Financing Receivables, Allowance For Losses On Financing Receivables and Supplemental Information On Credit Quality (Net Investment in Financing Leases) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	$ 252,386	$ 258,207
Less allowance for losses	(5,144)	(5,178)	(5,303)	(4,944)
Financing receivables - net (Notes 4)	247,242	253,029
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	126,318	129,269
Less allowance for losses	(909)	(1,005)	(993)	(1,041)
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] | Americas CLL Financing Receivables [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	68,367	69,036
Less allowance for losses	(419)	(473)	(493)	(496)
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] | CLL Financing Receivables [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	114,575	116,467
Less allowance for losses	(868)	(978)	(976)	(1,021)
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] | GE International [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	46,208	47,431
Less allowance for losses	(449)	(505)	(483)	(525)
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] | Energy Financial Services Financing Receivables [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	2,753	3,107
Less allowance for losses	(16)	(8)	(8)	(9)
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] | GECAS Financing Receivables [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	8,851	9,377
Less allowance for losses	(25)	(17)	(7)	(8)
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] | Other Financing Receivables [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	139	318
Less allowance for losses	0	(2)	(2)	(3)
Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	20,236	19,899
Less allowance for losses	(175)	(192)	(265)	(320)
Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	105,832	109,039
Less allowance for losses	(4,060)	(3,981)	(4,045)	(3,583)
Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] | Non US residential mortgages [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	30,355	30,501
Less allowance for losses	(336)	(358)	(476)	(480)
Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] | Non US installment and revolving credit [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	13,715	13,677
Less allowance for losses	(588)	(594)	(657)	(582)
Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] | US installment and revolving credit [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	52,887	55,854
Less allowance for losses	(2,947)	(2,823)	(2,665)	(2,282)
Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] | Non US auto [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	1,957	2,054
Less allowance for losses	(61)	(56)	(66)	(67)
Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] | Consumer Other Financing Receivable [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	6,918	6,953
Less allowance for losses	$ (128)	$ (150)	$ (181)	$ (172)