Earnings Per Share Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Amount attributable to the Company:
Earnings from continuing operations attributable to common shareowners for per-share calculation, Basic	$ 2,983	$ 3,642
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations for per-share calculation, Basic	12	(120)
Net earnings attributable to GE common shareowners for per-share calculation, Basic	2,995	3,522
Earnings from continuing operations attributable to common shareowners for per-share calculation, Diluted	2,983	3,642
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations for per-share calculation, Diluted	12	(120)
Net earnings attributable to GE common shareowners for per-share calculation, Diluted	$ 2,995	$ 3,522
Average equivalent shares
Shares of GE common stock outstanding, Basic	10,045	10,374
Employee compensation-related shares (including stock options) and warrants, Basic	0	0
Total average equivalent shares, Basic	10,045	10,374
Shares of GE common stock outstanding, Diluted	10,045	10,374
Employee compensation-related shares (including stock options) and warrants, Diluted	78	59
Total average equivalent shares, Diluted	10,123	10,433
Per-share amounts
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations-Basic	$ 0.30	$ 0.35
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations-Basic	$ 0.00	$ (0.01)
Net earnings-Basic	$ 0.30	$ 0.34
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations-Diluted	$ 0.29	$ 0.35
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations-Diluted	$ 0.00	$ (0.01)
Net earnings-Diluted	$ 0.30	$ 0.34
Outstanding anti-dilutive stock awards not included in computation of diluted earnings per share	72	190
Dividend Equivalents Included In Earnings For EPS Calculation, Diluted	insignificant amount	insignificant amount
Dividend Equivalents Included In Earnings For EPS Calculation, Basic	insignificant amount	insignificant amount