Customer Deposits (Details 2) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)
Time Deposits By Maturity
2018	$ 2,863
2019	4,687
2020	3,976
2021	1,824
2022	2,260
After 5 years	237
Total	15,847
United States [Member]
Time Deposits By Maturity
2018	2,859
2019	4,673
2020	3,976
2021	1,824
2022	2,260
After 5 years	237
Total	15,829
Non United States [Member]
Time Deposits By Maturity
2018	4
2019	14
2020	0
2021	0
2022	0
After 5 years	0
Total	$ 18

Amount of time deposits maturing after the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Time deposits include, but are not limited to, certificates of deposits. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

Name:	us-gaap_TimeDepositMaturitiesAfterYearFive
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of time deposits maturing in the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Time deposits include, but are not limited to, certificates of deposits. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TimeDepositMaturitiesYearFive
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of time deposits maturing in the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Time deposits include, but are not limited to, certificates of deposits. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TimeDepositMaturitiesYearFour
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of time deposits maturing in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Time deposits include, but are not limited to, certificates of deposits. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6802200&loc=d3e1835-112601

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Industry Guide
-Number 3
-Section V
-Paragraph D-E

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TimeDepositMaturitiesYearOne
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of time deposits maturing in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Time deposits include, but are not limited to, certificates of deposits. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TimeDepositMaturitiesYearThree
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of time deposits maturing in the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Time deposits include, but are not limited to, certificates of deposits. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TimeDepositMaturitiesYearTwo
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of time deposit liabilities, including certificates of deposit.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 405
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=50488274&loc=d3e64164-112818

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.12)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Industry Guide
-Number 3
-Section V
-Paragraph D-E

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TimeDeposits
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TimeDepositsByMaturityAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=axp_UnitedStatesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=axp_NonUnitedStatesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: