Other Liabilities - Deferred Card and Other Fees (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2025	Dec. 31, 2024
Other Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract]
Deferred card and other fees	$ 5,099	$ 4,475
Deferred direct acquisition costs	(170)	(180)
Reserves for membership cancellations	(274)	(253)
Deferred card and other fees, net	$ 4,655	$ 4,042

Represents amounts related to deferred charges and other fees including deferred fees for Membership Reward program participants

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axp_DeferredCardAndOtherFees
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the carrying amount of deferred charge card and other fees, net of direct acquisition costs and reserves for membership cancellations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axp_DeferredCardAndOtherFeesNet
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents estimated fees refundable to Card Members if they cancel their card

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axp_ReservesForMembershipCancellations
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, after accumulated amortization and related credit card fees, of credit card origination costs not related to private label credit cards.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481569/310-20-50-4

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredCostsCreditCardOriginationCostsAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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