Details of Certain Consolidated Statements of Income Lines (Details 3) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Details Of Certain Statements Of Income Lines Details [Abstract]
Professional services	$ 3,102	$ 2,963	$ 2,951
Occupancy and equipment	1,904	1,823	1,685
Communications	379	383	378
MasterCard and Visa settlements, net of legal fees	0	0	(562)
Other	1,133	1,404	1,260
Total other, net expense	$ 6,518	$ 6,573	$ 5,712

The aggregate amount of communications and data processing expenses.

No definition available.

Name:	axp_Communications
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:	axp_
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents quarterly payments paid to American Express from Visa and MasterCard, as a result of 2007 and 2008 settlement agreements, respectively.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axp_MasterCardAndVisaSettlements
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents other, net expenses from miscellaneous items within other revenues not previously classified.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axp_OtherNetExpenses
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate amount of professional service fees and other processing expenses.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axp_ProfessionalServices
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of net occupancy expense that may include items, such as depreciation of facilities and equipment, lease expenses, property taxes and property and casualty insurance expense.

+ 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 210.5-03.6)

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

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 840

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6455398&loc=d3e45280-112737

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 225

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.14(b))

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

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Other noninterest expenses that are not separately presented in any other noninterest expense category.

+ 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 210.9-04.14)

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

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration