Customer Deposits (Details 2) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Time Deposits By Maturity
2016	$ 2,493
2017	3,630
2018	3,180
2019	2,326
2020	2,515
Total	14,144
United States [Member]
Time Deposits By Maturity
2016	2,486
2017	3,630
2018	3,180
2019	2,326
2020	2,515
Total	14,137
Non United States [Member]
Time Deposits By Maturity
2016	7
2017	0
2018	0
2019	0
2020	0
Total	$ 7

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.

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

+ 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

+ 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 deposits that cannot be withdrawn before a set date without penalty or for which notice of withdrawal is required. Time deposits include, but are not limited to, certificates of deposits, individual retirement accounts and open accounts.

+ References

Reference 1: 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

+ 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: