare [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Transportation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Transportation [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Appliances And Lighting [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Appliances And Lighting [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 GE Capital [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 GE Capital [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Corporate Items And Eliminations [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Corporate Items And Eliminations [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 79,129		$ 77,648					$ 8,856	$ 8,822	$ 10,567	$ 10,516	$ 4,823	$ 4,748	$ 9,271	$ 9,103	$ 17,686	$ 16,643	$ 981	$ 1,012	$ 606	$ 606	$ 26,336	$ 26,195	$ 3	$ 3
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	1,454	(6,383)		340		1,065
Increase (Decrease) in Intangible Assets, Current	859				125		300
Intangible assets subject to amortization	14,645		14,150
Indefinite-lived intangible assets	143		160
Total	14,788		14,310
Acquisitions	1,046				275			0		21		0		0		1,024		1		0		0		0
Dispositions, currency exchange and other	435							34		30		75		168		19		(32)		0		141		0
Goodwill, period increase (decrease)	$ 1,481						$ 725