GECC Revenues from Services (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Subsidiary Revenue From Services [Line Items]
Total	$ 10,132	$ 11,141
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Subsidiary Revenue From Services [Line Items]
Total	(356)	(301)
Subsidiaries GECC [Member]
Subsidiary Revenue From Services [Line Items]
Interest On Loans	4,256	4,490
Equipment leased to others	2,661	2,529
Fees	1,114	1,130
Investment Income	556	414
Financing leases	389	436
Premiums earned by insurance activities	352	395
Real estate investments	343	1,300
Associated companies	373	173
Other items	444	575
Total	10,488	11,442
Net other-than-temporary impairments on investment securities	34	278
Subsidiaries GECC [Member] \| Sale Of Rockefeller Center [Member]
Subsidiary Revenue From Services [Line Items]
Gain on Sale of Investments	902
Gross Eliminations [Member]
Subsidiary Revenue From Services [Line Items]
Total	$ 10,488	$ 11,442

Finance subsidiary revenues from services related to financing leases.

No definition available.

Name:	ge_FinancingLeaseRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	ge_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Interest revenue generated from loans issued.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ge_InterestOnLoans
Namespace Prefix:	ge_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Finance subsidiary revenues from services related to investment income.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ge_InvestmentIncome
Namespace Prefix:	ge_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Revenues of unconsolidated VIEs and other entities in which we do not have a controlling financial interest, but over which we have a significant influence, most often because we hold a voting interest of 20% to 50%.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ge_RevenueFromAssociatedCompanies
Namespace Prefix:	ge_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	ge_SubsidiaryRevenueFromServicesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	ge_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of fees and commissions from financial services and banking activities and correspondent clearing. Includes fees from depositor accounts, credit cards, merchant discounts, and fiduciary and trust activities, guarantee fees, investment advisory, management, and administrative fees, transfer agent fees, and insurance commissions.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 225

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.13)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 13

-Article 9

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FeesAndCommissions
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate financial services revenue and operating interest income earned during the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(d))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialServicesRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The difference between the carrying value and the sale price of an investment. A gain would be recognized when the sale price of the investment is greater than the carrying value of the investment. This element refers to the Gain included in earnings and not to the cash proceeds of the sale.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainOnSaleOfInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the amount of loss recognized for other than temporary impairments (OTTI) of investments in debt and equity securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.M)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011274&loc=d3e87990-122713

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MarketableSecuritiesRealizedGainLossOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentsAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total amount of revenue recognized for the period from operating leases, including minimum lease revenue, contingent revenue, percentage revenue and sublease revenue.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 840

-SubTopic 20

-Section 25

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7501430&loc=d3e39896-112707

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLeasesIncomeStatementLeaseRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, after premiums ceded to other entities and premiums assumed by the entity, of other types of premiums earned.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 225

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 1

-Article 7

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 605

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6486662&loc=d3e27175-158546

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 605

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b),(c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6486672&loc=d3e27261-158547

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PremiumsEarnedNetOtherInsurance
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate revenue from real estate operations during the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(e))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fees and other service revenues recognized in the period that are not otherwise specified in the taxonomy.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RevenueOtherFinancialServices
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration